37.2k views
3 votes
Determine whether each of the statements that mary of the material. follow is true or false. If a statement is true, explain why. If a statement is false, provide a counterexample.

(a) True or False: If f ′′(2)=0, then x=2 is an inflection point of f.
(b) True or False: If f ′′ is concave up on an interval I, then it is positive on I.
(c) True or False: If f is concave up on an interval I, then f ′′ is positive on I.
(d) True or False: If f ′′ (2) does not exist and x=2 is in the domain of f, then x=2 is a critical point of the function f ′ .
(e) True or False: If f has an inflection point at x=3 and f is differentiable at x=3, then the derivative f ′ has a local minimum or maximum at x=3.
(f) True or False: If f ′ (1)=0 and f ′′ (1)=−2, then f has a local minimum at x=1.
(g) True or False: The second-derivative test involves checking the sign of the second derivative on each side of every critical point.
(h) True or False: The second-derivative test always produces exactly the same information as the first-derivative test.

User Mistahenry
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Several false statements were corrected, such as the misconception that a zero second derivative at a point confirms an inflection point and that the concavity of the first derivative determines the sign of the second derivative. Also, an inflection point does not guarantee that the derivative has a local extremum.

(a) False: If f ′′(2)=0, x=2 is not necessarily an inflection point of f. An inflection point requires f ′′ to change sign.

(b) False: If f ′′ is concave up on an interval I, this describes the concavity of f ′ and does not imply f ′′ is positive on I.

(c) True: If f is concave up on an interval I, then f ′′ is positive on I because the slope of the tangent lines is increasing.

(d) True: If f ′′(2) does not exist and x=2 is in the domain of f, x=2 can be a critical point of f′ if f′ is also undefined or zero at x=2.

(e) False: If f has an inflection point at x=3 and f is differentiable at x=3, f′ does not necessarily have a local minimum or maximum at x=3.

(f) True: If f ′(1)=0 and f ′′(1)=-2, f has a local maximum at x=1 because the second derivative is negative, indicating concave down.

(g) False: The second-derivative test involves checking the sign of f′′ at the critical points, not on each side of them.

(h) False: The second-derivative test does not always produce the same information as the first-derivative test; it can be inconclusive when f′′=0.

User Artist
by
8.6k points