Signature Assignment: Curve Analysis

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This is an analysis of the equation f ( x )=x−3 x 3 and how to sketchy by hand.

1- Start by finding the Domain of the function:

As this is a polynomial function the domain is all real numbers. From this we find that
the domain is (−∞ , ∞ ).

2- Next, we find the Y-intercepts of the graph:

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To find this we substitute x in f ( x )=x−3 x 3 for 0. This looks like f ( x )=( 0 )−3 ( 0 ) 3 . In
the equation zero to the power of anything is zero. Then zero multiplied by 3 is zero and
then subtract zero and zero to get f ( x )=0. From this we find that the Y-intercept is at
( 0,0 ) .
3- We now look for the X-intercepts:

We already have one as it is ( 0,0 ) that we found from the Y-intercept that we found. To
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find the X-intercepts we set f ( x ) in the equation of f ( x )=x−3 x 3 for 0 which looks like
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0=x−3 x 3 . We can set x with a power and a find a common factor to make the
1 3 1 1
( )
equation x 3 −3 x 3 =0 . At this point substitute u for x 3 to make u3−3u=0. Now we

can more easily solve for our X-intercepts. We can factor out u for u ( u2−3 )=0 . We can
bow set each part of this to zero to solve for u to get u=0 , √ 3 ,−√ 3 . Now that we have
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solved for u we can now solve for x 3 . We set each of the answers of u to x 3 to find that
x=0 , 5.19 ,−5.19 . These in intercept form look like ( 0,0 ) , ( 0 , 5.19 ) ,( 0 ,−5.19).
4- Now we determine if there are any asymptotes of the equation:

We can determine this from the domain and that it is a polynomial function has an
infinite range and domain so therefore there are no asymptotes.

5- Next need to find where the graph is increasing and decreasing:

To find were increasing and decreasing find points past and in between the X-intercepts.
I used points -6, -4, -1, 1, 4, 6. We set each of these points into our equation and we get
these set of equations and answers:
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3
(−6 )−3 (−6 ) =−0.55
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(−4 )−3 (−4 )3 =0.76
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3
(−1 )−3 (−1 ) =2
1
3
( 1 )−3 ( 1 ) =−2
1
( 4 )−3 ( 4 ) 3 =−0.76
1
( 6 ) −3 ( 6 ) 3 =0.55
From these equations we can see where we are positive and negative and which way
our line goes.

6- We will now find the concavity of the graph:

To find the concavity we need to find where the second derivative x values are equal to
zero. Below are the equations and process of how to get this:
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3
f ( x )=x−3 x
1
f ( x )=1− 2
3
x
2
f ( x )= 5
3
3x
2
5
=0
3
3x
2≠0
From this we find that the graph is concave up since the second derivate when set to
zero is positive.

7- We need to find the critical points of the graph:

We will take the first derivative that we found previously and set it to zero:

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f ( x )=1− 2
x3
1
1− 2
=0
3
x
x=−1 , 1
 We then can take these and set them into our equation to find the points
( 2 ,−1 ) ,(−2,1).
8- We also need to verify to see if there are any inflection points:

This can be determined by setting the second derivate of the equation and set it to zero
which we found that there are no inflection points.

9- Below is a hand sketch of the graph and a picture of the graph from a graphing software:
 In conclusion, to work out an equation to make a hand drawn sketch of the graph can take some
time but it helps you understand better on what each part of learning the equation does for you. It helps
you to know for future reference on how things work and what it can do for you if you do not have the
resources to have a computer or calculator graph an equation for you then you have the means to do it
yourself.