Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Inflection Points
Inflection points occur where the concavity of a function changes, which is determined by the second derivative. At these points, the second derivative equals zero or is undefined, and the sign of the second derivative changes. Identifying inflection points helps in understanding the behavior of the graph, such as where it transitions from concave up to concave down or vice versa.
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Local Maxima and Minima
Local maxima and minima are points where a function reaches a highest or lowest value, respectively, within a certain interval. These points are found where the first derivative is zero or undefined, and the sign of the first derivative changes. Analyzing these points helps in understanding the peaks and troughs of the graph, which are crucial for sketching and interpreting the function's behavior.
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Concavity and Differentiability
Concavity describes the direction a graph curves, either upwards (concave up) or downwards (concave down), and is determined by the sign of the second derivative. A function is differentiable on an interval if it has a derivative at every point in that interval. Understanding concavity and differentiability is essential for analyzing the smoothness and curvature of the graph, which aids in identifying intervals of increasing or decreasing behavior.
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