1.

How do you find the intervals where a function is increasing? How do you find the intervals where a function is decreasing?

Take the derivative of the function and determine where the derivative is positive and where the derivative is negative. When f (x) > 0 the function is increasing and when f (x) < 0 the function is decreasing. One method that works well is to mark a number line with all the critical numbers (of both kinds) then determine the sign of the derivative in all intervals. Suppose the critical numbers are a, b, c, and d, then the number line may look like this.

+ inc a

dec b

dec c

+ inc

d dec

Note: By the first derivative test we know that we have local maxima at a and d and local minimum at c. The first derivative test can be used for either type of critical value.

2.

How do you find the intervals where a function is concave up? How do you find the intervals where a function is concave down?

Take the second derivative of the function and determine where the second derivative is positive and where the derivative is negative. When f (x) > 0 the function is concave up and when f (x) < 0 the function is concave down. One method that works well is to mark a number line with all the values where the second derivative is zero or the second derivative does not exist then determine the sign of the derivative in all intervals. Suppose we have a function that is different from the function used above and these values are a, b, c, and d, the number line may look like this.

+ up a

down b

+ up c

+ up d

down

Note: If a, b, and d are in the domain of the function f then they are the x-coordinates for the points of inflection since the concavity changes at these values.

3.

How do you find absolute maximum and absolute minimum values?

Find all critical numbers (of both kinds) and find the value of the original function at each critical number. Find the value of the original function at both endpoints. Scan the list of values and pick the largest (absolute maximum) and the smallest (absolute minimum). Note: You do not use either the first or second derivative test.

4.

How do you find local maxima and local minima?

You can use the first derivative test as in section 1 for either type of critical number. You can also use the second derivative test if the critical number satisfies f (c) = 0 , that is if there is a horizontal tangent line at that point on the graph. You must find the second derivative and evaluate it at the critical number. If the second derivative is negative, f (c) < 0 , then we have a local maximum at c. If the second derivative is positive, f (c) > 0 , then we have a local minimum at c. If the second derivative is zero, f (c) = 0 , then we must use the first derivative test.