009A Sample Final 1, Problem 9

Given the function $f(x)=x^{3}-6x^{2}+5$,

a) Find the intervals in which the function increases or decreases.

b) Find the local maximum and local minimum values.

c) Find the intervals in which the function concaves upward or concaves downward.

d) Find the inflection point(s).

e) Use the above information (a) to (d) to sketch the graph of $y=f(x)$.

Foundations:

Solution:

(a)

Step 1:
We start by taking the derivative of $f(x)$. We have $f'(x)=3x^{2}-12x$.
Now, we set $f'(x)=0$. So, we have $0=3x(x-4)$.
Hence, we have $x=0$ and $x=4$.
So, these values of $x$ break up the number line into 3 intervals: $(-\infty ,0),(0,4),(4,\infty )$.

Step 2:
To check whether the function is increasing or decreasing in these intervals, we use testpoints.
For $x=-1,~f'(x)=15>0$.
For $x=1,~f'(x)=-9<0$.
For $x=5,~f'(x)=15>0$.
Thus, $f(x)$ is increasing on $(-\infty ,0),(4,\infty )$ and decreasing on $(0,4)$.

(b)

Step 1:
By the First Derivative Test, the local maximum occurs at $x=0$ and the local minimum occurs at $x=4$.

Step 2:
So, the local maximum value is $f(0)=5$ and the local minimum value is $f(4)=-27$.

(c)

Step 1:
To find the intervals when the function is concave up or concave down, we need to find $f''(x)$.
We have $f''(x)=6x-12$.
We set $f''(x)=0$.
So, we have $0=6x-12$. Hence, $x=2$.
This value breaks up the number line into two intervals: $(-\infty ,2),(2,\infty )$.

Step 2:
Again, we use test points in these two intervals.
For $x=0$, we have $f''(x)=-12<0$.
For $x=3$, we have $f''(x)=6>0$.
Thus, $f(x)$ is concave up on the interval $(2,\infty )$ and concave down on the interval $(-\infty ,2)$.

(d)

Step 1:
Using the information from part (c), there is one inflection point that occurs at Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle x=2} .
Now, we have Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(2)=8-24+5=-11} .
So, the inflection point is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (2,-11)} .

(e)

Step 1:
Insert sketch here.

Final Answer:
(a) Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)} is increasing on Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (-\infty,0),(4,\infty)} and decreasing on Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (0,4)} .
(b) The local maximum value is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(0)=5} and the local minimum value is Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(4)=-27} .
(c) Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle f(x)} is concave up on the interval Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (2,\infty)} and concave down on the interval Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (-\infty,2)} .
(d) Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle (2,-11)}
(e) See Step 1 for graph.

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