AP CALCULUS AB Name:__________________________________
Date:___________________________________
UNIT 5 - ANALYTICAL APPLICATION OF DIFFERENTIATION
5.3 - Determining Intervals on Which a Function is
Increasing or Decreasing
Theorem
over an interval.
Increasing and Decreasing
an interval.
Functions
Definitions of Increasing and Decreasing Functions
A function f is increasing on an interval if for any two
numbers x1 and x2 in the interval,
x1 x2 implies f ( x1 ) f ( x2 ).
A function f is decreasing on an interval if for any two
numbers x1 and x2 in the interval,
x1 x2 implies f ( x1()a, b f) ( x2 ).
f(x 7 f(xx)
( a, b )
,
THEOREM: Test for Increasing and Decreasing Functions
( a, b )
Let f be a function that is continuous on the closed interval [a b] and differentiable on
,
the open interval ( b) . ,
1. If f ( x) 0 for all x in (a b) , then f is increasing on [a b] .
,
,
2. If f ( x) 0 for all x in (n , b) , then f is decreasing on [a b].
,
3. If for all x in , then f is constant on .
Example 1: Intervals on Which f is Increasing or Decreasing
The graph shown to the right is of f ( x) , the derivative of f ( x) . f ( x)
Using the graph, find the critical values of f ( x) , and state the
intervals over which f ( x) is increasing and decreasing.
Justify your answer.
↓ (x) = 0 When X = 0 2 4
, ,
f (X) is not undefined
f(x) is 10 , 2) and (4, 8) because
↓ (x) To
increasing on
intervals
on these
HM) is 0) and (2 , 4) because
decreasing on (-0 ,
↓ (x) 0 on these intervals ·
Example 2: Intervals on Which f is Increasing or Decreasing
3
Find the intervals on which f ( x) = x3 − x 2 is increasing or decreasing.
2
H(x) 34 34 = -
+x) is (-0 0)
increasing on and (1
, 8)
-
0 3X(X
,
= -
1) =
recuse f(x) 30 on these intervals .
X 0 1
f(x) is
=
decreasing 10 1)
,
on
-
,
↓ (X) is not undefined
because H(xo on this interval .
H
!
+
1 2
O
( a, b )
( a, b )
Guidelines for Finding Intervals on Which a Function is Increasing or Decreasing
Let f be continuous on the interval (a b). To find the intervals on which f is increasing or
,
decreasing, use the following steps.
1. Locate the critical numbers of f in (a b), and use these numbers to determine
,
your test intervals.
( a, b )
2. Determine the sign of f ( x) by picking a “test value” in each of the intervals.
3. Use the Theorem for Increasing and Decreasing Functions to determine whether
the function increases or decreases.
The guidelines above will also work if the interval (a , b) is replaced by an interval of the
forms: ( −, b ) , ( a, ) , or ( −, )
Definition: A function is strictly monotonic on an interval if it is either increasing
on the entire interval or decreasing on the entire interval.
