Graphing Functions With First and Second Derivatives

Learn how to sketch and interpret derivative graphs, analyze function behavior, and solve calculus problems visually with guided examples.

📘 Graphing Functions Using Derivatives

Master the Art of Sketching Accurate Function Graphs with Derivatives

🎯 Why Use Derivatives to Sketch Graphs?

Plotting graphs just by plugging in values is time-consuming and often inaccurate. With derivatives, you can:

• Know where a graph goes up/down (increasing/decreasing)
• Locate local maxima or minima
• Identify points of inflection
• Analyze concavity
• Understand asymptotic behavior

This makes curve sketching faster, clearer, and more reliable.

🪜 Step-by-Step Strategy for Sketching Functions

To sketch a function $f(x)$:

1. Domain: Determine where $f(x)$ is defined
2. Intercepts: Find $f(0)$ and where $f(x) = 0$
3. Critical Points: Solve $f'(x) = 0$
4. Increasing/Decreasing: Analyze sign of $f'(x)$
5. Concavity: Use $f''(x)$ to determine concave up/down
6. Inflection Points: Solve $f''(x) = 0$
7. Asymptotes: Check vertical/horizontal/oblique behavior
8. Sketch: Plot and connect behavior

🔍 Example 1: Graph $f(x) = x^3 - 3x$

1. Domain: All real numbers

2. Intercepts:

   • $f(0) = 0$ → y-intercept
   • Solve $f(x) = 0 \Rightarrow x(x^2 - 3) = 0 \Rightarrow x = 0, \pm \sqrt{3}$

3. First Derivative:

   • $f'(x) = 3x^2 - 3 = 3(x^2 - 1) \Rightarrow x = \pm 1$ (critical points)

4. Sign of $f'(x)$:

   • $x < -1$ → positive
   • $-1 < x < 1$ → negative
   • $x > 1$ → positive → So, increasing → decreasing → increasing → Max at $x = -1$, min at $x = 1$

5. Second Derivative:

   • $f''(x) = 6x$
   • $f''(0) = 0$ → possible inflection point
   • Concave down when $x < 0$, up when $x > 0$

6. Inflection Point: $x = 0$

7. No Asymptotes

8. Sketch: Use all this data to create a smooth graph

✅ Final Shape: An “S” curve crossing the x-axis at three points, turning at x = ±1, inflecting at x = 0.

📉 Example 2: Sketch $f(x) = \frac{1}{x^2 + 1}$

1. Domain: All real numbers

2. Intercept: $f(0) = 1$

3. First Derivative:

   $$f'(x) = \frac{-2x}{(x^2 + 1)^2}$$

   Set $f'(x) = 0 \Rightarrow x = 0$ → critical point

   • $x < 0 \Rightarrow f'(x) > 0$
   • $x > 0 \Rightarrow f'(x) < 0$ → Max at $x = 0$

4. Second Derivative:

   $$f''(x) = \frac{6x^2 - 2}{(x^2 + 1)^3}$$

   Set $f''(x) = 0 \Rightarrow x = \pm \sqrt{\frac{1}{3}}$ → inflection points

5. Asymptotes:

   • No vertical (denominator never zero)
   • Horizontal as $x \to \infty$, $f(x) \to 0$

✅ Shape: Bell curve with max at (0,1), decreasing toward 0 on both sides, with inflection points at $x = \pm \sqrt{1/3}$

🧠 Tips for Students

• Critical points help find peaks and valleys
• Second derivative shows whether the curve opens up or down
• Always label key points before sketching
• Don’t forget asymptotes in rational functions
• Check endpoints if the domain is restricted

💡 HOTS Problem

Let $f(x) = \frac{x^3}{x^2 + 1}$

Sketch its graph using:

• First derivative for increasing/decreasing
• Second derivative for concavity
• Find intercepts and asymptotes

🧠 Solution Outline

• Intercept: $f(0) = 0$
• First Derivative: Use quotient rule
• Second Derivative: Analyze using sign
• Horizontal asymptote? As $x \to \infty$, $f(x) \sim x$ → no horizontal asymptote
• Sketch based on all features

🧪 Practice Problems

🔹 Standard

1. Sketch $f(x) = x^4 - 4x^2$
2. Sketch $f(x) = \ln(x)$
3. Sketch $f(x) = e^{-x^2}$

🔥 HOTS

4. Sketch $f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 + 1}$

5. Sketch a piecewise function:

   $$ f(x) = \begin{cases} x^2 & \text{if } x < 1 \
   2x - 1 & \text{if } x \geq 1 \end{cases} $$

📌 Summary Table