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Grade 12 · Math · Calculus

12th grade Concavity, inflection points and the second derivative test worksheet

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Concavity, inflection points and the second derivative test

Grade 12 Math Worksheet - Challenge Me

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Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

  1. For Esme's function, f″(x) = (x − 1)(x − 4)². Where does f have an inflection point?

    • Only at x = 4
    • At x = 1 and at x = 4
    • Only at x = 1
  2. For Jun's function, f″(x) = (x + 2)²(x − 3). Where does f have an inflection point?

    • At x = 3 and at x = −2
    • Only at x = −2
    • Only at x = 3
  3. For Kira's function, f″(x) = x²(x + 5). Where does f have an inflection point?

    • At x = −5 and at x = 0
    • Only at x = 0
    • Only at x = −5
  4. For Luz's function, f″(x) = (x − 6)(x + 1)². Where does f have an inflection point?

    • Only at x = −1
    • At x = 6 and at x = −1
    • Only at x = 6
  5. The height h(t) of Milo's bean plant has h′(t) > 0 and h″(t) < 0. What does that mean?

    • It is getting shorter each week
    • It grows faster and faster each week
    • It grows, but more slowly each week
  6. The temperature T(t) of Noah's soup has T′(t) < 0 and T″(t) > 0. What does that mean?

    • It is warming up each minute
    • It cools, but more slowly each minute
    • It cools faster and faster each minute
  7. The speed s(t) of Ren's bike coasting down a gentle hill has s′(t) > 0 and s″(t) < 0. What does that mean?

    • It speeds up by more and more each second
    • It is slowing down each second
    • It speeds up, but by less each second
  8. Pia wants f(x) = 2x³ + bx² + 7x to have an inflection point at x = 4. What must b be?

  9. Esme wants f(x) = 3x³ + bx² − 4x to have an inflection point at x = −2. What must b be?

  10. Kira wants f(x) = 4x³ + bx² + 6x to have an inflection point at x = 1.5. What must b be?

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12th grade Concavity, inflection points and the second derivative test worksheet – printable
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About this worksheet

Concavity, inflection points and the second derivative test. Every version has 10 questions, and the answer key prints on the second page.

What your child will learn

  • I can find f″ and use its sign to say where a graph is concave up or down.
  • I can find inflection points, including when a zero of f″ is not one.
  • I can use the second derivative test to call a critical point a local max or min.
  • I can read f′ and f″ together in a story about growth or cooling.

Standard: none (beyond CCSS)

Words to know

concave up: Bending like a cup; f″ > 0.

concave down: Bending like a cap; f″ < 0.

inflection point: Where the bend changes, because f″ changes sign.

second derivative test: At f′ = 0: f″ > 0 is a valley, f″ < 0 a peak.

Common mistakes

Found f′ instead of f″. Take the derivative once more.

Dropped the power that comes down when taking a derivative, so bx² gave b instead of 2b.

Solved f″ = 0 but lost the minus sign. Put the answer back into f″ to check.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with concavity, inflection points and the second derivative test?

Found f′ instead of f″. Take the derivative once more.

Are these 12th grade math worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions at each level are free to print, with the answer key, and no account is needed.

More calculus

See all Calculus

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