Lesson 18

Analysis of Functions II:

Relative Extrema; Graphing
Polynomials
OBJECTIVES:
•to define maximum, minimum, inflection, stationary
and critical points, relative maximum and relative
minimum;
•to determine the critical, maximum and minimum
points of any given curve using the first and second
derivative tests;
• to draw the curve using the first and second derivative
tests; and
•to describe the behavior of any given graph in terms of
concavity and relative extrema
EXAMPLE :

1 4 4 3
y = x − x − x2 + 4 x + 1
3 2 3
2 has a relative minima at x = −1 and x = 2
1 and a relative maximum at x = 1
-1
x
-3 1 2 3

-3
The points x1, x2, x3, x4, and x5 are critical points. Of these, x1, x2,
and x5 are stationary points.
Figure 4.2.3 illustrates that a relative extremum can also
occur at a point where a function is not differentiable.
In general, we define a critical point for a function f to be a
point in the domain of f at which either the graph of f has a
horizontal tangent line or f is not differentiable (line is
vertical).to distinguish between the two types of critical
points we call x a stationary point of f if f’(x)=0.

Thus we have the following theorem:

 FIRST DERIVATIVE TEST

Theorem 4.2.2 asserts that the relative extrema must

occur at critical points, but it does not say that a
relative extremum occurs at every critical point.

A function has a relative extremum at those critical

points where f’ changes sign.
The above theorem simply say that for a continuous function, relative
extrema occur at critical points where the derivative changes from (+)
to (–) and relative minima where it changes from (–) to (+).
 SECOND DERIVATIVE TEST

There is another test for relative extrema that is based on

the following geometric observation:

• a function f has a relative maximum at stationary point if

the graph of f is concave down on an open interval
containing that point

• a function f has a relative minimum at stationary point if

the graph of f is concave up on an open interval
containing that point
Note: The second derivative test is applicable only to stationary
points where the 2nd derivative exists.
Examples:
1. The figure shows the graph of the function f (x ) = x 3 − 3 x 2 + 1 . Use the 1st and
2nd derivatives of f to determine the intervals on which f is increasing, decreasing,
concave up and concave down. Locate all inflection points and confirm that your
conclusions are consistent with the graph.
y

2 SOLUTION :
1 f ' ( x ) = 3 x 2 − 6 x = 3 x( x − 2 )
x f ' ' (x ) = 6 x − 6 = 6 (x − 1)
-1 • 2 3

-3
 INTERVAL (3x)(x-2) f’(x) CONCLUSION
x<0 (-)(-) + f is increasing on
0<x<2 (+)(-) - f is decreasing on
x>2 (+)(+) + f is increasing on

INTERVAL (6)(x-1) f’’(x) CONCLUSION

x<1 (-) - f is concave down on
x>1 (+) + f is concave up on

The 2nd table shows that there is a point of inflection at x=1,

since f changes from concave up to concave down at that point.
The point of inflection is (1,-1).
2. Analyze and trace the curve of f (x ) = 3x5 − 5x3 .

SOLUTION :

( )
f ' (x ) = 15x 4 - 15x 2 = 15x 2 x 2 − 1 = 15x 2 (x + 1)(x − 1)
when f ' (x ) = 0 → 15x 2 (x + 1)(x − 1) = 0
15x 2 = 0; (x + 1) = 0; (x − 1) = 0
x = 0; x = -1; x=1

( )
f ' ' (x ) = 60x 3 - 30x = 30x 2x 2 − 1
INTERVAL f’(x) Conclusion
x<-1 (+)(-)(-) +
x=-1 y=2 f has a relative maximum
-1<x<0 (+)(+)(-) -
x=0 y=0 f has neither a relative max nor min
0<x<1 (+)(+)(-) -
x=1 y=-2 f has a relative minimum
x>1 (+)(+)(+) +

STATIONARY 2nd DERIVATIVE TEST

POINTS f’’
x=-1 -30 - f has a relative maximum
x=0 0 0 inconclusive
x=1 30 + f has a relative minimum
 y

• 2

x
-1 1 2

-2 •
3. Analyze and trace the curve of y = 3x − x3

SOLUTION :
y = 3x − x 3 y' ' = −6 x
y' = 3 − 3 x 2 −6x = 0
( )
3 1 - x 2 = 3(1 + x )(1 − x ) = 0 x=0
(1 + x ) = 0 and (1 − x ) = 0
x = -1 and x=1
INTERVAL f(x) f’(x) f”(x) Conclusion

x<-1 (+)(-)(+)= - + f is decreasing; concave upward

x=-1 -2 0 + f has a relative minimum
-1<x<0 (+)(+)(+)= + + f is increasing; concave upward
x=0 0 3 0 f has a point of inflection
0<x<1 (+)(+)(+)= + - f is increasing; concave downward
x=1 2 0 - f is has a relative maximum
x>1 (+)(+)(-)= - - f is decreasing; concave downward
 y

2 •
y = 3x − 3x 3
1

x
-2 -1 1 2

• -2
 4x
3. Analyze and trace the curve of y =
4 + x2
4x
y=
4 + x2

y' =
( )
4 + x 2 (4 ) − 4 x(2 x )
(
4 + x2 2 )
16 + 4 x 2 − 8 x 2 16 − 4 x 2
y' = =
4+x ( 2 2
)
4 + x2 2 ( )
y' =
(
4 4 − x2
=
)
4(2 + x )(2 − x )
=0
( 4+x 2 2
)4+x 2 2
( )
(2 + x ) = 0 and (2 − x ) = 0
x = -2 and x=2
 y' ' =
(4 + x )(− 8 x ) − (− 4 x + 16 )(2 )(4 + x )(2 x )
2 2 2

(4 + x ) 2 4

(4 + x ) (− 8 x ) − 4 x(4 + x )(− 4 x + 16 ) = 0
2 2 2 2

- 4x(4 + x )2(4 + x ) + (− 4 x + 16 ) = 0
2 2 2

- 4x(4 + x )(8 + 2 x − 4 x + 16 ) = 0
2 2 2

- 4x(4 + x )(− 2 x + 24 ) = 0
2 2

8 x(4 + x )(x − 12 ) = 0
2 2

x = 0 and x = 2 3
 f (x ) f ' (x ) f ' ' (x )
INTERVAL Conclusion

x  −2 3 - - f is decreasing; concave downward

3 -0.125 0 f has a point of inflection
x = −2 3 −
2
− 2 3  x  −2 - + f is decreasing; concave upward

x= -2 -1 0 0.25 f has a relative minimum

-2<x<0 + + f is increasing; concave upward

x=0 0 1 0 f has a point of inflection

0<x<2 + - f is increasing; concave downward

x=2 1 0 -0.25 f is has a relative maximum

2x2 3 - - f is decreasing; concave downward

x=2 3 3 -0.125 0 f has a point of inflection

2
x2 3 - + f is decreasing; concave upward
 y 4x
y=
4 + x2

1 • •
`
x
-4 •-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
•
-2