Concavity & Points of Inflection

When f(c) = 0 or is undefined c is a point of inflection

Steps *Find the 2nd derivative and set it equal to 0

* Solve for x
* Use test points to determine concavity

Example: f(x) = x3 6x2 + 12x

f(x) = 6x 12 = 0 x = 2
f(2) = 0

(2, f(2)) is a point of inflection

0
Test point

5
Test point

Use test points to find concavity

f(0) = -12 concave down
f(5) = 18 concave up

If f(x) > 0 then concave up

If f(x) < 0 then concave down

Therefore, (-, 2) concave down

(2, ) concave up
**Remember**
Plug into f(x) to get y-coordinate for points (x,y)
Plug test #s into f(x) to test for increasing/decreasing and
max/min
Plug test #s into f(x) to test concavity