Analysis and Approaches

Date ________________

Inflection Points
A point of inflection is a point on a curve at which there is a change of concavity or
curvature.

2
𝑑𝑦
Note that just because 2 = 0 at a point, it does not necessarily mean it is a point of inflection.
𝑑𝑥
2 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
At a point of inflection 2 = 0 and 2 changes sign (that is the concavity changes),
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
3
𝑑𝑦
so 3 ≠ 0.
𝑑𝑥

Example
Find the coordinates of any points of inflection on the curve y = x3 − 3x2 + 5x − 1.
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥
= 3x2 − 6x + 5
2
𝑑𝑦
2 = 6x − 6
𝑑𝑥
2
𝑑𝑦
At a point of inflection, 2 = 0 ⇒ 6x − 6 = 0
𝑑𝑥
⇒ x=1
2 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
At x = 0, 2 < 0 and at x = 2, 2 > 0 so the concavity changes sign;
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
3
𝑑𝑦
alternatively, 3 = 6 ≠ 0 therefore there is a point of inflection.
𝑑𝑥

y = 13 − 3(1)2 + 5(1) − 1 = 2, so

inflection point is (1, 2)

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Questions
1. Find and classify the point of inflection:
(a) y = x3 − 6x2 + 9x + 1
(b) y = x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 5
(c) y = x4 − 4x3 + 16x − 16

2. The curve y = x3 + ax2 + bx + c has a stationary point of inflection at (1, 3). Find the value of
a, b and c.

2
3. The point of inflection on the curve y = x3 − ax2 − bx + c is also a stationary point.
2
𝑎
Show that b = − 3 .

4.

3
 5.

Answers
1. (a) Non-stationary inflection at (2,3); (c) f ′′(x) = 2x + 4 ⇒ x = −2
(b) stationary inflection point at ( −2, (d) y = 16x − 36
−3);
5. (a) f ′′(x) = 3(x − 3)2
(c) non-stationary inflection at (0, −16),
stationary at (2, 0) (b) f ′(3) = 0, f ′′(3) = 0
2. a = −3, b = 3, c = 2 (c) f ′′′(x) = 6(x − 3) ⇒ f ′′′(3) = 0
2
4. (a) x + 4x − 5 Therefore there is no change in
(b) x = −5 (from the diagram not x = 1) concavity at P.
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