Q.Prove that the function given by f(x)=x3−3x2+3x−100 is increasing in R.
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Monotonic Function Analysis
A function is monotonic on an interval when it moves in a single direction across that interval — either always rising or always falling, never doubling back. Derivatives give us a clean, mechanical way to detect this, which is why monotonicity is one of the first applications of the derivative.
Increasing, Decreasing, Monotonic
On an interval I, a function f is:
- increasing if x1<x2⇒f(x1)≤f(x2),
- strictly increasing if x1<x2⇒f(x1)<f(x2),
- decreasing if x1<x2⇒f(x1)≥f(x2),
- strictly decreasing if x1<x2⇒f(x1)>f(x2).
A function that is either increasing throughout I or decreasing throughout I is called monotonic on I.
The Derivative Test
The slope of the tangent tells you the direction of travel. If f is differentiable on an open interval I:
f′(x)>0 on I⟹f is strictly increasing on I
f′(x)<0 on I⟹f is strictly decreasing on I
f′(x)=0 on I⟹f is constant on I
The idea is intuitive: a positive slope means the graph climbs as you move right, a negative slope means it falls.
How to Analyse Monotonicity
- Compute f′(x).
- Solve f′(x)=0 (and note where f′ is undefined). These critical points split the domain into intervals.
- Test the sign of f′ in each interval.
- Read off where f increases (f′>0) and decreases (f′<0).
Example. For f(x)=x2−4x+1, f′(x)=2x−4. So f′(x)<0 for x<2 and f′(x)>0 for x>2: the function decreases on (−∞,2) and increases on (2,∞). …
Concept: Mean Value Theorem — a function with a positive derivative everywhere is strictly increasing.
Step 1: Differentiate f(x):
f′(x)=3x2−6x+3=3(x2−2x+1)=3(x−1)2.
Step 2: For all real x, (x−1)2≥0, so f′(x)=3(x−1)2≥0.
Equality holds only at x=1, but the derivative is never negative.
Step 3: By the Mean Value Theorem, if a<b, there exists c∈(a,b) such that
f(b)−f(a)=f′(c)(b−a)≥0, …
f′(x)=3(x−1)2≥0 for all real x, so f is increasing on R.
To test monotonicity we examine the sign of the derivative: if f′(x)≥0 throughout an interval (with equality only at isolated points), then f is increasing there.
1. Differentiate.
f′(x)=3x2−6x+3=3(x2−2x+1)=3(x−1)2.
2. Determine the sign.
Since (x−1)2≥0 for every real x,
f′(x)=3(x−1)2≥0for all x∈R,
with equality only at the single point x=1.
3. Conclude. …
Method: Proving a Function Is Increasing Everywhere Using a Perfect-Square Derivative
Use this method whenever a cubic (or other polynomial) is claimed to be increasing on the whole real line — the standard trick is to show the derivative factors into a perfect square (or sum of squares), which is automatically non-negative.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate the function.
Compute f′(x), which will typically be a quadratic for a cubic f.
Step 2: Try to factor the quadratic derivative into a perfect square.
If f′(x) can be written as k(x−c)2 for a positive constant k, this is the key structural fact the whole proof relies on — a zero discriminant on the quadratic signals that a perfect square is available.
Step 3: Argue that f′(x)≥0 for every real x, with equality only at the single isolated point x=c.
(x−c)2≥0 always, so k(x−c)2≥0 for k>0, equalling zero only at the single point x=c and nowhere else. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Concluding the function is not strictly increasing because f′(x)=0 at one point (x=1).
Why it's wrong: a derivative touching zero at an isolated point (not throughout an interval) does not break strict monotonicity — the function still climbs continuously through that point, it just has a momentary horizontal tangent. Correct approach: distinguish "zero at one point" from "zero throughout an interval"; only the latter would prevent strict increase.
Mistake 2: Testing the sign of f′(x)=3x2−6x+3 with a handful of sample points instead of factoring it. …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-A1 markMCQQ.In the interval (0,1) the function f(x)=x2−x+1 is (A) Strictly decreasing (B) Increasing (C) Neither increasing nor decreasing (D) Decreasing
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function f(x)=x2−x+1 is a parabola opening upward, and on (0,1) it first decreases then increases, so it is neither strictly increasing nor strictly decreasing — the answer is (C).
We are asked about the behavior of f(x)=x2−x+1 on the open interval (0,1). The key is to determine whether it is always increasing, always decreasing, or changes direction. Since this is a quadratic, its graph is a parabola — and the sign of its derivative tells us where it rises and falls.
Why this approach works:
For a differentiable function, monotonicity (increasing or decreasing) on an interval is determined by the sign of its derivative. If the derivative is positive everywhere, the function is strictly increasing; if negative everywhere, strictly decreasing. If the derivative changes sign, the function is neither.
- Find the derivative.
f′(x)=2x−1
This is a linear function, so it can change sign at most once.
- Find where the derivative is zero. Set f′(x)=0:
2x−1=0⇒x=21
This critical point lies inside (0,1).
-
Test the sign of f′(x) on either side of x=21.
- For x<21, say x=0: f′(0)=−1<0 → function is decreasing.
- For x>21, say x=0.75: f′(0.75)=1.5−1=0.5>0 → function is increasing.
-
Interpret the result on (0,1). …
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.
[!FORMULA] If f(x)=csinx+dcosxasinx+bcosx is decreasing for all x, then
(A) ab−cd<0 (B) ad−bc<0 (C) ab−cd>0 (D) ad−bc>0›Reveal solutionSolution
The function is decreasing for all x when its derivative is always negative.
Differentiating f(x) and simplifying leads to the condition ad−bc<0, so the correct option is (B).
We want to determine when
f(x)=csinx+dcosxasinx+bcosx
is decreasing for all x.
A function is decreasing on an interval if its derivative is negative everywhere on that interval.
Here, the domain excludes points where the denominator is zero, but the condition “decreasing for all x” means for every x where f is defined, f′(x)<0.
The key is to compute f′(x) and see what inequality on a,b,c,d makes it always negative.
- Differentiate using the quotient rule Let u=asinx+bcosx and v=csinx+dcosx. Then
u′=acosx−bsinx,v′=ccosx−dsinx.
The derivative is
f′(x)=v2u′v−uv′.
- Compute the numerator
u′v=(acosx−bsinx)(csinx+dcosx)
uv′=(asinx+bcosx)(ccosx−dsinx).
Subtract:
u′v−uv′=(acosx−bsinx)(csinx+dcosx)−(asinx+bcosx)(ccosx−dsinx).
- Expand both products First product:
accosxsinx+adcos2x−bcsin2x−bdsinxcosx.
Second product:
acsinxcosx−adsin2x+bccos2x−bdcosxsinx.
Notice cosxsinx=sinxcosx.
-
Subtract term by term
- The ac terms: accosxsinx−acsinxcosx=0.
- The bd terms: −bdsinxcosx−(−bdcosxsinx)=−bdsinxcosx+bdsinxcosx=0.
- The ad terms: adcos2x−(−adsin2x)=ad(cos2x+sin2x)=ad.
- The bc terms: −bcsin2x−bccos2x=−bc(sin2x+cos2x)=−bc.
So the numerator simplifies beautifully to
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-E1 markMCQQ.What is the nature of the function f(x)=x3−3x2+4x on real numbers? (A) Strictly decreasing (B) Decreasing (C) Increasing (D) Constant
›Reveal solutionSolution
The function is strictly increasing on the real numbers because its derivative is always positive (a quadratic with a negative discriminant and a positive leading coefficient). The correct option is (C).
We are asked about the nature of f(x)=x3−3x2+4x on the real numbers — specifically, whether it is strictly decreasing, decreasing, increasing, or constant. The key is to examine the sign of the derivative. A function is increasing on an interval if its derivative is non-negative there, and strictly increasing if the derivative is positive (except possibly at isolated points). Similarly for decreasing.
1. Compute the derivative.
f′(x)=3x2−6x+4
This is a quadratic. Its sign tells us the slope of f at every point.
2. Determine the sign of f′(x).
Check the discriminant:
Δ=(−6)2−4⋅3⋅4=36−48=−12
Since Δ<0 and the leading coefficient 3>0, the quadratic is always positive for all real x.
Thus f′(x)>0 for every x∈R.
3. Interpret the result.
If the derivative is positive everywhere, the function is strictly increasing on the entire real line. It never levels off (no flat spots) and never decreases. …
- KCET 2022Set C-41 markMCQQ.The function f(x)=log(1+x)−2+x2x is increasing on (A) (−∞,−1) (B) (−1,∞) (C) (−∞,0) (D) (−∞,∞)
›Reveal solutionSolution
A function is increasing where f′(x)≥0; compute f′, simplify it to a single fraction, and read off its sign — but only on the natural domain of log(1+x).
Step 1 — Fix the domain first.
log(1+x) is defined only for 1+x>0, i.e. x>−1. Any answer containing x≤−1 (options A, C, D) is therefore impossible before we even differentiate — but let us prove (B) properly.
Step 2 — Differentiate.
f(x)=log(1+x)−2+x2x
For the second term use the quotient rule:
dxd(2+x2x)=(2+x)22(2+x)−2x(1)=(2+x)24.
Hence
f′(x)=1+x1−(2+x)24.
Step 3 — Combine into one fraction.
f′(x)=(1+x)(2+x)2(2+x)2−4(1+x)=(1+x)(2+x)24+4x+x2−4−4x=(1+x)(2+x)2x2.
Step 4 — Read the sign.
- x2≥0 always. …
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