Inflection points vs critical points

calculusderivativesreal-analysis

I was reading what inflection and critical points are here. If we assume that a function is defined on an open interval. Then does it mean we can say that all inflection points of the function are critical points of the function?

Best Answer

No.

Critical points of a function are where a function has a horizontal or vertical tangent, or is at a defined point where the function is not differentiable.

Points of inflection are where a function changes its concavity.

For example, take the function $f(x)=x^3-12x$. Its derivative is $f'(x)=3x^2-12$ and its second derivative is $f''(x)=6x$. It has two critical points at $(-2,16)$ and $(2,-16)$, and a single point of inflection at $(0,0)$.

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