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Properties of graphs of functions

Problem

Given are the functions f,g and h defined on R by f(x)=x2x+1, g(x)=x3x+1, and h(x)=x4+x2+1.

  1. The figure depicts the graph of one of the three functions. Indicate which functions is represented by the graph. Argue why the graph cannot represent the other two functions.

../../../_images/funktionen1.png
  1. The first derivative of the function h is given by h. Evalute 10h(x)dx.

Solution of part a

The graph displays two extrema. Therefore, it cannot represent the function f(x) because the derivative of a quadratic function possesses only one zero. Furthermore, the function displayes in the figure takes on negative values, excluding the function h(x) aus. As a consequence the graph represents the function g(x). We check our conjecture with the help of Sage:

The graph of the function g(x) shown in red indeed fits the graph in the original figure.

Solution of part b

The antiderivative of the derivative of a function is the function itself. It follows

10h(x)dx=h(1)h(0)=31=2.

In Sage, we start by differentiating the function h(x) as a check and continue by evaluating the required definite integral:

Of course, according to our reasoning above, we obtain the same result by subtracting the function taken at the limits of integration: