42 - Point of Inflection

Points of inflection
Yue Kwok Choy

1. Definition
A point of inflection (point of inflexion) (x
0
, f(x
0
)) on a curve is a continuous point
at which the function f(x) changes from convex (concave upward) to concave (concave downward) or
vice versa as x passes through x
0
.
2. Continuity of the function
If (x
0
, f(x
0
)) is a point of inflection of the function y = f(x), then the function is also
continuous at that point. In other words, if (x
0
, y
0
) is not continuous, it must not be a point of
inflection.
Example 1
y = tan x is concave upward in the interval
,
_

+
2
n , n
and concave downward in the
interval
( )

,
_
+ 1 n ,
2
n
, where n Z .
However, at x =
2
n

+ , y = tan x is
undefined and therefore these points are not
points of inflection.
Readers may check that
( ) 0 , n
are points of inflection.
3. First derivative
A point of inflexion of the curve y = f(x) must be continuous point but need not be
differentiable there.
Example 2 ( )
3 / 1
x x f y
( ) ( )
3 / 5 3 / 2
x 9
2
x " f ,
x 3
1
x ' f
For x < 0, f (x) > 0 concave upward
1
For x > 0, f (x) < 0 concave downward
Although f (0) and f (0) are undefined, (0, 0) is still a point of inflection.
In fact, ( )
3 / 1
x x f y is the inverse function of y = x
3
. The latter function obviously
has also a point of inflection at (0, 0) .
4. Second derivative
Even the first derivative exists in certain points of inflection, the second derivative may not
exist at these points.
Example 3 ( ) x x x f y
3 / 5
,

( ) ( )
3 / 1
3 / 2
x 9
10
x " f , 1 x
3
5
x ' f
If x < 0, f(x) < 0 concave downward.
If x >0, f(x) > 0 concave upward.
( ) 1 0 ' f
exists but f (0) does not exist.
However, (0, 0) is a point of inflection.
Setting the second derivative of a function to zero sometimes cannot find out all points of
inflection.
Example 4 ( ) ( )
3 / 1 3 / 2
1 x x x f y
( )
( )
3 / 2 3 / 1
1 x x 3
2 x 3
x ' f
,
()
( )
3 / 5 3 / 4
1 x x 9
2
x " f

2
By setting f (x) = 0, we get no solution
for points of inflections.
By setting the denominator of f (x) to 0,
we get x = 0 or 1.
There is no sign change for f (x) = 0
as x goes through x = 0.
(0, 0) is not a point of inflection.
There is a sign change for f (x) = 0
as x goes through x = 1.
(1, 0) is not a point of inflection.
5. Relative extremum
Points of inflection can also be the extremum points (maximum / minimum) at the same time.
Example 4
( )
( )
2
1 x
x
x f y
+

For x 1,
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
'
<
+
>
+
'
<
+
>
+
'
<
+
>
+
0 x for ,
1 x
x 2 4
0 x for ,
1 x
4 x 2
x " f
0 x for ,
1 x
1 x
0 x for ,
1 x
x 1
x ' f
0 x for ,
1 x
x
0 x for ,
1 x
x
x f
2
2
2
2
2
2
If x < 0, f (x) > 0 concave upward.
If x >0, f (x) < 0 concave downward.
(0, 0) is a point of inflection.
Note that (0, 0) is also a relative minimum
point.
The reader may check that:
1.
,
_
9
2
, 2
is another inflection point.
2.
,
_
4
1
, 1
is a relative maximum point.
3. Horizontal asymptote : y = 0. Vertical asymptote : x = -1.
3
Example 5 ( )
2 x
1 x x
x f y
+
+

For x -2,
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
'
<
+
>
+
'
<
+
+ +
>
+
+ +
'
<
+
+
>
+
+
1 x for ,
2 x
4
1 x for ,
2 x
4
x " f
1 x for ,
2 x
2 x 4 x
1 x for ,
2 x
2 x 4 x
x ' f
1 x for ,
2 x
1 x x
1 x for ,
2 x
1 x x
x f
3
3
2
2

If x < -1, f (x) > 0 concave downward.
If x > -1, f (x) < 0 concave upward.
(-1, 0) is a point of inflection.
Note that (-1, 0) is also a relative minimum point.
The reader may check that:
1. ( ) 2 2 3 , 2 2 + + is a relative minimum point .
2. ( ) 2 2 3 , 2 2 + is a relative minimum point.
3. Vertical asymptote is x = -2.
4. Oblique asymptotes are y = x -1 (for the positive side) and y = -x + 1 (for negative side).
Exercise Find the point(s) of inflection of each of the following curves:
1. ( ) ( )
3
2
6 x x x f y + 2. 8 y x
3 3
3. ( )
3 2 3 2
1 x x x f y +
Derivative help:
1.
( ) ( )
3 / 5
3 / 4
3 / 2
3 / 1
6 x x
8
" y ,
6 x x
4 x
' y
+

+
+
2.
( ) ( )
3 / 5
3
3 / 2
3
2
8 x
x 16
" y ,
8 x
x
' y
3.
( ) [ ]
( )
( ) ( ) [ ]
( )
3 / 5
2 3 / 4
3 / 2
2 2
3 / 2
2 3 / 10 3 / 4
3 / 2
2 3 / 1
3 / 2
2 3 / 4
1 x x 9
1 x x 1 x x x 3 2
" y ,
1 x x 3
1 x x 2
' y
+ +

Graphical help:
4
1. 2.
3.
5

42 - Point of Inflection

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Points of inflection

Yue Kwok Choy

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