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Multiple Choice
Consider the following graph of . Which of the following points are inflection points of ?
A
Points where the concavity of changes
B
Points where is not defined
C
Points where reaches a local maximum
D
Points where the slope of is zero but concavity does not change
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the definition of an inflection point. An inflection point occurs where the concavity of the function changes, i.e., where the second derivative of the function, f''(x), changes sign (from positive to negative or vice versa).
Step 2: Analyze the graph of f(x) to identify regions where the concavity changes. Look for points where the curve transitions from being concave up (curving upwards) to concave down (curving downwards), or vice versa.
Step 3: Recall that inflection points can only occur where f(x) is defined. Points where f(x) is not defined cannot be inflection points.
Step 4: Note that inflection points are not necessarily where the slope of f(x) (i.e., f'(x)) is zero. A zero slope indicates a critical point, but the concavity must change for it to be an inflection point.
Step 5: Verify that the concavity changes at the identified points by checking the behavior of f''(x) around those points. If f''(x) changes sign, then the point is confirmed as an inflection point.