Calculus: Increasing/Decreasing, Critical Points & Inflection Points

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SUMMARY

This discussion clarifies the definitions of key calculus concepts: increasing/decreasing functions, critical points, and inflection points. Increasing and decreasing functions are defined as strictly increasing (f(x2) > f(x1)) or non-decreasing (f(x2) ≥ f(x1)). Critical points occur where f'(x) = 0 or does not exist, with endpoints of finite closed intervals considered critical points. Inflection points are identified by a change in concavity, occurring when f''(x) = 0 or does not exist, without the necessity for f'(x) to be continuous.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calculus concepts such as derivatives and concavity
  • Familiarity with function behavior and monotonicity
  • Knowledge of critical points and their significance in calculus
  • Ability to analyze functions for increasing/decreasing behavior
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the definitions of monotonic functions in detail
  • Learn how to identify and analyze critical points in various functions
  • Explore the concept of concavity and its implications on graph behavior
  • Review examples of inflection points and their significance in function analysis
USEFUL FOR

Students of calculus, educators teaching calculus concepts, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of function behavior and analysis in mathematics.

sickle
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srry if this post is in the wrong section but i was wondering if there are actually precise and universally agreeable definitions of the following terms of calculus. Different textbooks even give contrary definitions. Any help is appreciated thanks.

increasing/decreasing = strictly increasing/decreasing or rather non-decreasing/non-increasing (does this mean f(x2) >= f(x1) or simply f(x2) > f(x1)?)

critical point = when f(x) is defined and f'(x) = 0 or DNE. But do endpoints of finite closed intervals count as critical points?

inflection point = when graph changes concavity (only happens when f''(x) = DNE or 0), but does f'(x) have to be continuous here as well or not?
 
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1) Let f be defined on some set S so that for each m in S and n in S such that m < n.

If and only if

f(m) \leq f(n)

We say that f is increasing on S.

If strict inequality holds ( no equals allowed) we say that f is strictly increasing.

A function which is either increasing or decreasing is called monotone.
A function which both increasing and decreasing is constant.

2) Yes

3) No
 

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