Compute Second derivative
Concavity and Inflection
Second Derivative Test
100

Find f′′(x) if

f(x)=x3

f′′(x) = 6x

100

If f′′(x)>0, is the function concave up or concave down?

If f′′(x)>0 → concave up

100

If f′(x0)=0 and f''(x0)>0, what type of critical point is x0?

Local minimum


200

Find f′′(x) if f(x) = sinx

f′′(x) = -sinx

200

Is f(x)=x2f(x)=x^2f(x)=x2 concave up or concave down?

If f′′(x)>0 → concave up

200

If f′(x0)=0 and f''(x0)<0, what type of point is it?

Local Max

300

Find f′′(x) if

f(x)=x4−2x2

f′′(x) = 12x2 - 4 

300

Does f(x)=x3 have an inflection point at x=0?

Yes, inflection point at x=0

300

If f′(x0)=0 and f''(x0)=0, what can we conclude?

→ Test is inconclusive

400

Find f′′(x) if

f(x)=xex

f′(x)=ex+xex=ex(1+x) 

f′′(x)=ex(1+x)+ex=ex(x+2)

400

For f(x)=ln⁡x, determine concavity on x>0.

Concave down on x>0

400

Classify the critical points of f(x)=x3−3x

f′′(1)=6>0⇒local minimum

f′′(−1)=−6<0⇒local maximum

 

500

f(x) = xx

f(x)=exlnx 

f′(x)=xx(ln⁡x+1)

f''(x)=x[(ln x+1)2+ 1/x]

500

Find the inflection points of

f(x)=x4−4x2

12x2-8 = 0

x2 = 2/3

x = +/- sqrt(2/3)

500

Given f(x)=x4

Is x=0 a local minimum, maximum, or neither? Justify using the second derivative test.

Local minimum at x=0

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