All Calculus AB Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
Which of the following is the correct graph of the derivative of ?
The derivative of is . So the graph of the derivative will have a positive slope of two and pass through the origin.
Example Question #2 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
Identify the local maximums and minimums in the following plot
maximums: , minimums:
maximums: , minimums:
maximums: , minimums:
maximums: , minimums:
maximums: , minimums:
The local maximums will be the points at which the slope is equal to zero and the slope is in the process of changing from positive to negative. The local minimums will be the points at which the slope is equal to zero and in the process of changing from negative to positive. Therefore the maximums are and the minimums are .
Example Question #3 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
The following plot is the plot of the derivative of . Which of the following is true from the graph of this derivative.
All of the above
The function is increasing on the intervals and and decreasing on .
The function is concave up on the interval and concave down on .
There is a local maximum at and a local minimum at .
All of the above
Points of inflection occur when the graph of the derivative cross the x-axis. If the derivative is going from positive to negative, this tells us the function has a local maximum at this point. If the derivative is going from negative to positive, then the function has a local minimum at that point. From this we see that there is a local maximum at and a local minimum at .
The function is increasing when its derivative is positive and decreasing when its derivative is negative. From this we see that the function is increasing on the intervals and and decreasing on .
The first derivative graph can also tell us about the concavity of our function. When the derivative is increasing, the function is concave up. When the derivative is decreasing, the function is concave down. From this we see that the function is concave up on the interval and concave down on .
Example Question #51 : Analytical Applications Of Derivatives
Which of the following is the graph of the derivative of ? State the local maximum(s).
Local max:
No local max:
Local max
No local max:
The derivative of the function is . There is no local maximum for this plot. Nowhere in the plot of the derivative is there a point where the derivative crosses the x-axis going from positive to negative.
Example Question #2 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
True or False: We have a function and it’s derivative. The derivative is concave up from and so the function must also be concave up on the same interval.
False
True
False
We may want to answer true because we associate concavity with increasing functions, but functions that are decreasing can also be concave up. The rule of thumb is, if the derivative of a function is increasing on an interval, then the function is concave up. Here, we are only given the information that the derivative is concave up, but no insight into whether or not it is increasing or decreasing. So this statement is false.
Example Question #6 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
The derivative of a function crosses the x-axis going from negative to positive at . The derivative crosses the x-axis once more at going from positive to negative. Which of the following is true about these critical points.
The function is concave down at and concave up at
is a minimum, is a maximum
The function is concave up at and concave down at
is a maximum, is a minimum
is a minimum, is a maximum
Remember that critical points of a derivative give us insight into maximum, minimums, and points of inflection. If the derivative crosses the x-axis going from positive to negative then this tells us that the function has a local maximum at this point. If the derivative crosses the x-axis going from negative to positive, then this tells us that the function has a local minimum at that point. Remember the derivative tells us about the rate of change. If the slope of our function changes from negative to positive, then there must be a small trench that is a minimum. If the slope of our function changes from positive to negative, then there must be a small hill that is a maximum.
Example Question #52 : Analytical Applications Of Derivatives
True or False: If our function is increasing then the derivative must be y-positive.
False
True
True
This is true. For all points of the derivative that are above the x-axis, this is telling us the slope of our function is positive and therefore increasing. For all points of the derivative below the x-axis, this is telling us the slope of our function is negative and therefore decreasing.
Example Question #8 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
Suppose the derivative of function crosses the x-axis at going from positive to negative, and again at going from negative to positive. Which of the following could be the graph of ?
From the description of the derivative we know that a local maximum is at . Since the derivative is crossing the x-axis going from positive to negative at this point, we assume that the slope of the function is going from positive to negative creating a local maximum. At we are give that the derivative crosses the x-axis going from negative to positive. This means that our function is going from decreasing to increasing creating a local minimum. The graph above meets these criteria.
Example Question #1 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
The following is the graph of the derivative of :
From the graph of the derivative, which of the following is correct?
There are points of inflection at and
is decreasing from and decreasing on the intervals and
is concave up on the interval and concave down on the interval
is concave down on the interval and concave up on the interval
is concave up on the interval and concave down on the interval
We know that our function will be concave up when the derivative is increasing and concave down when the derivative is decreasing. The graph of the derivative is increasing on the interval and so will be concave up on this interval. The graph of the derivative is decreasing on the interval and so will be concave down on this interval.
Example Question #2 : Graph Functions And Their First And Second Derivatives
True or False: An increasing derivative means that the function must be positive
False
True
False
Just because a derivative is increasing does not mean that the function will be positive. We know that if the derivative is increasing, then the function must be concave up. We are given no insight as to where the function starts and no insight as to whether the function is positive or negative.