Q.Find the intervals in which the function f(x)=−2x3−9x2−12x+1 is increasing or decreasing.
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A function f is (strictly/monotonically) increasing on an interval if, whenever x1<x2 in that interval, f(x1)<f(x2); it is decreasing if f(x1)>f(x2) whenever x1<x2. Using the definition of the derivative as a limit of the ratio [f(x+h)−f(x)]/h, one can show that f is increasing on an interval wherever f′(x)≥0 there (strictly increasing where f′(x)>0 except possibly at isolated points where it equals zero), and decreasing wherever f′(x)≤0 (strictly decreasing where f′(x)<0 except at isolated zeros). So to find where a function increases or decreases: differentiate f, solve the inequality f′(x)>0 (or <0) — typically by factoring f′(x) an …
Factor f′(x)=−6(x+1)(x+2) (note the negative leading coefficient) and sign-test three intervals. …
f(x)=−2x3−9x2−12x+1⟹f′(x)=−6x2−18x−12=−6(x2+3x+2)=−6(x+1)(x+2).
Critical points: x=−2, x=−1.
| Interval | Test point | (x+1) | (x+2) | f′(x)=−6(x+1)(x+2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (−∞,−2) | x=−3 | − | − | −6(+)=− |
| (−2,−1) | x=−1.5 | − | + | −6(−)=+ |
| (−1,∞) | x=0 | + | + | −6(+)=− |
Factor out the negative leading coefficient carefully before reading signs, find both critical p …
Forgetting the overall negative sign of −6 when reading off the final sign of $f …
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.Which one of the following is correct for all values of x if x∈(0,1)?(a) ex<1+x(b) loge(1+x)<x(c) sinx>x(d) logex>x
›Reveal solutionSolution
Show x−loge(1+x)>0 on (0,1) by checking it is increasing from 0; the other options fail.
Using monotonicity to prove an inequality is a CBSE/NCERT Class 12 application of derivatives technique.
Define g(x)=x−loge(1+x). Then
g′(x)=1−1+x1=1+xx>0for x∈(0,1).
So g is increasing, and g(0)=0, hence g(x)>0 for x∈(0,1), i.e.
loge(1+x)<x.
…
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.Let f(x)=1+∣x∣x. Then f(x) is monotonically increasing in the interval (where R is the set of all real numbers).(a) R(b) R−{−1}(c) (−1,1)(d) (−∞,0)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Split at x=0 to remove the modulus; the derivative is positive on both pieces, so f is increasing on all of R.
Monotonicity via the sign of f′ is a CBSE/NCERT Class 12 application of derivatives topic.
For x≥0: f(x)=1+xx, so
f′(x)=(1+x)2(1+x)−x=(1+x)21>0.
For x<0: ∣x∣=−x, so f(x)=1−xx, and
f′(x)=(1−x)2(1−x)+x=(1−x)21>0.
…
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The equation of normal to the curve y=3x2−x+1 at (1,3) is ______.(a) x−5y−16=0(b) x+5y−16=0(c) x−5y+16=0(d) −5y−x−16=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
dxdy=6x−1=5 at (1,3), so the normal slope is −51; the normal line is x+5y−16=0 — option (ii).
Differentiate the curve y=3x2−x+1:
dxdy=6x−1.
At the point (1,3) the tangent slope is
mt=6(1)−1=5.
The normal is perpendicular to the tangent, so its slope is the negative reciprocal:
mn=−mt1=−51.
Using the point-slope form through (1,3):
…
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the condition for the function f(x), to be strictly increasing, for all x∈R.
›Reveal solutionSolution
State the standard sufficient condition for strict monotonic increase.
A differentiable function f(x) is strictly increasing on R if its derivative is positive throughout: …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.The slope of tangent at any point (a,b) is also called as ______.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The slope of the tangent at a point on y=f(x) is the value of the derivative dxdy there, also called the gradient of the curve.
For a curve y=f(x), the tangent line at a point (a,b) has slope
dxdy(a,b)=f′(a).
…
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.A function f is said to be increasing at a point c if ______.(a) f′(c)=0(b) f′(c)>0(c) f′(c)<0(d) f′(c)=1
›Reveal solutionSolution
A function is increasing at a point c when its slope there is positive, i.e. f′(c)>0.
The derivative f′(c) measures the instantaneous rate of change (the slope of the tangent) of the function at x=c. Interpreting the sign:
- if f′(c)>0, the tangent slopes upward, so the function values are rising as x increases past c — the function is increasing at c; …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.State whether the following statement is true or false. If f′(x)>0 for all x∈(a,b) then f(x) is decreasing function in the interval (a,b).(a) True(b) False
›Reveal solutionSolution
If f′(x)>0 throughout (a,b), the function is increasing on that interval, not decreasing. So the statement is False.
The sign of the derivative tells us how a function behaves:
- f′(x)>0 on an interval ⇒ f is increasing there,
- f′(x)<0 on an interval ⇒ f is decreasing there. …
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