Activity 3.

2 (a-c):
We are given a graph:

a) We can find the inflection points of f ( x ) by locating where f "(x) 0 . Here that is at x 1 .
Note that f "(2) 0 , however, the concavity of f ( x ) does not change at this point, so no
inflection point is described.
b)
range
Sign of f(x)
Concavity of f(x)

(, 1)

(1, 2)

(2, )

+
Concave down

Concave up

Concave up

c) If it is given that g '(1.67857351) 0 , this tells us that the slope of g(x) is zero at this point.
Knowing that the graph of f "( x ) is positive through this point tells us that f '(x) passes
through the axis, going from negative to positive. This tells us that there is a local minimum at
x 1.67857351 .

3.8 (c):
In this exercise we are asked to find exact values for the absolute maximum and minimum of

q ( x)

x2
on the interval [3, 7] .
x2

First, we must find the first derivative and any critical numbers:

q '( x)

( x 2)

d 2 d
x ( x 2) x 2
dx
dx
( x 2) 2

2 x( x 2) x 2
( x 2) 2

2 x2 4x x2
( x 2) 2

x2 4 x
( x 2) 2
x( x 4)

( x 2) 2

We can see right away that x 2 . Closer examination reveals that x 2 we get smaller and smaller
numbers, while x 2 we get larger and larger, so this is a lopsided asymptote. We can also see
critical numbers at x 0 and x 4 . Of these three points of interest, only one ( x 4) lies in our
range. Now we must find the values of q ( x) at the beginning and end of the range, and at the critical
point that lies within it. We see that q (3) 9 , q (4) 8 , and q (7) 9.8 . Thus, our global max is
q (7) 9.8 , and our global min is q (4) 8 .
2.8 (2.22b)
In this exercise we are asked to evaluate the limit: lim
x

cos( x)
. Given that the denominator is not zero
x

in this case, we will not need LHopitals rule. It is simpler, here, to make a chart:

cos( x)
x

-0.329997

3.1

-0.322302

3.141

-0.318370

3.142

-0.318296

3.2

-1.311967

3.3

-0.299236

So, lim
x

cos( x)
0.3183 .
x

2.8 (2.23)
We are given a series of graphs:

First, we are asked to locate f (2) , f '(2) , g (2) , and g '(2) , then evaluate lim
x 2

f ( x)
g ( x)

We can see that all these values seem to be 0, disallowing standard derivations. However, using
LHopitals rule:

f ( x)
f '( x)
lim
x2 g ( x)
x 2 g '( x )
1
f '( x)
lim
2
x 2 g '( x )
4
1

8
lim

We are also asked to locate p (2) , p '(2) , q (2) , and q '(2) , then evaluate lim
x 2

We can see from the graph, that all of these points appear to align at

p( x)
q( x)

3
, with the tidily sloped
2

derivatives intersecting there. Via LHopitals rule:

p( x)
p '( x)
lim
x 2 q( x)
x 2 q '( x )
p '( x) 1
lim

x 2 q '( x )
3
2
2

3
lim

Finally, on the third graph, we can see that the values of r (x) , r '( x ) , s ( x ) , and s '( x ) all appear to be
zero. LHopitals rule cannot be directly used here, as the slope of both first derivatives is zero. We can,

however, assume that the sign of the limit will be negative, as the concavity of r ( x ) is up, while that of

r ''( x)
must be negative, as r "(x) is negative, while s "( x ) is positive.
x 2 s ''( x)

s ( x ) is down, so lim