The diagram below shows the curve y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x). It has turning points at (0,6)(0, 6), (5,0)(5, 0) and (7,7)(7, 7) and intersects the xx-axis at (−3,0)(-3, 0) and (8,0)(8, 0).

  1. (i)

    State the xx-coordinates of the stationary points for the curve y=f(x)y = \text{f}(x). Hence determine the nature of these stationary points.

  2. (ii)

    State the range of values of xx such that the curve y=f(x)y = \text{f}(x) is concave downwards.

  3. (iii)

    A student claims that if the curve y=f(x)y = \text{f}(x) passes through the point (−3,7)(-3, 7), then f(x)>7\text{f}(x) > 7 for −3<x<5-3 < x < 5. Explain briefly whether the student is right to make such a claim.

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Worked solution

11(i)

1. State the $x$-coordinates of the stationary points by finding where $\text{f}'(x) = 0$.

Stationary points occur when f′(x)=0\text{f}'(x) = 0, which corresponds to the xx-intercepts on the y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) graph.
From the given graph, the xx-intercepts are x=−3x = -3, x=5x = 5, and x=8x = 8.

2. Determine the nature of the stationary point at $x = -3$.

Just before x=−3x = -3, the curve y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) is below the xx-axis (f′(x)<0\text{f}'(x) < 0).
Just after x=−3x = -3, the curve is above the xx-axis (f′(x)>0\text{f}'(x) > 0).
Since the gradient changes from negative to positive, x=−3x = -3 is a local minimum point.

3. Determine the nature of the stationary points at $x = 5$ and $x = 8$.

At x=5x = 5, the curve y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) touches the xx-axis and remains above it. Since f′(x)>0\text{f}'(x) > 0 on both sides, the gradient does not change sign, so x=5x = 5 is a stationary point of inflexion.

At x=8x = 8, the curve crosses from above the xx-axis (f′(x)>0\text{f}'(x) > 0) to below the xx-axis (f′(x)<0\text{f}'(x) < 0). Since the gradient changes from positive to negative, x=8x = 8 is a local maximum point.

Answer

Stationary points are at x=−3x = -3, x=5x = 5, and x=8x = 8.

  • x=−3x = -3 is a local minimum.
  • x=5x = 5 is a stationary point of inflexion.
  • x=8x = 8 is a local maximum.

11(ii)

1. Relate the concavity of $y = \text{f}(x)$ to the gradient of $y = \text{f}'(x)$

For the curve y=f(x)y = \text{f}(x) to be concave downwards, we require f′′(x)<0\text{f}''(x) < 0.
This means the gradient of the curve y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) must be negative, which occurs when the graph of y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) is strictly decreasing.

2. Identify the relevant intervals from the graph

From the given graph, y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) is decreasing between the turning points (0,6)(0, 6) and (5,0)(5, 0), and after the turning point (7,7)(7, 7).
Therefore, the required range of values is 0<x<50 < x < 5 and x>7x > 7.

Answer

0<x<50 < x < 5 and x>7x > 7

11(iii)

1. Identify the sign of $\text{f}'(x)$ from the graph and deduce the behavior of $\text{f}(x)$ for $-3 < x < 5$.

From the given graph, the curve y=f′(x)y = \text{f}'(x) lies above the xx-axis for −3<x<5-3 < x < 5. This means f′(x)>0\text{f}'(x) > 0 in this interval, indicating that the function f(x)\text{f}(x) is strictly increasing.

2. Evaluate the student's claim based on the initial value at $x = -3$.

Given that the curve passes through (−3,7)(-3, 7), we have f(−3)=7\text{f}(-3) = 7.
Since f(x)\text{f}(x) is strictly increasing for −3<x<5-3 < x < 5, it follows that f(x)>f(−3)\text{f}(x) > \text{f}(-3) for all xx in this interval.
Therefore, f(x)>7\text{f}(x) > 7 for −3<x<5-3 < x < 5, and the student is right.

Answer

Yes, the student is right.

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