post # four

During this past week in calculus, we continued with the First Derivative Test. It is not as hard as it seemed on the first couple days that we learned it, but I just have trouble remembering the main steps, like setting equal to 0 before setting up intervals.

We also learned the Second Derivative Test on Friday this week. It is the same as the First Derivative Test except you are finding the second derivative instead of the first one. The point of the first and second derivative tests are to find changes in concavity, whether it is positive/up or negative/down, and points of inflection. But, you cannot forget that points of inflection only happen when there is a change in concavity! It is not possible unless there is a change in concavity.

First Derivative Test:

1. Take the derivative of problem
2. Set it equal to zero
3. Solve
4. Set up intervals
5. Plug In
6. Solve intervals
7. Justify

Second Derivative Test:

1. Take the derivative of problem
2. Take the derivative what you got for step 1 ^^
3. Set it equal to zero
4. Solve
5. Set up intervals
6. Plug In
7. Solve intervals
8. Justify

I understood everything this week pretty much, I just need to keep practicing. All of the worksheets this week helped me, along with the practice with did with B ROB when she came back, and I'm glad she is feeling better! :)

if anyone sees something wrong with what i posted about the steps for the first & second derivative test, please tell me!