5.

Applications of differential calculus

5.4. Discussion of functions

Plot the graph of the following functions.
5.4.1. f (x) = x3 − 4x2 + 4x.
Solution
(1) Intersections: the function intersects the y axis at the point f (0) = 0, the
function intersects the x axis at the solutions of the equation x3 −4x2 +4x = 0,
that is x = 0, x = 2.
(2) Limits:

lim (x3 − 4x2 + 4x) = −∞, lim (x3 − 4x2 + 4x) = ∞.

x→−∞ x→∞

(3) Monotonicity, extremum: The derivative of the function is f 0 (x) = 3x2 −8x+4,
thus the possible extrema are x = 2 and x = 32 .

2 2 2
x< 3 x= 3 3 <x<2 x=2 2<x

f 0 (x) + 0 − 0 +
f % loc. max. & loc. min. %
f 23 = 32


27 f (2) = 0

(4) Convexity, inflexion: The second derivative of the function is f 00 (x) = 6x − 8,

thus the possible inflexion is x = 34 .

4 4 4
x< 3 x= 3 3 <x

f 00 (x) − 0 +
f _ infl. ^
4 16


f 3 = 27

(5) Range: Rf = R.
2 5. Applications of differential calculus

32
27

16
27

2 4 2
3 3

5.4.1. f (x) = x3 − 4x2 + 4x

x3
5.4.2. f (x) = − 3x2 − 8x.
3
Solution
(1) Intersections: the function intersects the y axis at the point f (0) = 0, the
function intersects the x axis at the solutions of the equation

x3 x2
 
− 3x2 + 8x = x − 3x + 8 = 0,
3 3

that is x = 0.
(2) Limits:

x3 x3
   
lim − 3x2 + 8x = −∞, lim 2
− 3x + 8x = ∞.
x→−∞ 3 x→∞ 3

(3) Monotonicity, extremum: The derivative of the function is f 0 (x) = x2 −6x+8,

thus the possible extrema are x = 2 and x = 4.

x<2 x=2 2<x<4 x=4 4<x

f 0 (x) + 0 − 0 +
f % loc. max. & loc. min. %
20 16
f (2) = 3 f (4) = 3

(4) Convexity, inflexion: The second derivative of the function is f 00 (x) = 2x − 6,

thus the possible inflexion is x = 3.
5.4. Discussion of functions 3

20
3
6
16
3

2 3 4

x3
5.4.2. f (x) = − 3x2 + 8x
3

x<3 x=3 3<x

f 00 (x) − 0 +
f _ infl. ^
f (3) = 6

(5) Range: Rf = R.

5.4.3. f (x) = 2x2 − x4 .

Solution
(1) Intersections: the function intersects the y axis at the point f (0) = 0, the
function intersects the x axis at the solutions of the equation
2x2 − x4 = x2 (2 − x4 ) = 0,
√ √
that is x = 0, x = 2 and x = − 2.
(2) Limits:
lim (2x2 − x2 ) = ∞.
x→∞

(3) Monotonicity, extremum: The derivative of the function is f 0 (x) = 4x − 4x3 ,

thus the possible extrema are x = 0, x = 1 and x = −1.

x=0 0<x<1 x=1 1<x

f 0 (x) 0 + 0 −
f loc. min. % loc. max. &
f (0) = 0 f (1) = 1
4 5. Applications of differential calculus

1
5
9

√ √
− 2 -1 1 1 1 2
−√ √
3 3

5.4.3. f (x) = 2x2 − x4

(4) Convexity, inflexion: The second derivative of the function is f 00 (x) = 4−12x2 ,
thus the possible inflection points are x = − √13 and x = √13 .

0<x< √1 x= √1 √1 <x
3 3 3

f 00 (x) + 0 −
f ^ infl. _
 
f √1 = 5
3 9

(5) Range: Rf =] − ∞; 1].

x4
5.4.4. f (x) = x3 − .
2
Solution
(1) Intersections: the function intersects the y axis at the point f (0) = 0, the
function intersects the x axis at the solutions of the equation

x4  x
x3 − = x3 1 − = 0,
2 2
that is x = 0 and x = 2.
(2) Limits:
x4 x4
   
3 3
lim x − = −∞, lim x − = −∞.
x→−∞ 2 x→∞ 2
(3) Monotonicity, extremum: The derivative of the function is f 0 (x) = 3x2 − 2x3 ,
thus the possible extrema are x = 0 and x = 23 .
5.4. Discussion of functions 5

3 3 3
x<0 x=0 0<x< 2 x= 2 2 <x

f 0 (x) + 0 + 0 −
f % no extr. % loc. max. &
f 32 = 27


32

(4) Convexity, inflexion: The second derivative of the function is f 00 (x) = 6x−6x2 ,
thus the possible inflection points are x = 0 and x = 1.

x<0 x=0 0<x<1 x=1 1<x

f 00 (x) − 0 + 0 −
f _ infl. ^ infl. _
1
f (0) = 0 f (1) = 2
 
27
(5) Range: Rf = −∞; .
32

27
32
1
2

-1 1 3 2
2

x4
5.4.4. f (x) = x3 −
2

5.4.5. f (x) = x4 − 2x3 + 2.

Solution
(1) Intersections: the function intersects the y axis at the point f (0) = 2, but
the intersection of the function and the x axis cannot be calculated with an
elementary method. Later we will see, that the function has no zeros.
(2) Limits:
lim (x4 − 2x3 + 2) = ∞, lim (x4 − 2x3 + 2) = ∞.
x→−∞ x→∞
6 5. Applications of differential calculus

(3) Monotonicity, extremum: The derivative of the function is f 0 (x) = 4x3 − 6x2 ,
thus the possible extrema are x = 0 and x = 23 .

3 3 3
x<0 x=0 0<x< 2 x= 2 2 <x

f 0 (x) − 0 − 0 +
f & no extr. & loc. min. %
f 32 = 165

1
5
16
1 3
2

5.4.5. f (x) = x4 − 2x3 + 2

(4) Convexity, inflexion: The second derivative of the function is f 00 (x) = 12x2 −
12x, thus the possible inflection points are x = 0 and x = 1.

x<0 x=0 0<x<1 x=1 1<x

f 00 (x) + 0 − 0 +
f ^ infl. _ infl. ^
f (0) = 2 f (1) = 1


5
(5) Range: Rf = ;∞ .
16