# Difference between revisions of "Math 22 Concavity and the Second-Derivative Test"

## Formal Definition of Concavity

 Let ${\displaystyle f}$ be differentiable on an open interval ${\displaystyle I}$. The graph of ${\displaystyle f}$ is
1. Concave upward on ${\displaystyle I}$ when ${\displaystyle f'(x)}$ is increasing on the interval.
2. Concave downward on ${\displaystyle I}$ when ${\displaystyle f'(x)}$ is decreasing on the interval.


## Test for Concavity

 Let ${\displaystyle f}$ be a function whose second derivative exists on an open interval ${\displaystyle I}$
1. If ${\displaystyle f''(x)>0}$ for all ${\displaystyle x}$ in ${\displaystyle I}$, then the graph of ${\displaystyle f}$ is concave upward on ${\displaystyle I}$.
2. If ${\displaystyle f''(x)<0}$ for all ${\displaystyle x}$ in ${\displaystyle I}$, then the graph of ${\displaystyle f}$ is concave downward on ${\displaystyle I}$.


## Guidelines for Applying the Concavity Test

 1. Locate the ${\displaystyle x}$-values at which ${\displaystyle f''(x)=0}$ or ${\displaystyle f''(x)}$ is undefined.
2. Use these ${\displaystyle x}$-values to determine the test intervals.
3. Determine the sign of ${\displaystyle f'(x)}$ at an arbitrary number in each test intervals
4. Apply the concavity test


Exercises: Find the second derivative of ${\displaystyle f}$ and discuss the concavity of its graph.

1) ${\displaystyle f(x)=x^{3}+2x^{2}}$

Solution:
Step 1: ${\displaystyle f'(x)=3x^{2}+4x}$, so ${\displaystyle f''(x)=6x=0}$
Step 2: So ${\displaystyle x=0}$, so the test intervals are ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0)}$ and ${\displaystyle (0,\infty )}$
Step 3: Choose ${\displaystyle x=-1}$ for the interval ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0)}$, and ${\displaystyle x=1}$ for the interval ${\displaystyle (0,\infty )}$.
Then we have: ${\displaystyle f''(-1)=-6<0}$ and ${\displaystyle f''(1)=6>0}$
Step 4: By the concavity test, ${\displaystyle f(x)}$ is concave up in ${\displaystyle (0,\infty )}$ and ${\displaystyle f(x)}$ is concave down in ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0)}$

2) ${\displaystyle f(x)=x^{4}-2x^{3}+10}$

Solution:
Step 1: ${\displaystyle f'(x)=4x^{3}-6x^{2}}$, so ${\displaystyle f''(x)=12x^{2}-12x=12x(x-1)=0}$
Step 2: So, ${\displaystyle x=0}$ and ${\displaystyle x=1}$, so the test intervals are ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0),(0,1)}$ and ${\displaystyle (1,\infty )}$
Step 3: Choose ${\displaystyle x=-1}$ for the interval ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0)}$, ${\displaystyle x={\frac {1}{2}}}$ for the interval ${\displaystyle (0,1)}$ and ${\displaystyle x=2}$ for the interval ${\displaystyle (1,\infty )}$.
Then we have: ${\displaystyle f''(-1)=24>0}$, ${\displaystyle f''({\frac {1}{2}})=-3<0}$ and ${\displaystyle f''(2)=24>0}$
Step 4: By the concavity test, ${\displaystyle f(x)}$ is concave up in ${\displaystyle (-\infty ,0)\cup (1,\infty )}$ and ${\displaystyle f(x)}$ is concave down in ${\displaystyle (0,1)}$