Module 9 - The Relationship between a Function and Its First and Second Derivative |
Introduction | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Self-Test |
Lesson 9.2: What the Second Derivative Says About the Function |
In this lesson you will use the tanimate program and the Inflection feature in the Graph Math menu to determine characteristics of a function by looking at the graph of its second derivative. Defining the Second Derivative If f is a function, then we have seen that its derivative, f ', is also a function. The function f ' may have its own derivative. The derivative of f ' is called the second derivative of f.
The second derivative of the function f is denoted by f " , which is read "f double prime." The calculator denotes a second derivative as
Visualizing How the Tangent Line Slopes Change To visualize the relationship between a function and its second derivative, graph a function, run tanimate, and watch the creation of tangent lines with a new focus.
![]()
Notice that the tangent lines have positive slopes on the interval
While the program is running watch the tangent lines carefully and pay attention to how the tangent line slopes are changing from one point to the next. 9.2.1 Describe how the slopes of the tangent lines change. Click here for the answer. Defining Concavity The graph of a function is said to be concave upward on an interval where the slopes of the tangent lines increase and concave downward where the slopes of the tangent lines decrease. That is, concavity is a measure of whether a curve is turning upward or downward. Determining the Concavity of f from the Graph of f "
The graph of the second derivative of y = sin 2x can be found by using the
![]() ![]() 9.2.2 What is the relationship between the second derivative and the original function? Approximate where the graph of y = sin 2x shown above changes from concave upward to concave downward? Click here for the answer. Finding an Inflection Point A point where a function's graph changes concavity is called an inflection point. You can find this point with the Inflection feature in the Graph Math menu.
![]() Make sure you are on the right graph. There should be a "1" in the upper right corner of the screen. The calculator prompts you for a lower bound.
![]()
![]()
![]() The function y = sin 2x has an inflection point at (0,0). Finding the Inflection Point of Another Function Find the inflection point of the function given in Lesson 9.1: y = x3 2x2 5x + 6 .
9.2.3 What are the coordinates of the inflection point? Click here for the answer. |
< Back | Next > |
©Copyright
2007 All rights reserved. |
Trademarks
|
Privacy Policy
|
Link Policy
|