Calculus with Applications (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321749006
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-900-0

Chapter 5 - Graphs and the Derivative - 5.3 Higher Derivatives, Concavity, and the Second Derivative Test - 5.3 Exercises - Page 284: 49

Answer

Inflection point : $x=0, x=4$ Concave upward : $(-\infty,0)\cup(4,\infty)$ Concave downward : $(0,4)$

Work Step by Step

The point of inflection is the point where the concavity changes, given by $f''(x)=0$. The graph of $f'(x)$ shows that $f''(x)=0$ at the points on the given graph where the tangent becomes parallel to $ x-$axis. i.e. $x=0$ and $x=4$ are the points of inflection. The interval in which $f''(x)>0$ is concave upward and $f''(x)<0$ is concave downward. i.e. when $f'(x)$ is increasing the function is concave upward and when $f'(x)$ is decreasing the function is concave downward. Observe from the graph that $f'(x)$ is increasing in the intervals $(-\infty,0)$ and $(4,\infty)$ while it is decreasing in the intervals $(0,4)$. Hence, the open intervals where the original function is concave upward are $(-\infty,0)\cup(4,\infty)$ and concave downward is $(0,4)$.
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