LEARNING MODULE

Subject Code: MATH 5 Differential Calculus

Module Code: 6.0 Applications of the Derivative
Lesson Code: 6.3.1 Increasing/Decreasing Functions and the First Derivative Test
(Part 1 of 2)
Time Limit: 30 minutes

TARGET TA1: 1 minute ATA2:

By the end of this learning module, the students should be able to:
1. interpret the notion of increasing and decreasing functions, and relative extrema of
functions graphically;
2. determine if a function is increasing or decreasing on an interval using the first
derivative of the function; and,
3. find the relative extrema of a function by applying the first derivative test.

HOOK TA: 2 minutes ATA:

At this point, we have already learned about the different techniques of differentiation
and have applied them to various problems. We have also learned how to utilize derivatives
for problems involving rates of change, rectilinear motion, related rates, and the extrema of
functions. Here, we present another important application of the concept of derivatives,
namely, in examining increasing and decreasing functions and their relative extrema.

IGNITE TA: 27 minutes ATA:

INCREASING/DECREASING FUNCTIONS

Consider the graph shown in Figure 1 on the next page. We turn our focus on three (3)
important intervals: the interval between points A and B, that between B and C, and that
between C and D.

Now, consider the following questions. At which interval/s is the function increasing? And at
which interval/s is the function decreasing?

Intuitively, one can identify that the function increases at the intervals between A and B and
that between C and D. Similarly, one can identify that the function decreases at the interval
between B and C. But how do we relate this with the concept of derivatives?

1
Time Allocation, in minutes, set by the teacher
2
Actual Time Allocation, in minutes, spent by the student (for information purposes only)

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 Figure 1 [Graph made with GeoGebra Classic (Hohenwarter, 2020)]

Examine the function in the interval between points A and B. Consider the tangent line at each
point in this interval (try drawing one at each point – examples are shown on the graph via
black lines). What can you observe?

Evidently, between A and B, the tangent lines have positive slopes so 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) > 0 (Stewart,
2016). This is true for the interval between C and D as well.

Now, consider the function in the interval between B and C. In this interval, the tangent line
at each point is negative so 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) < 0 (Stewart, 2016).

In other words, we find that the function 𝒇 increases when 𝒇′(𝒙) > 𝟎 and the function 𝒇
decreases when 𝒇′(𝒙) < 𝟎 (Stewart, 2016).

We can summarize the results of our graphical example as follows:

INTERVAL 𝒇 ′ (𝒙 ) 𝒇 (𝒙 )
Between A and B + Increasing
Between B and C − Decreasing
Between C and D + Increasing

Math 5 | Page 2 of 7
 Increasing/Decreasing Test (Stewart, 2016)

a) If 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) > 0 on some interval, then 𝑓 is increasing on that interval.

b) If 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) < 0 on some interval, then 𝑓 is decreasing on that interval.

Now that we have grasped the basic notion of increasing and decreasing functions, we move
on to solve an example algebraic problem.
3 3
Example 1. Given: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5 𝑥 5 + 2 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 , determine the intervals at which the
function is increasing and the intervals at which it is decreasing.

Step 1: Determine the derivative of the given function.

𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 4 + 6𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 = (3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)

Step 2: Recall that when 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) > 0, the function is increasing and when 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) < 0, the
function is decreasing. That is, we have:

For increasing,

(3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) > 0

For decreasing,

(3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) < 0

These are polynomial inequalities, and we can solve them by first finding the values at which
the polynomial becomes zero. This is equivalent to finding the 𝑥-values that make 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) = 0
which are called the critical numbers.

Note: A critical number 𝑎 of a function 𝑓 is a number in the domain of 𝑓 at which 𝑓 ′(𝑎) (the
derivative of the function evaluated at 𝑎) is zero or does not exist (Stewart, 2016).

We do this as follows:
(3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) = 0
𝑥 = 0, 1, −1, −2
(critical numbers)

Step 3: Create a table of signs. Note that the critical numbers serve as the boundaries of our
intervals (since they make the polynomial zero). That is, we expect 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) to be positive or
negative within each of these intervals (Stewart, 2016). We can then determine the sign of
𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) based on the behavior of the signs of its four factors (Stewart, 2016).

Keep in mind that in this case, the sign of 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) is the resulting product of the signs of its
individual factors because 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = (3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2).

Math 5 | Page 3 of 7
 INTERVAL 𝟑𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 𝒙+𝟏 𝒙+𝟐 𝒇 ′ (𝒙 ) 𝒇 (𝒙 )
𝑥 < −2 − − − − + Increasing
−2 < 𝑥 < −1 − − − + − Decreasing
−1 < 𝑥 < 0 − − + + + Increasing
0<𝑥<1 + − + + − Decreasing
𝑥>1 + + + + + Increasing

Step 4: (Optional) Graph the original function to check. In our case, see Figure 2. As you can
observe, the function is increasing on (−∞, −2), decreasing on (−2, −1), increasing on
(−1,0), decreasing on (0,1), and increasing on (1, ∞).

Figure 2 [Graph made with GeoGebra Classic (Hohenwarter, 2020)]

RELATIVE EXTREMA

We begin this discussion with the introduction of Fermat’s Theorem (Stewart, 2016).

Fermat’s Theorem (Stewart, 2016)

If 𝑓 has a local minimum or maximum at a number 𝑥0 and 𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) exists, then 𝑓 ′(𝑥0 ) = 0.

This means that if a local or relative extremum (minimum or maximum) of 𝑓 occurs at 𝑥0 , then
𝑥0 is a critical number (Stewart, 2016). But not every critical number will produce an
extremum (Stewart, 2016). That is, we need additional information.

Consider the graph in Figure 2. We have local extrema at E, F, G, and H . Examine the local

Math 5 | Page 4 of 7
maximum at E. The function to the left of this point is increasing while the one to right of the
same point is decreasing. This is true for the local maximum at G as well.

Now, consider the local minimum at F. Observe that the function to the right of this point is
decreasing while that to the left of the same point is increasing. The same goes with the local
minimum at H.

Thus, we find that 𝑓 has a local extremum at 𝑥0 if 𝒇′ changes signs at 𝒙𝟎 (Stewart, 2016). This
brings us to a very important result known as the First Derivative Test (Stewart, 2016).

First Derivative Test (Stewart, 2016)

Given a critical number 𝑥0 of a continuous function 𝑓, we have the following cases:

a) If 𝑓 ′ changes signs from positive to negative at 𝑥0 , then 𝑓 has a local maximum at
𝑥0
b) If 𝑓 ′ changes signs from negative to positive at 𝑥0 , then 𝑓 has a local minimum at
𝑥0
c) If 𝑓 ′ does not change signs at 𝑥0 , then there is no local extremum at 𝑥0

The First Derivative Test follows from the Increasing/Decreasing Test (Stewart, 2016). We
now examine some examples.
3 3
Example 2. Given: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5 𝑥 5 + 2 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 , determine the relative extrema values of
the function. (This is the same given we had in Example 1.)

Step 1: Determine the derivative of the given function.

𝑓 ′ (𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 4 + 6𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 = (3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2)

Step 2: Solve for the critical numbers.

(3𝑥 )(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 2) = 0

𝑥 = 0, 1, −1, −2

Step 3: Create a table of signs.

INTERVAL 𝟑𝒙 𝒙−𝟏 𝒙+𝟏 𝒙+𝟐 𝒇 ′ (𝒙 ) 𝒇 (𝒙 )

𝑥 < −2 − − − − + Increasing
−2 < 𝑥 < −1 − − − + − Decreasing
−1 < 𝑥 < 0 − − + + + Increasing
0<𝑥<1 + − + + − Decreasing
𝑥>1 + + + + + Increasing

Step 4: At the critical number 𝑥 = −2, 𝑓 ′ changes signs from positive to negative, so 𝑓 has a
local maximum at 𝑥 = −2. The same is true with 𝑥 = 0. As for the critical number 𝑥 = −1,
𝑓 ′ changes from negative to positive, so 𝑓 has a local minimum at 𝑥 = −1. This is also true
for 𝑥 = 1.

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To solve for the local extrema values, substitute the critical numbers at which the extrema
occur to the original function.

Local maxima values:

4
𝑓 (𝑥 = −2) =
5
𝑓(𝑥 = 0) = 0

Local minima values:

11
𝑓 (𝑥 = −1) = −
10

19
𝑓(𝑥 = 1) = −
10

Example 3. Given: 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = sin(x), 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2π, determine the relative extrema values of

the function.

Step 1: Determine the derivative of the given function.

𝑓 ′(𝑥 ) = cos(x)

Step 2: Solve for the critical numbers while noting the range of 𝑥-values (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 2π).

cos(𝑥 ) = 0
π 3π
𝑥= ,
2 2

Step 3: Create a table of signs.

INTERVAL 𝒇 ′ (𝒙 ) 𝒇 (𝒙 )
π + Increasing
0<𝑥<
2
π 3π − Decreasing
<𝑥<
2 2
3π + Increasing
< 𝑥 < 2π
2
π
Step 4: At the critical number 𝑥 = 2 , 𝑓 ′ changes signs from positive to negative, so 𝑓 has a
π 3π
local maximum at 𝑥 = . As for the critical number 𝑥 = , 𝑓 ′ changes from negative to
2 2
3π
positive, so 𝑓 has a local minimum at 𝑥 = .
2

Once again, to solve for the local extrema values, substitute the critical numbers at which the
extrema occur to the original function.

Math 5 | Page 6 of 7
Local maximum value:
π
𝑓 (𝑥 = ) = 1
2

Local minimum value:

3π
𝑓 (𝑥 = ) = −1
2

Example 4. Given the following table of signs, determine the type of relative extrema that
occur at the following critical numbers: 𝑥 = 1, 2, 3.

INTERVAL 𝒇 ′ (𝒙 ) 𝒇 (𝒙 )
0<𝑥<1 + Increasing
1<𝑥<2 − Decreasing
2<𝑥<3 − Decreasing
3<𝑥<4 + Increasing

At the critical number 𝑥 = 1, the sign of 𝑓 ′ changes from positive to negative so a local
maximum of 𝑓 occurs at 𝑥 = 1. At the critical number 𝑥 = 2, the sign of 𝑓 ′ does not change
at all (negative on the left and right of 𝑥 = 2), so there is no local extremum of 𝑓 at 𝑥 = 2.
Finally, at 𝑥 = 3, the sign of 𝑓 ′ changes from negative to positive so a local minimum of 𝑓
occurs at 𝑥 = 3.

References

Albarico, J.M. (2013). THINK Framework. Based on Ramos, E.G. and N. Apolinario. (n.d.)
Science LINKS. Quezon City: Rex Bookstore Inc.

Hohenwarter, M. (2020, October 6). GeoGebra Classic Version (6.0.609.0-offline).

http://www.geogebra.org/ .

Stewart, J. (2016). Applications of Differentiation. In Calculus: Early Transcendentals (pp.

293–295). Cengage Learning.

Prepared by: David Bryan C. Lao Reviewed by: Ma. Romy Alexis C. Consulta
Position: Special Science Teacher I Position: Special Science Teacher II
Campus: PSHS-WVC Campus: PSHS-WVC

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