V.

Jaquez

Calculus Part 2 Question

Question: Let f be the function given by f(x) =

Since the limit of the slope is 1. The graph of

(x +8)/(x+3) for all x -3 and whose derivative is

2

3/25/2015

given by f(x) = (x +6x+8)/(x+3) for all x -3.

f(x) never reaches or goes above 1 (m 1) but as

it approaches infinity it comes closer and closer

a) In the viewing window provided below,

sketch the graph of f(x)

to reaching it.

Being able to analyze a function and its

Gr

derivative and knowing its limits, domain,

and range are very important for passing the
AP Calculus test. In this question we will
learn how to sketch a graph, find the range
of f using its derivative as justification, find
the limits of the derivative, and explain how

aph of f(x) = (x2+8)/(x+3)

b) Find the range of f. Use f(x) to justify
your answer.

To solve part a we can change the

y -4 and y -8

window size to exactly what we need

because the question tells us what it wants.

lim f ( x )
'

c) Find

it affects the original graph.

Then we can find all the important points

that give the graph its curvature such as

x 2 +6 x +8 x2 +6 x +8
= 2
( x +3)2
x +6 x +9

extreme values or asymptotes. This is very

x2
=1
2
x

lim f ' ( x ) =1

much the easiest part of the problem because

it requires more work drawing then it does
thinking.

Now we will move on to part B,

d)

Explain what your answer to tells

involving the derivative is given by

about the graph of f(x).

f(x) = (x2+6x+8)/(x+3)2 for all x (-3). It

V. Jaquez

Calculus Part 2 Question

is important for us to know what type of

3/25/2015

discontinuity this is to understand its

relationship to the original

function. Since we know it is not defined at (-3) we take the x and y values to the left and right of
it to discover how far the graph goes. What we find using the calculator is that the critical points
are (-4 and -2) which is also provable using the derivative equation. From the left of (-3) we see
that f has a range of (-,-8] and from the right [-4, ). Looking at the derivative the function we
see how it starts decreasing after it passes the critical points and approaches - at (-3), this is an
important observation for later.
To answer Part C and D, you need to take the limit of the derivative by either examining
the graph on the calculator or solving it algebraically; we will solve it using the latter method in
this case. By distributing the denominator of f(x) we put the top and bottom of the fraction in the

x2
same terms, and we can use the leading terms to find the limit. Since x 2 =1 , we found the
limit. Part D wants to know how the limit of the slope relates to f, we already answered this
however. Across the entire function the slope never exceeds 1, so we know where its increasing,
and where it is decreasing toward infinity.
In conclusion, we know how to properly interpret a function and analyze the information
that the derivative gives. With this knowledge we can get all the points we need to get a 5 on the
AP test because we know how to answer a part 2 question.