Dax Allen

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 1/3
1. Determine the domain of f.
The domain for the function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 1/3 is all real numbers. Negative
numbers can be evaluated for odd numbered roots.
2. Find any intercepts of f, if possible.
There is only one y-intercept located at the point (0,0). The x-intercepts for the
function were found by setting the function equal to zero, 0 = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 1/3. These
intercepts are 𝑥 = ±3√3 ≈ ±5.2 .
3. Test for symmetry or periodicity.
There is no periodicity for this function. The function is also not symmetric across
either the x-axis or the y-axis but it is symmetrical around the origin. This can be
shown by finding a couple points on the graph. (-1,2), (1,-2) and (-8,2),(8,-2) –
These points are completely inverse of each other and show that the functions
reflects around the origin.
4. Find any asymptotes of f by evaluating the appropriate limits.
This function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 − 3𝑥 1/3 does not have any asymptotes.
The graphs of the first and second derivatives of this function both have a vertical
asymptote at x = 0.
5. Determine the intervals of increase and decrease.
The intervals of increase are (-∞, -1)∪(1, ∞).
The intervals of decrease are (-1,0)∪(0,1). The reason that 0 is not included in
the intervals of decrease is because 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 at 0. The slope at 0 is
vertical and therefore is not increasing nor decreasing.
6. Locate extreme points.
The local maxima is the point (-1,2) and the local minima is the point (1,-2). These
1
were found by setting the derivative of the function, 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = 1 − 2 , equal to
𝑥3
zero and solving for x.
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7. Determine intervals of concavity.

The intervals of concavity are normally determined by taking the second
derivative of a function and setting it equal to zero, in this case that resulted in no
solution. Using the data that we got from questions 2, 3, and 5 I was able to come
up with the intervals. From question 2 we see that (0,0) is a point on the function,
from question 3 we see that the function reflects around the point (0,0), and from
question 5 we can see that the function increases to x = -1 and then decreases to
x = 1 and then increases again to ∞. By seeing that when a function increases to a
point then decreases to another point, we know that would make a concave
facing downward. The graph will concave downward from (-∞,0). Then if we
reflect that across the point (0,0) it would be the inverse, so we see that the graph
will concave upward from (0, ∞).
8. Locate inflection points.
With the understanding that the inflection point is the point were the concavity
changes on a function we can correctly determine from the information we
gained from question 7 that the inflection point is (0,0).
9. Sketch the curve
 Dax Allen

Graph from Desmos.com

My drawn graph does not quite show the vertical slope at (0,0) or the almost
vertical slopes for the points around (0,0).

The general curve analysis process is a good way to get enough information to
sketch a complex graph. There is no way that I would have been able to sketch
that graph by plotting a few points.
The major problems I ran into with this project was getting the inflection point
and figuring out the concavity. f’(x) and f’’(x) are both undefined at x = 0, this
made following the normal rules for determining concavity and inflection points
not possible. Because of this I had to take other information that I had about the
graph in order to figure out where the inflection point was and what the concavity
was on each interval.
While I was graphing f(x) on Desmos.com I decided to also graph f’(x) and f’’(x). I
was able to follow both derivatives and see how their values related to the
primary function based on what they each represent.
A real-world example for curve analysis would be to check the validity of a curve
developed by a neural network or machine learning algorithm. While looking up
examples for this I found a scientific paper whose goal was to figure out real-
 Dax Allen

world power output for wind turbines as laboratory tested figures tended to be
optimistic. They recorded some data and then created a neural network that
would be able model the actual power output for wind turbines based on the
location they were going to be erected. For the neural network to work accurately
they would have to do curve analysis on the data they were using for the model
and the outputs from the model until they were accurate. This model will help
determine the real world energy output from wind turbines and allow for better
understand of normal behavior vs abnormal behavior of existing wind turbines.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960148119303805