Three Curve Analysis Questions

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on three curve analysis questions related to calculus, specifically addressing intervals of increase/decrease, concavity, points of inflection, and symmetry. The participant struggles with symmetry and sketching the graph, while receiving feedback on their attempts. Key points include the necessity of finding the derivative to determine the slope of the tangent line and clarifying the existence of local maxima versus global maxima. Additionally, the discussion emphasizes that critical points arise only when the first derivative is zero or undefined, and inflection points occur where the second derivative changes sign.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of calculus concepts such as derivatives and critical points
  • Familiarity with graphing techniques for functions
  • Knowledge of local versus global maxima in function analysis
  • Ability to analyze concavity and points of inflection
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the process of finding derivatives using rules such as the power rule and product rule
  • Learn how to identify local and global maxima in functions
  • Research the criteria for determining points of inflection in curve analysis
  • Practice sketching graphs based on derivative information and concavity
USEFUL FOR

Students preparing for calculus exams, educators teaching curve analysis, and anyone seeking to improve their understanding of function behavior in calculus.

BayernBlues
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Here are a few curve analysis questions that I'm having problems with. For the 3rd one where it says fully analyze, it means: Find intervals of increase/decrease, concavity, points of inflection, symmetry, and graph. I'm having problems with the symmetry and sketching part although I think that I did the other stuff wrong too for that question.:frown:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/2336/6711tj4.png

Here's my attempt at the solution:

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8564/xo2my2.png

*Could someone move this to the calculus homework thread. It's questions for test prep, not homework but I guess it'd go under that section of the site.
 
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It's not clear to me what you are doing with the first problem. To find the slope of the tangent line, of course, you need to find the derivative of y, but I see no indication of y' in what you wrote. One problem I see is determining the correct value of y for x= -1.

For the second problem, you've done okay except that you say there is no maximum. The is no "global" maximum but there are local maxima. With the information you have, it should be easy to draw a rough sketch of the graph.

For the third problem f' is never 0 and f is not defined when f' is not defined so there are no critical points. An "inflection" point is where f' changes sign which can only happen where f"= 0 (or where it is not defined but that only happens where f itself is not defined
 

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