a)
\(f'(x) \text{ is }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{positive}\\\text{negative}\end{matrix}\right\}\text{ when }f(x)\text{ is }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{strictly increasing}\\\text{strictly decreasing}\end{matrix}\right\}.\)
\(\implies f(x) \text{ is strictly increasing on the interval }(-\infty, 1)\cup (3, \infty)\text{ and strictly decreasing on the interval } (1, 3).\)
What about when x = 1 or x = 3?
Let ε be an arbitrary constant, infinitesmally small.
\(f'(1 -\varepsilon) > 0\text{ and }f'(1 + \varepsilon) < 0\)
At x = 1, local maximum of f(x) occurs.
\(f'(3 -\varepsilon) < 0\text{ and }f'(3 + \varepsilon) > 0\)
At x = 3, local minimum of f(x) occurs.
\(f'(x) \text{ is }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{increasing}\\\text{decreasing}\\\text{constant}\end{matrix}\right\}\text{ when }f(x)\text{ }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{is convex}\\\text{is concave}\\\text{has a point of inflexion}\end{matrix}\right\}.\)
\(\implies f(x) \text{ is concave on the interval } (-\infty, 2)\text{ and is convex on the interval }(2, \infty).\)
\(\text{Point of inflexion of }f(x)\text{ occurs at } x =2.\)
b)
\(f'(x) \text{ is }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{increasing}\\\text{decreasing}\\\text{constant}\end{matrix}\right\}\text{ when }f''(x)\text{ is }\left\{\begin{matrix}\text{positive}\\\text{negative}\\\text{0}\end{matrix}\right\}.\)
\(\implies f''(x) \text{ is negative on the interval } (-\infty, 2)\text{ and is positive on the interval }(2, \infty).\)
\(f''(2) = 0\)
what do you mean by f' is constant when f has a point of inflexion?
If the gradient is not increasing and not decreasing then it must be a constant.
At a point of inflection
\(\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}=0\\~ \\and\\~\\ \frac{dy}{dx}=\int \frac{d^2y}{dx^2}dx=\int 0dx=k \)
I am not sure that I have presented this properly.
Feel free to comment Max.
No just at that one point. At the point of inflextion the gradient is neither increasing nor decreasing.
If ithe rate of change is not + or - then it must be 0. Which means that the gradient must be a constant at that point.
It is not something I would usually add. (I can see the confusion)
I would normally have just left the statement out altogether.
It is true though.