5.

6 Putting it All Together

Learning Goal
● 5.7 - Curve Sketching - I can create a number line using critical numbers and inflection points
that describes when a function is increasing/decreasing and concave up/concave down and I
can use this information to accurately sketch the function.

Resources Homework
● Waterloo - Curve Sketching Algorithm ● Waterloo - Link - 1-4

Curve Sketching Algorithm (Source: CEMC - Courseware)

1. Find the domain of f(x)

2. Find the y-intercept: (0, f(0))

3. Determine any discontinuities of f. Determine behaviour near discontinuities.

4. Find the x-intercept(s): f(x)=0.

5. Explore lim 𝑓(𝑥) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) to determine whether horizontal asymptotes
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 → −∞
exist.

6. Find any critical points where f ‘(c)=0 or f ′(c) is undefined for c in the domain of f.

7. Determine the intervals where f(x) is increasing and where f(x) is decreasing by
checking whether f ′(x) changes sign at any critical point of f(x), or at any
discontinuity of f(x). If f ′(x) changes sign at a critical point x=c, then a local
extreme exists at (c,f(c)) provided that f(x) is continuous at x=c.

8. Determine all points where f ″(x)=0 or f ″(x) does not exist in order to locate the
points at which f(x) may change concavity. Note that this will include any points
where f(x) or f ′(x) is undefined or where f(x) is discontinuous.

9. By checking the sign of f ″(x) on the intervals determined by the points found in
step 9), determine the intervals where f(x) is concave upward and the intervals
where f(x) is concave downward. Locate any points of inflection.

10.Sketch the graph of y=f(x), incorporating all the above information.

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Example 3:

Sketch the following function using the Curve Sketching Algorithm on Page 1
2
3𝑥 −5𝑥−2
𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

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6. 7.

8. 9.

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