2.

4 Sketching Graph of Functions Using Derivatives

Definition 2.4.1 Maximum and Minimum Values of a Function

Let be defined on an interval containing .
1. t is the minimum of on when t t for all in .
2. t is the maximum of on when t t for all in .
3. A function is said to have a relative maximum value t if there is an open interval
containing on which t is a maximum. We can also say that has a relative
maximum at t .
4. A function is said to have a relative minimum value t if there is an open interval
containing on which t is a minimum. We can also say that has a relative
minimum at t .
If a function has either a relative maximum or a relative minimum value t , then is
said to have a relative extremum at t .

Definition 2.4.2 Critical Number and Critical Point of a Function

Let be defined at .

1. If or does not exist, then is a critical number or a critical value of .

2. A critical point is a point t on the function corresponding to the critical
number .

Definition 2.4.3 Increasing and Decreasing Functions

1. A function defined on an interval is said to be increasing on that interval if for any two
numbers and in the interval, implies t t .
2. A function defined on an interval is said to be decreasing on that interval if for any
two numbers and in the interval, implies t .
If a function is either increasing or decreasing, then it is said to be monotonic on the interval.

Theorem 1. Test for Increasing and Decreasing Functions

Let be a function that is continuous on the closed interval t and differentiable on the
open interval tt .
 1. If t for all in tt , then is increasing on t .
2. If for all in tt , then is decreasing on t .
3. If for all in tt , then is constant on t .

Theorem 2. First Derivative Test for Relative Extrema

Let be a critical number of a function that is continuous on an open interval containing .
If is differentiable on the interval, except possibly at , then t can be classified as
follows.
1. If t changes from negative to positive at , then has a relative minimum at
t .
t

( )
t decreasing increasing

2. If t changes from positive to negative at , then has a relative maximum at

t .
t

( )
t increasing decreasing

3. If t is both positive on both sides of , or negative on both sides of then t is

neither a relative maximum nor a relative minimum value.
t

( )
t increasing increasing
 t

( )
t decreasing decreasing

Example 1. Given the function , discuss its relative maximum and

minimum points and the intervals where it is increasing and decreasing.
Step 1. Find the critical values of , that is, find those values of for which t or
t ) does not exist.

Given the function:

Derivative:

Values of for which

t :

Values of for which Note that t is a polynomial.

t ) does not exist: So, no values of for which t )
does not exist.
Critical Values of :
Function values of
the critical numbers

Step 2. Construct a sign chart for t ) which summarizes the testing of the interval
determined by the critical values of f

Interval t t t
Test Value
Sign of t
Conclusion:
is decreasing increasing decreasing
 Step 3. Applying Theorem 2 and Theorem 3 , we see that
is decreasing on the intervals t and t
is increasing on the intervals

has a relative minimum at t t

has a relative maximum at t t

Definition 2.2.4 Concavity

1. The graph of a function is said to be concave upward on a given interval , if at each
point of the graph of always remain above the line tangent to the curve at this point.
2. The graph of a function is said to be concave downward on a given interval , if at
each point of the graph of always remain below the line tangent to the curve at this
point.

Theorem 3. Second Derivative Test for Concavity

Let be a function such that t exists for every x in some open interval I.

1. If for all on then the graph of is concave upward on .

2. If for all on then the graph of is concave downward on .

Definition 2.2.5 Point of Inflection

A point is a point of inflection of the graph of the fucntion if the graph has a
tangent line there, and if there exists an open interval containing such that if is in , then
either

1. if , and if if , or
2. if , and if if .

Theorem 4.

If is a point of inflection of the graph of then either or does not

exist.
Example 3. Given the function , discuss the intervals of concavity and
the points of inflection. Construct a sketch of the graph of the function.
Step 1. Find the critical values of , that is, find those values of for which t or
t ) does not exist.

Given the function:

First Derivative:

Second Derivative:

Values of for which

ht :

Values of for which Note that ht is a

ht ) does not exist: polynomial. So, no values
of for which ht ) does
not exist.
Critical Values of :
Function value of the
critical number of :

Step 2. Construct a sign chart for ht ) which summarizes the testing of the interval
determined by the critical values of hf

Interval t t
Test Value
Sign of ht h h

Conclusion:
is Concave upward Concave downward

Step 3. Applying Theorem 4 and Theorem 5, we see that

is concave upward on the interval t
is concave downward on the interval t
has an inflection point at t t
Now, let us sketch the graph of the given function. Recall that from Example 2, we have
is decreasing on the intervals t and t
 is increasing on the intervals

has a relative minimum at t t

has a relative maximum at t t

The graph of the function is shown below.

Figure 1. Graph of the function

Desmos (2020). Desmos Inc. https://www.desmos.com/calculator

Example 4. Given the function t t , discuss its relative

maximum and minimum points, the intervals where it is increasing and decreasing, the
intervals of concavity and the points of inflection. Construct a sketch of the graph of the
function.
MONOTONICITY

Given the function: t t

Derivative: t h
Values of for which h
t : h

Values of for which Note that t is a polynomial. So, no values

 t ) does not exist: of for which t ) does not exist.

Critical Values of :
Function values of the t t t
critical numbers of : t t t

Interval t t t
Test Value
Sign of t h h h
Conclusion:
is decreasing increasing increasing

Thus,
is decreasing on the interval
is increasing on the intervals t and t
has a relative minimum at t t
does not have a relative maximum.

CONCAVITY

Given the function: t t

First Derivative: t h

Second Derivative: ht t h

Values of for which ht t h

ht : t

Values of for which Note that ht is a polynomial. So, no values

ht ) does not exist: of for which ht ) does not exist.

Critical Values of :
Function value of the t t t h
critical number of : t t t

Interval t t t
 Test Value
Sign of ht h h h h h
Conclusion:
is Concave upward Concave downward Concave upward

Thus,
is concave upward on the intervals t and t
is concave downward on the interval t
has an inflection point at t t h and t t
The graph of the function is shown below.

Figure 2. Graph of the function t t

Desmos (2020). Desmos Inc. https://www.desmos.com/calculator

Theorem 5. Second Derivative Test for Relative Extrema

Suppose that t exists on I and suppose that is a critical value of f.

1. If , then corresponds to a relative minimum value of .

2. If , then corresponds to a relative maximum value of .
 Example 3. Using the same function in Example 1, let us find its relative extrema using
Theorem 3. Now,

Note that the critical values of as shown in Example 1. Now,

Thus by the second derivative test for relative extrema,

corresponds to a relative maximum value of
corresponds to a relative minimum value of .

References:

Barnett R., Ziegler M., Byleen K. (2011). Calculus for Business, Economics, Life Sciences, and
Social Sciences (12 ed). Prentice Hall.

Canoy S., Benitez J., Buenavista R., Tubo B. (2014). A First Course in Analytic Geometry and
Calculus. CSM-DMS, MSU-IIT

Larson R., Edwards, B. (2013). Calculus of a Single Variable. Cengage Learning.