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Find the intervals on which the graph of \( f \) is concave upward, the intervals on which the graph of \( f \) is concave downward, and the inflection points. \( f(x)=\ln \left(x^{2}-2 x+10\right) \) For what interval(s) of \( x \) is the graph of \( f \) concave upward? Select the correct choice below and, if necessary, fill in the answer box to complete your choice. A. B. The graph is never concave upward. For what interval(s) of \( x \) is the graph of \( f \) concave downward? Select the correct choice below and, if necessary, fill in the answer box to complete your choice. A. \( \square \) (Type your answer in interval notation. Type an exact answer. Use a comma to separate answers as needed.) B. The graph is never concave downward. Determine the \( x \) coordinates of any inflection points of the graph of \( f(x) \). Select the correct choice below and, if necessary, fill in the answer box to complete your choice. A. \( x=\square \) (Type an exact answer. Use a comma to separate answers as needed.)

Ask by Graham Rose. in the United States
Mar 11,2025

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The graph of \( f(x) = \ln(x^2 - 2x + 10) \) is concave upward on the interval \((-2, 4)\) and concave downward on \((-\infty, -2) \cup (4, \infty)\). There are inflection points at \( x = -2 \) and \( x = 4 \).

Solution

We start with \[ f(x)=\ln\left(x^2-2x+10\right) \] **Step 1. Compute the first derivative.** Let \[ u(x)=x^2-2x+10 \quad \text{so that} \quad f(x)=\ln(u(x)). \] Then \[ u'(x)=2x-2, \] and using the chain rule: \[ f'(x)=\frac{u'(x)}{u(x)}=\frac{2x-2}{x^2-2x+10}. \] **Step 2. Compute the second derivative.** Differentiate \( f'(x)=\frac{2x-2}{x^2-2x+10} \) using the quotient rule: \[ f''(x)=\frac{(2)(x^2-2x+10)-(2x-2)(2x-2)}{(x^2-2x+10)^2}. \] Simplify the numerator: \[ \begin{aligned} 2(x^2-2x+10) &= 2x^2-4x+20, \\ (2x-2)^2 &= 4x^2-8x+4, \\ \text{Numerator} &= \,\, 2x^2-4x+20 - (4x^2-8x+4) \\ &= -2x^2+4x+16. \end{aligned} \] Thus, \[ f''(x)=\frac{-2x^2+4x+16}{(x^2-2x+10)^2}. \] **Step 3. Factor the numerator.** Factor out \(-2\): \[ -2x^2+4x+16=-2(x^2-2x-8). \] The quadratic \(x^2-2x-8\) factors further. Its discriminant is \[ \Delta = (-2)^2-4(1)(-8)=4+32=36, \] and its roots are \[ x=\frac{2\pm\sqrt{36}}{2}=\frac{2\pm6}{2}, \] which gives \(x=4\) and \(x=-2\). Therefore: \[ x^2-2x-8=(x-4)(x+2), \] and \[ f''(x)=-\frac{2(x-4)(x+2)}{(x^2-2x+10)^2}. \] Since the denominator \((x^2-2x+10)^2\) is always positive for all \(x\) (because \(x^2-2x+10\) has a negative discriminant), the sign of \(f''(x)\) depends on the numerator \(-2(x-4)(x+2)\). **Step 4. Determine the intervals of concavity.** 1. \(f\) is concave upward when \(f''(x)>0\). Since \(-2\) is negative, we require \[ (x-4)(x+2) < 0. \] The product \((x-4)(x+2)\) is negative when \(x\) is between the roots: \[ -2 < x < 4. \] 2. \(f\) is concave downward when \(f''(x)<0\). This happens when \[ (x-4)(x+2) > 0, \] which occurs for \[ x < -2 \quad \text{or} \quad x > 4. \] **Step 5. Identify the inflection points.** Inflection points occur where \(f''(x)=0\) and the concavity changes. Since \[ f''(x)=-\frac{2(x-4)(x+2)}{(x^2-2x+10)^2}, \] we set the numerator equal to zero: \[ -2(x-4)(x+2)=0 \quad \Longrightarrow \quad x-4=0 \quad \text{or} \quad x+2=0. \] Thus, the possible inflection points are at \[ x=4 \quad \text{and} \quad x=-2. \] Checking the sign of \(f''(x)\) on either side of these points confirms the change in concavity, so both are indeed inflection points. **Answers:** For what interval(s) of \(x\) is the graph of \(f\) concave upward? - The graph is concave upward on \(\boxed{(-2,4)}\). For what interval(s) of \(x\) is the graph of \(f\) concave downward? - The graph is concave downward on \(\boxed{(-\infty, -2) \cup (4, \infty)}\). Determine the \(x\)-coordinates of any inflection points: - Inflection points occur at \(\boxed{x=-2,\, 4}\).

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To determine the intervals of concavity and the inflection points of the function \( f(x) = \ln(x^2 - 2x + 10) \), we first need to find the second derivative of the function. 1. **Find the first derivative \( f'(x) \):** \[ f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx} \left( \ln(x^2 - 2x + 10) \right) = \frac{1}{x^2 - 2x + 10} \cdot (2x - 2) = \frac{2(x - 1)}{x^2 - 2x + 10} \] 2. **Find the second derivative \( f''(x) \):** Using the quotient rule on \( f'(x) \): \[ f''(x) = \frac{(x^2 - 2x + 10) \cdot 2 - 2(x - 1)(2x - 2)}{(x^2 - 2x + 10)^2} \] This simplifies to: \[ f''(x) = \frac{2(x^2 - 2x + 10) - 4(x - 1)(x - 1)}{(x^2 - 2x + 10)^2} = \frac{2x^2 - 4x + 20 - 4(x^2 - 2x + 1)}{(x^2 - 2x + 10)^2} \] Further simplification yields: \[ f''(x) = \frac{-2x^2 + 8x + 16}{(x^2 - 2x + 10)^2} \] 3. **Set the numerator of \( f''(x) \) to zero to find potential inflection points:** \[ -2x^2 + 8x + 16 = 0 \implies 2x^2 - 8x - 16 = 0 \implies x^2 - 4x - 8 = 0 \] Using the quadratic formula: \[ x = \frac{4 \pm \sqrt{16 + 32}}{2} = \frac{4 \pm 8}{2} \] Thus, \( x = 6 \) and \( x = -2 \). 4. **Test intervals around \( x = 6 \) and \( x = -2 \) to determine concavity:** - Choose test points: for \( (-\infty, -2) \), \( (-2, 6) \), \( (6, \infty) \) - For \( x < -2 \), \( f''(x) > 0 \) (concave upward). - For \( -2 < x < 6 \), \( f''(x) < 0 \) (concave downward). - For \( x > 6 \), \( f''(x) > 0 \) (concave upward). The inflection points occur where we switch concavity, at \( x = -2 \) and \( x = 6 \): - The graph of \( f \) is concave upward on the intervals \( (-\infty, -2) \) and \( (6, \infty) \). - The graph of \( f \) is concave downward on the interval \( (-2, 6) \). - Inflection points are at \( x = -2 \) and \( x = 6 \). Thus: **Concave Upward:** \( (-\infty, -2) \cup (6, \infty) \) **Concave Downward:** \( (-2, 6) \) **Inflection Points:** \( x = -2, 6 \)

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