Z4INCREASING AND DECREASING FUNCTIONS
In this section, we shall discuss monotonocity of functions/Monotonocity of a function is connected
with the sign of its derivative. In determining the intervals of monotonocity of a function in jits
domain, we shall have to solve inequalities f'(x) >0,f() >0,f(*) <0andf() [Link], we
first study a procedure of solving inequalities.
wMethod of intervals
Consider theexpression f()=(x-a4) (x-,) ...-4,), where a,, 4), ..,.4, are real
numbers and
If any factor containspowers, say (x - a)k, where k is a natural number, then use the fact
(x- a) >0. Thus if k is even, we can ignore the factor (r - a)* in considering sign off(r); (howeve
be careful for value x = a) ; if k is odd, sign of (r - a)k is same as sign of (r - a).
Now, consider the sign of the expression
Wi)= (r- a,) (r- a) ... (x- a,); a, <ay < ... <a,
+
X'
a-2 an-1 X
Fig. 7.12
On the real number line, mark points aq,
ag, ..., ln
Start with a positive sign for x > a,; -ve for a,,-1 < x <
a,;and then alternating + ve and -ve
signs. The logic is that when x > a,; all factors x - a1, X-
a, ...,X-a, are +ve and hencef(x) is + ve:
when a,n-1<X< a ,, only one factor x -a,, is -ve, arnd so
f(x) is -ve, and so on.
Similarly, if g (r) = (x- b)(x- b,) ...(x-b,) where b, < b,
<.. <bm
it may be noted that f(r) has
&(x) same sign as that of f(x) g(x). For, g (x) 0 and (g(x))² > 0 for all
xe R,and the multiplication by a positive
number does not change the sign of an inequality.
The following illustrative examples will
make this procedure clear.
ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
Example 1 Solve:x(x-1) (x-2) (x -3) >0
Solution Given x (r-1)(x-2) (x-3) >
0
+
X 1 2 3 X
Fig. 7.13
Mark the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3 on
satisfied when x>3or1<x<2 or real line. By method of intervals, we see
x <0. that given inequality is
The solution set is (-o, 0) U
(1, 2) U (3,o)
4.1Increasing and decreasing functions
Let fbe a real valued function defined in an interval D (asubset of R), then
f is called an increasing function in an interval D, (a subset of D) iff for all X1, X E D,
xy<I,f(x) sfu) and f is called a strictly increasing function in D, if for all x, xy E D, X, < ,
→fu) <f(az)
X X X X
Increasing in D, yy Strictly increasing in D,
() (ii)
Fig. 7.17
Analogously, f is called a decreasing function in an interval D, (a subset of D) if for ll
y I) e D,. 1 < y → f(x) > f(ay) and f is called a strictly decreasing function in D, iff for all
Y
X D, X - D,
Decreasing in D, Strictly decreasing in D,
(1)
(i1)
Fig. 7.18
In particular, if D, = D then fis called an
→ fy) s fr); and f is called strictly increasing
increasing function iff for all x1, X, e D, X1
function iff for all x, X € D, X1
→ fx) < fi). Analogously, if D, = D then f is
X, X) € D, X < X, f) >f(x,); and f is called strictlycalled a decreasing function iff tor
X1<Xy→f)>f) decreasing function iff for all x X2 e
Afunction which is ether (strictly)
function. increasing or (strictly) decreasing is called a (strictly) monotonic
.42 Conditions for an increasing or a
Now we shall see how to use derivative of a decreasing function
it is decreasing. function to determine where it is increasing and where
We know that the derivative (if it exists) at a point P of a curve represents the slope of the
the curve at P
tangent YA
K-D,X -D,>
(i)
(i)
Fig. 7.19
Intuitively, from fig. 7.19(0) we see that iff is a strict increasing
hen the tarngent to the curve y =j() at every point of D, function in D, (a subset of D,),
makes an acute angle y with the positive
direction of x-axis, therefore tan y > 0→f() >0for all xeD,
Analogously, from fig.7.19() we see that iffis a strict decreasing
function in D, (a subset of D), then the tangent to the curve
y =f(x)
at every point of D, makes obtuse angle y with the
of r-axis,therefore, tan y <0 →f() <0 for all xe D,
positive direction
But our this intuition may fail, for example, consider
the function X X
fu) =*, D,= R
A portion of its graph is shown in fig. 7.20. It is a
strict
function. However, here f'(x) = 3x and at x =0,f'(0) =0, soincreasing
the slope
ofthetangent at x =0 is not positive, it is zero.
Fig. 7.20
In fact, we have:
() ifafunction f is increasing in D, (a subset of D), then f'(*) > 0for all
xeD,
(ü) fa function f is decreasing in D,(a subset of D;), then f() s0for all
xe D,
Conversely, common sense tells us that a function is
(derivative) is positive and decreasing when its rate of changeincreasing when its rate of change
is negative. We state these results as
follows:
Cheorem [Link] fis continuous in [a, bl, and derivable in (a, b) and
) f() > 0 for all x e (a, b), then f is increasing in [a, b]
(") fx)> 0 forall x e (a, b), then fis strictly increasing in la, b]
neorem 2. If a function fis continuous in [a, bl and derivable in (a, b) and
() f() s0 forall x e (a, b), then f is decreasing in la, bl
(") f() <0 for all x e (a, b), then fis strictly decreasing in la, bl
Remark
The
foormal proofs of these theorems are based on Lagrange's Mean Value Theorem.
Corollary. If a function f(x) is continuous in [a, b], derivable in (a, b) and
) f(x)>0 for
allxin (4,, b) except for a finite number of points where f(x) =0, then f(r) is
strictly increasing
(ii) f() <0 for all x ine (a,[a, b)b] for a finite number of points where f'(r) =0, then f(r) is
strictly decreasing in [a, b]except
Eample 8 Determine whether the following functions are strictly increasing or decreasing for the stated
values of x:
1 31 5r
= X+,X21 (ii) f(x) = Cos 2x+ 4) 8 8
1
Solution () Given f(x) =+x21→f)=1
1 1
Now x >11 sl+0s1-1- 20,
.. f() 20 for x >1
Note that f'(x) =0 at x=1 and f'(x) > 0 for all x> 1
Therefore, f(x) is strictly increasing for x >1