1. Define the following mathematically and intuitively.

You may use your Ma11 book (see chapter on one-to-one

functions) or Ma19/20 book (First derivative and Graphs) to define the following terms.

 Mathematical: A function 𝑓 is increasing on an interval 𝑎, 𝑏 if __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Intuitive: A function 𝑓 is increasing on an interval 𝑎, 𝑏 if ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Mathematical: A function 𝑓 is decreasing on an interval 𝑎, 𝑏 if _________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Intuitive: A function 𝑓 is decreasing on an interval 𝑎, 𝑏 if _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Fill in the blanks.

A. On the right is the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 7 (in black) and its

derivative ______________(in gray) is shown. Note that the function
𝑓is decreasing in the interval _____________ and increasing in the
interval ______________. The function has a minimum value when
𝑥 = __________.

Looking at the derivative, note that the derivative is equal to zero at

𝑥 = _________. Incidentally, it is also at this point when 𝑓attains its
_____________(maximum/minimum) value.

When the derivative is negative, that is, when the derivative lies below
the 𝑥 − axis, the function 𝑓 is ________________(increasing/decreasing).

When the derivative is positive, that is, when the derivative lies above
the 𝑥 − axis, the function 𝑓 is ________________(increasing/decreasing). Let us look at another example.

B. On the right is the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 (in black) and

its derivative ______________(in gray) is shown. Note that
the function 𝑓is increasing in the interval _____________ and
decreasing in the interval ______________, and again,
increasing in the interval _________________.

The function has a local maximum when 𝑥 = __________ since

for every point within a small interval containing this 𝑥, it is
the maximum (it has the maximum function value for a
particular part of the function).

The function has a local minimum when 𝑥 = __________ since

for every point within a small interval containing this 𝑥, it is
the minimum (it has the minimum function value for a
particular part of the function).

Looking at the derivative, the derivative attains a value of zero at the points 𝑥 = ______ and 𝑥 = ______.
Incidentally, these are the values of 𝑥when 𝑓attains a local ______________ and a local _______________ respectively.

When the derivative is negative (that is, the derivative lies below the 𝑥 −axis), the function 𝑓 is
________________(increasing/decreasing) as seen in the interval/s ____________________________.

When the derivative is positive (that is, the derivative lies above the 𝑥 −axis), the function 𝑓 is
________________(increasing/decreasing) as seen in the interval/s ____________________________.
 C. Let us first make some conjectures. Whether these are true or not will be verified by more examples. You
may also read the book to back up your conjectures if you are not sure.

1. When a function 𝑓 is decreasing in an interval 𝐼, then the derivative of 𝑓in the same interval is ___________.
2. When a function 𝑓 is increasing in an interval 𝐼, then the derivative of 𝑓in the same interval is ___________.
3. When a function 𝑓 attains its local minimum in a point 𝑥 = 𝑎, then the derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥 = 𝑎 is _________.
4. When a function 𝑓 attains its local maximum in a point 𝑥 = 𝑏, then the derivative of 𝑓 at 𝑥 = 𝑏 is _________.

5. If the derivative of a function 𝑓 is negative in an interval 𝐼, then 𝑓 is __________________ in 𝐼.

6. If the derivative of a function 𝑓 is positive in an interval 𝐼, then 𝑓 is __________________ in 𝐼.
7. If the derivative of a function 𝑓 is zero at a point 𝑥 = 𝑐, then 𝑓 __________________________________ when 𝑥 = 𝑐.

3. Exercise: Use your conjectures or the book to answer the following problems.
A. For which interval/s is the function 𝑓(𝑥) increasing and for which interval/s is it decreasing?

1. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 2 3. 𝑕 𝑥 = −𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2 − 15

2. 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 − 5 4. 𝑟 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 18𝑥 2

B. For each of the functions above, there are particular points wherein we get a horizontal slope. Identify
these points.

1. 𝑓:

2. 𝑔:

3. 𝑕:

4. 𝑟:
4. Fill in the blanks again.

A. The following is the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 (in black)

and its derivative _________ (in gray) is shown. Note that the
function 𝑓 is decreasing in the interval ___________ and increasing in
the interval _______________. As such, the slope of the lines tangent to
𝑓 at any point in the first interval has ____________ slope while the
slope of the lines tangent to 𝑓 at any point in the second interval
has ____________ slope.

At the point 𝑥 =______, the graph has a horizontal tangent. This means
that the derivative at this point has value _________. Rightly so, at this
point, the derivative attains that value. At this point, the function also
attains a local extremum, that is, either a local maximum or a local
minimum. In this case, we have a ___________________________.

1 3
B. The following is the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 (in black)
3
and its derivative _________ (in gray) is shown. Note that the
function 𝑓 is ____________ (increasing/decreasing) everywhere.
As such, the slope of the lines tangent to 𝑓 at any point has
____________ slope. This is supported by the fact that each point of
the derivative lies either on the 𝑥-axis or above it.

At the point 𝑥 =______, the graph has a horizontal tangent. This

means that the derivative at this point has value _________. Rightly
so, at this point, the derivative attains that value. However, this
point is neither a local minimum or a local maximum.

C. The following is the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 3 (in black)

and its derivative _________ (in gray) is shown. Note that the
function 𝑓 is ____________ (increasing/decreasing) everywhere.
As such, the slope of the lines tangent to 𝑓 at any point has
____________ slope. This is supported by the fact that each point of
the derivative lies either on the 𝑥-axis or below it.

At the point 𝑥 =______, the graph has a horizontal tangent. This

means that the derivative at this point has value _________. Rightly
so, at this point, the derivative attains that value. Again, at this
point, the curvature of the graph changed. As such, this point on the
graph is __________________________(a local extremum or not a local
extremum). The slope of the derivative at this point is __________.

D. Do we have to rewrite any conjecture/s in 3? If yes, which one/s, and rewrite the conjecture/s here:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

If 𝑓 ′ 𝑎 = 0 at some point 𝑥 = 𝑎, then does it follow that the function 𝑓 has a local extrema at 𝑎? _______________
If a function 𝑓 has a local extrema, or an inflection point at 𝑥 = 𝑎, then does it follow that 𝑓 ′ 𝑎 = 0? ___________
5. Fill in the blanks.

Consider the absolute value function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 (in black). It is

differentiable almost everywhere, that is, everywhere except _________.
However, 𝑓attains its minimum when 𝑥 = ________. At this point, the
derivative is ____________________, as can be clearly seen in the graph of its
derivative (in gray). Does this satisfy our conjecture? Let us have
another example before fixing our conjecture.

Consider the function 𝑓whose graph is given below. Note where the
local extrema of the function occurs. It occurs when 𝑥 = ______.
However, the derivative at this point is _____________________. As such, we
must modify our conjecture above. When a function 𝑓 has a local
extrema at 𝑥 = 𝑐, then what would we expect the derivative at that
point be? ______________________________________________________________

Use your book and search for the theorem which states
something about the existence of a local extrema. What does
it say? How does it compare to your conjecture? Are there
any hidden assumptions which have been taken for granted
in this exercise?____________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________.

1 1
6. Consider the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 (in black) and its derivative
4 3
________________________ (in gray).

Find the intervals where the function is increasing, or decreasing algebraically.

That is, analyze the derivative at different intervals of the function to answer the
question. Note that the graph is provided only so that you have an idea of what it
looks like. Do not use the graph to identify at which intervals the graph is
increasing or decreasing, or when is has a horizontal slope.

A. The function is increasing at the following intervals: _____________ and _____________.

B. The function is decreasing at the following intervals: _____________ and _____________.
C. The function has horizontal tangents at the following points: ______, _______, and _______.
D. The function has a local maximum at _________ and local minima at ______ and ______.
E. The function has a global minimum at 𝑥 = 𝑎 if for any point 𝑐 in the domain of 𝑓, then 𝑓 𝑎 < 𝑓 𝑐 . The
function has a global maximum at 𝑥 = 𝑏 if for any point 𝑐 in the domain of 𝑓, then 𝑓 𝑏 > 𝑓 𝑐 . In this
example, we have a ________________________________ at 𝑥 = ___________.
 1 13
7. Consider the function 𝑔 𝑥 = − 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 (in black) and its
4 2
derivative ________________________ (in gray).

Find the intervals where the function is increasing, or decreasing

algebraically. That is, analyze the derivative at different intervals of the
function to answer the question. Hint: (𝑥 + 1) is a factor of the derivative.

A. The function is increasing at the following intervals: _____________ and _____________.

B. The function is decreasing at the following intervals: _____________ and _____________.
C. The function has horizontal tangents at the following points: ______, _______, and _______.
D. The function has a local minimum at _________ and local maxima at ______ and ______.
E. If a function either has a global maximum or a global minimum (or both), then we say that it has a global
extremum. In this case, we have a local extremum at 𝑥 = __________ and it is a global ______________.

8. Complete the following table given an example:

𝑓 𝑥<𝑐 𝑐 𝑥>𝑐
Local maximum 𝑓 is increasing before c 0 𝑓 is decreasing after c
𝑓′ 𝑥 > 0 𝑓′ 𝑥 = 0 𝑓′ 𝑥 < 0
Local minimum

Local minimum

𝑔 𝑥<𝑐 𝑐 𝑥>𝑐
Local maximum

Local maximum

Local minimum 𝑓 is decreasing before c −1 𝑓 is increasing after c

𝑔′ 𝑥 < 0 𝑔′ 𝑥 = 0 𝑔′ 𝑥 > 0

Can you make a conjecture on how to locate local extrema by observing the first derivative of a function?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Search your book for the “First Derivative Test.” Compare your conjecture to the test. What assumptions are
needed (and are lacking in your conjecture)? What conclusions are stated (that are not included in your
conjecture)? State the first derivative test. ______________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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9. Return to number 3.B. For each of the functions, determine if the points with horizontal slopes are local
maximum or local minimum.
1. 𝑓:
2. 𝑔:
3. 𝑕:
4. 𝑟: