Video Transcript
The graph of the derivative π
prime of a function π is shown. On what intervals is π increasing
or decreasing?
To answer this question, we need to
recall the link between whether a function is increasing or decreasing and its first
derivative. Formally, a function is increasing
on an interval πΌ if π of π₯ one is less than π of π₯ two for all pairs of
π₯-values, π₯ one and π₯ two, with π₯ one less than π₯ two in the interval πΌ. In practical terms though, this
just means that the graph of the function is sloping upwards. And so its first derivative which,
remember, is the slope function of the curve is positive. On the other hand, a function is
decreasing on an interval πΌ if π of π₯ one is greater than π of π₯ two for all π₯
one less than π₯ two in the interval πΌ, which in practical terms just means the
line is sloping downwards. And so the first derivative, π
prime of π₯, is negative.
To determine the intervals on which
any function is increasing or decreasing then, we just need to consider the sign of
its first derivative. So the function π will be
increasing when the graph of its first derivative π prime is above the π₯-axis. From the given figure, we see that
this is true on the open interval, one to five. π will be decreasing when the
graph of its first derivative is below the π₯-axis. From the figure, we see that this
is true on two open intervals, the interval zero, one and the interval five,
six. So we can conclude then that π is
increasing on the open interval one to five and decreasing on the open intervals
zero to one and five to six.
