[Math] the $x$-coordinate for the point of inflection where the graph of $f(x)$ goes from concave down to concave up

calculus

$$f(x)=\sin(x)+\cos(x)\; \text{when}\;0\le x\le2$$ What is the $x$-coordinate for the point of inflection where the graph of $f(x)$ goes from concave down to concave up?

Please explain as much as possible. Also include the answer if you want to be chosen as best answer. I haven't been able to solve this for a week. Thank you.

Best Answer

The change of concavity corresponds to a point where the second derivative of the function vanishes. In your case,

f(x) = sin(x) + cos(x)
f'(x) = cos(x) - sin(x)
f''(x)=-sin(x) - cos(x)

The second derivative cancels where sin(x) = - cos(x), that is to say tan(x) = -1; for x > 0, this corresponds to x = 3 Pi/4 which is larher than 2. So, as a plot of your function would easily show, for 0 < x < 2, there is no inflection point.

If you compute the value of the second derivative at any point in the range, say x = 0, you notice that the second derivative is negative. So your curve is concave down.

For sure, as user44197 points it out, you must also be sure that the third derivative is not zero at that point.

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