1. Section 3.3 – Increasing and Decreasing Functions and the First Derivative Test

2. How Derivatives Affect the Shape of the Graph
Many of the applications of calculus depend on our ability to deduce facts about a function f from in information concerning its derivatives. Since the derivative of f represents the slope of tangents lines, it tells us the direction in which the curve proceeds at each point. Thus, it should seem reasonable that the derivative of a function can reveal characteristics of the graph of the function.

3. Increasing and Decreasing Functions
The function f is strictly increasing on an interval I if f (x1) < f (x2) whenever x1 < x2. The function f is strictly Decreasing on an interval I if f (x1) > f (x2) whenever x1 < x2. D
f(x)
Decreasing
Increasing B A C x

4. How the Derivative is connected to Increasing/Decreasing Functions
When the function is increasing, what is the sign (+ or –) of the slopes of the tangent lines? When the function is decreasing, what is the sign (+ or –) of the slopes of the tangent lines?
POSITIVE Slope
NEGATIVE Slope D
f(x) B A C x

5. Test for Increasing and Decreasing Functions
Let f be differentiable on the open interval (a,b) If f '(x) > 0 on (a,b), then f is strictly increasing on (a,b). If f '(x) < 0 on (a,b), then f is strictly decreasing on (a,b). If f '(x) = 0 on (a,b), then f is constant on (a,b).

6. A sign chart does NOT stand on its own.
Procedure for Finding Intervals on which a Function is increasing or Decreasing
If f is a continuous function on an open interval (a,b). To find the open intervals on which f is increasing or decreasing:
Find the critical numbers of f in (a,b) AND all values (a,b) of x in that make the derivative undefined.
Make a sign chart: The critical numbers and x-values that make the derivative undefined divide the x-axis into intervals. Test the sign (+ or –) of the derivative inside each of these intervals.
If f '(x) > 0 in an interval, then f is increasing in that same interval. If f '(x) < 0 in an interval, then f is decreasing in that same interval.
State your conclusion(s) with a “because” statement using the sign chart.
A sign chart does NOT stand on its own.

7. Example 1 f is increasing when the derivative is positive.
Use the graph of f '(x) below to determine when f is increasing and decreasing.
f is increasing when the derivative is positive.
f ' (x)
f is increasing when the derivative is positive. x
f is decreasing when the derivative is negative.
Increasing:
(-∞,-1)
U (3,∞)
Decreasing:
(-1,3)

8. White Board Challenge
The graph of f is shown below. Sketch a graph of the derivative of f.

9. White Board Challenge
Find the critical numbers of:

10. Example 2
Find where the function is increasing and where it is decreasing.
Domain of f:
All Reals
Find the critical numbers/where the derivative is undefined
Find the derivative.
Find where the derivative is 0 or undefined
Find the sign of the derivative on each interval. -1 2
Answer the question

11. Example 2: Answer
The function is increasing on (-1,0)U(2,∞) because the first derivative is positive on this interval.
The function is decreasing on (-∞,-1)U(0,2) because the first derivative is negative on this interval.

12. Example 3 Increasing: (-∞,-3) Decreasing: (-3,∞)
Use the graph of f (x) below to determine when f is increasing and decreasing.
f is decreasing when the function’s outputs are getting smaller as the input increases.
Notice how the function changes from increasing to decreasing at x=-3. But since -3 is not in the domain of the function, it is not a critical point. Thus, critical points are not the only points to include in sign charts.
f (x)
f is increasing when the function’s outputs are getting larger as the input increases. x
Increasing:
(-∞,-3)
Decreasing:
(-3,∞)

13. Example 4
Find where the function is increasing and where it is decreasing.
Domain of f :
All Reals except -1
Find the critical numbers/where the derivative is undefined
Find the derivative.
Find where the derivative is 0 or undefined
The function does not have any critical points: the derivative is never equal to 0 and the derivative is only undefined at a point not in the functions domain (x=-1).
Even though -1 is not a critical point, it can still be a point where a function changes from increasing to decreasing. ALWAYS include every x value that makes the derivative undefined on a sign chart (even if its not a critical point).
Find the sign of the derivative on each interval. -1
Answer the question

14. Example 4: Answer
The function is decreasing on (-∞,-1)U(-1,∞) because the first derivative is negative on this interval.
Make sure not to include -1 in the interval because it is not in the domain of the function.

15. White Board Challenge
Find the maximum and minimum values attained by the given function on the indicated closed interval:

16. Critical Values and Relative Extrema
Remember that if a function has a relative minimum or a maximum at c, then c must be a critical number of the function. Unfortunately not every critical number results in a relative extrema. A new calculus method is needed to determine whether relative extrema exist at a critical point and if it is a maximum or minimum.

17. How the Derivative is connected to Relative Minimum and Maximum
When a critical point is a relative maximum, what are the characteristics of the function? When a critical point is a relative minimum, what are the characteristics of the function?
The function changes from increasing to decreasing
The function changes from decreasing to increasing D
f(x) B A C x

18. The First Derivative Test
Suppose that c is a critical number of a continuous function f(x). (a) If f '(x) changes from positive to negative at c, then f(x) has a relative maximum at c.
f(x)
Relative Maximum
f '(x) > 0
f '(x) < 0 c x

19. The First Derivative Test
Suppose that c is a critical number of a continuous function f(x). (b) If f '(x) changes from negative to positive at c, then f(x) has a relative minimum at c.
f(x)
f '(x) < 0
f '(x) > 0
Relative Minimum c x

20. The First Derivative Test
Suppose that c is a critical number of a continuous function f(x). (c) If f '(x) does not change sign at c (that is f '(x) is positive on both sides of c or negative on both sides), then f(x) has no relative maximum or minimum at c.
f(x)
f(x)
f '(x) > 0
No Relative Maximum or Minimum
f '(x) < 0
f '(x) < 0
f '(x) > 0 c x c x

21. Example 1 Relative Maximum: @ -1 Relative Minimum: @ 3
Use the graph of f '(x) below to determine where f has a relative minimum or maximum.
f ' (x)
Find the Critical Numbers
Make a sign chart and Find the sign of the derivative on each interval. x
Apply the First Derivative Test. -1 3
Relative Maximum:
@ -1
Relative Minimum:
@ 3

22. Example 2 Find where the function on 0≤x≤2π has relative extrema.
Domain of f:
0≤x≤2π
Find the critical numbers
Find the derivative.
Find where the derivative is 0 or undefined
Find the sign of the derivative on each interval.
Find the value of the function:
2π/3
4π/3 2π
Answer the question

23. Example 2: Answer
The function has a relative maximum of at x = 2π/3 because the first derivative changes from positive to negative values at this point.
The function has a relative minimum at x = 4π/3 because the first derivative changes from negative to positive values at this point.

24. Example 3 Find the relative extrema values of .
Domain of f:
Find the relative extrema values of
All Reals
Find the critical numbers
Find the derivative.
Find where the derivative is 0 or undefined
The derivative is undefined at x=-3,0
Find the sign of the derivative on each interval. -3 -1
NOTE: 0 is not a relative extrema since the derivative does not change sign.
Answer the question

25. Example 3: Answer
First find the value of the function:
Now answer the question:
The function has a relative maximum of 0 at x = -3 because the first derivative changes from positive to negative values at this point.
The function has a relative minimum of at x = -1 because the first derivative changes from negative to positive values at this point.

26. BONUS: How many critical numbers are there?
White Board Challenge
Find the intervals on which the function below is increasing or decreasing.
BONUS: How many critical numbers are there?