Concave Upward and Downward

Concave upward is when the slope increases:

Concave downward is when the slope decreases:

What about when the slope stays the same (straight line)? It could be both! See footnote.
Here are some more examples:

Concave Downward is also called Concave or Convex Upward

Concave Upward is also called Convex or Convex Downward

Finding where ...

Usually our task is to find where a curve is concave upward or concave downward:

Definition
The key point is that a line drawn between any two points on the curve won't cross over the
curve:

Let's make a formula for that!

First, the line: take any two different values a and b (in the interval we are looking at):

Then "slide" between a and b using a value t (which is from 0 to 1):

x = ta + (1t)b

When t=0 we get x = 0a+1b = b

When t=1 we get x = 1a+0b = a

When t is between 0 and 1 we get values between a and b

Now work out the heights at that x-value:

When x = ta + (1t)b:

The curve is at y = f( ta + (1t)b

)

The line is at y = tf(a) + (1t)f(b)

And (for concave upward) the line should not be below the curve:

For concave downward the line should not be above the curve ( becomes ):

And those are the actual definitions of concave upward and concave downward.

Calculus
Derivatives can help! The derivative of a function gives the slope.

When the slope continually increases, the function is concave upward.

When the slope continually decreases, the function is concave downward.

Taking the second derivative actually tells us if the slope continually increases or
decreases.

When the second derivative is positive, the function is concave upward.

When the second derivative is negative, the function is concave downward.

Example: the function x2

Its derivative is 2x (see Derivative Rules)

2x continually increases, so the function isconcave upward.

Its second derivative is 2

2 is positive, so the function is concave upward.

Both give the correct answer.

Example: f(x) = 5x3 + 2x2 3x

Let's work out the second derivative:

The derivative is f'(x) = 15x2 + 4x 3 (using Power Rule)

The second derivative is f''(x) = 30x + 4 (using Power Rule)

And 30x + 4 is negative up to x = 4/30 = 2/15, and positive from there onwards. So:

f(x) is concave downward up to x = 2/15

f(x) is concave upward from x = 2/15 on

Note: The point where it changes is called an inflection point.

Footnote: Slope Stays the Same

What about when the slope stays the same (straight line)?
Saying Strictly Concave upward or Strictly Concave downward means a straight line
is not OK.
Otherwise a straight line is acceptable for both.

Example: y = 2x + 1
2x + 1 is a straight line.

It is Concave upward.
It is also Concave downward.
It is not Strictly Concave upward.
And it is not Strictly Concave downward.