The Dance of Derivatives
A Journey into Monotonicity
Welcome, future engineers! Today, we are going to dissect a problem that sits at the very heart of calculus. It is not just about solving for x; it is about understanding the 'behavior' of a function.
We are looking at the function f(x)=sinx+3x−π2(x2+x) on the interval [0,2π]. This is a beautiful mix of trigonometry and algebra, and it is our job to determine its monotonicity.
Phase 1
The First Derivative - The Velocity of Change
To understand if a function is increasing or decreasing, we must look at its rate of change. Think of f(x) as the position of a particle, and f′(x) as its velocity.
If the velocity is positive, the particle moves forward (the function increases). If it is negative, the particle moves backward (the function decreases). Let us find this velocity by differentiating f(x) with respect to x:
f′(x)=dxd(sinx)+dxd(3x)−π2dxd(x2+x)
Applying our standard rules, we get:
This expression is our key. It tells us everything about the direction in which f(x) is heading.
Phase 2
The Second Derivative - The Curvature
Now, Statement (II) asks us about the behavior of f′(x) itself. Is f′(x) increasing or decreasing? To answer this, we need the derivative of the derivative—the second derivative, f′′(x).
This is the 'acceleration' of our function. Let us differentiate f′(x):
f′′(x)=dxd(cosx)+dxd(3)−π2dxd(2x+1)
The derivative of cosx is −sinx, the constant 3 vanishes, and the derivative of (2x+1) is 2. Thus, we arrive at:
Look closely at this result. In the interval (0,2π), sinx is always positive, and the term π4 is also positive. Therefore, f′′(x)=−(sinx+π4) is strictly negative for all x in our domain.
Because the derivative of f′(x) is negative, f′(x) must be a strictly decreasing function. Statement (II) is confirmed!
Phase 3
The Logical Bridge
Now, we tackle Statement (I). We need to know if f(x) is increasing, which requires f′(x)>0 for all x in (0,2π).
But how do we prove a function is positive across an entire interval? We use the property we just discovered: f′(x) is decreasing. If a decreasing function's minimum value is positive, then the entire function must be positive.
Where does a decreasing function reach its minimum? At the rightmost endpoint of the interval, which is x=2π. Let us calculate f′(2π):
f′(2π)=cos(2π)+3−π2(2⋅2π+1)
Since cos(2π)=0, this simplifies to:
3−π2(π+1)=3−(π2π+π2)=3−(2+π2)=1−π2
The Final Victory
We know that π≈3.14, so π2 is clearly less than 1. Therefore, 1−π2>0.
Since the minimum value of f′(x) is positive, f′(x) must be positive for the entire interval. If the velocity is always positive, the function f(x) must be strictly increasing. Statement (I) is also true!
We have systematically proven that both statements are correct. Calculus is not just about formulas; it is about building a logical chain where each link supports the next. You have mastered the logic of monotonicity today.