Interval of Increasing Behavior

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 148 views

In mathematics, the increasing behavior of a function is a crucial concept that helps us understand how the function changes as its input varies. In this article, we will explore the increasing behavior of two given functions, p(x) and q(x), and determine the interval on which both functions are increasing.

Function q(x)

The function q(x) is defined as:

q(x) = -|x-3| + 4

To understand the increasing behavior of q(x), we need to analyze its derivative. The derivative of q(x) is given by:

q'(x) = -(-1) if x ≥ 3 q'(x) = 1 if x < 3

From the above equation, we can see that the derivative of q(x) is positive for x ≥ 3 and negative for x < 3. This means that q(x) is increasing on the interval [3, ∞) and decreasing on the interval (-∞, 3).

Function p(x)

Although the function p(x) is not explicitly defined in the problem, we can assume that it is a continuous function. To determine the increasing behavior of p(x), we need to analyze its derivative. However, since the derivative of p(x) is not provided, we will assume that p(x) is a general function that can be increasing or decreasing on different intervals.

Interval of Increasing Behavior

To find the interval on which both functions are increasing, we need to find the intersection of the intervals on which q(x) and p(x) are increasing. Since q(x) is increasing on the interval [3, ∞), we need to find the interval on which p(x) is also increasing.

Let's assume that p(x) is increasing on the interval [a, b]. To find the intersection of the intervals [3, ∞) and [a, b], we need to find the common points between the two intervals.

Finding the Intersection

The intersection of the intervals [3, ∞) and [a, b] is given by:

[a, b] ∩ [3, ∞) = [max(a, 3), ∞)

This means that the interval on which both functions are increasing is [max(a, 3), ∞).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the interval on which both functions p(x) and q(x) are increasing is [max(a, 3), ∞). This means that both functions are increasing on the interval starting from the maximum of the lower bound of p(x) and 3, and extending to infinity.

Example

Let's consider an example to illustrate the concept. Suppose we have two functions p(x) = x^2 and q(x) = -|x-3| + 4. To find the interval on which both functions are increasing, we need to analyze the derivatives of p(x) and q(x).

The derivative of p(x) is given by:

p'(x) = 2x

The derivative of q(x) is given by:

q'(x) = -(-1) if x ≥ 3 q'(x) = 1 if x < 3

From the above equations, we can see that p(x) is increasing on the interval (-∞, ∞) and q(x) is increasing on the interval [3, ∞). Therefore, the interval on which both functions are increasing is [max(-∞, 3), ∞) = [3, ∞).

Final Answer

In our previous article, we explored the increasing behavior of two given functions, p(x) and q(x), and determined the interval on which both functions are increasing. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the increasing behavior of functions.

Q: What is the increasing behavior of a function?

A: The increasing behavior of a function refers to how the function changes as its input varies. A function is said to be increasing on an interval if its derivative is positive on that interval.

Q: How do I determine the increasing behavior of a function?

A: To determine the increasing behavior of a function, you need to analyze its derivative. If the derivative is positive on an interval, the function is increasing on that interval.

Q: What is the significance of the derivative in determining the increasing behavior of a function?

A: The derivative of a function is a measure of how the function changes as its input varies. If the derivative is positive, the function is increasing, and if it is negative, the function is decreasing.

Q: Can a function be increasing on multiple intervals?

A: Yes, a function can be increasing on multiple intervals. For example, a function can be increasing on the interval [a, b] and also on the interval [c, d].

Q: How do I find the interval on which a function is increasing?

A: To find the interval on which a function is increasing, you need to analyze its derivative. If the derivative is positive on an interval, the function is increasing on that interval.

Q: What is the intersection of two intervals?

A: The intersection of two intervals is the set of points that are common to both intervals. For example, the intersection of the intervals [a, b] and [c, d] is the set of points that are common to both intervals.

Q: How do I find the intersection of two intervals?

A: To find the intersection of two intervals, you need to find the common points between the two intervals. The intersection of the intervals [a, b] and [c, d] is given by:

[a, b] ∩ [c, d] = [max(a, c), min(b, d)]

Q: Can a function be decreasing on an interval and increasing on another interval?

A: Yes, a function can be decreasing on an interval and increasing on another interval. For example, a function can be decreasing on the interval [a, b] and increasing on the interval [c, d].

Q: How do I determine the increasing behavior of a function on a specific interval?

A: To determine the increasing behavior of a function on a specific interval, you need to analyze its derivative on that interval. If the derivative is positive on the interval, the function is increasing on that interval.

Q: What is the significance of the maximum and minimum points in determining the increasing behavior of a function?

A: The maximum and minimum points of a function are the points where the function changes from increasing to decreasing or from decreasing to increasing. These points are important in determining the increasing behavior of a function.

Q: Can a function have multiple maximum and minimum points?

A: Yes, a function can have multiple maximum and minimum points. For example, a function can have a maximum point at x = a and a minimum point at x = b.

Q: How do I find the maximum and minimum points of a function?

A: To find the maximum and minimum points of a function, you need to analyze its derivative. The maximum and minimum points are the points where the derivative is zero or undefined.

Q: What is the significance of the second derivative in determining the increasing behavior of a function?

A: The second derivative of a function is a measure of how the first derivative changes as the input varies. If the second derivative is positive, the first derivative is increasing, and if it is negative, the first derivative is decreasing. This information can be used to determine the increasing behavior of a function.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the increasing behavior of a function is an important concept in mathematics that helps us understand how the function changes as its input varies. By analyzing the derivative and second derivative of a function, we can determine the increasing behavior of the function on specific intervals.