Find the interval on which the curve of y equals the integral from 0 to x of 2/(1+3t+t^2), dt is concave up.

How do I do this problem? I took notes on the lesson my course is telling me its from, but I have no idea how to go about it.

Respuesta :

By the fundamental theorem of calculus, the first derivative of

[tex]y=\displaystyle\int_0^x\frac2{1+3t+t^2}\,\mathrm dt[/tex]

is

[tex]y'=\displaystyle\frac{\mathrm d}{\mathrm dx}\int_0^x\frac2{1+3t+t^2}\,\mathrm dt=\frac2{1+3x+x^2}[/tex]

Then the second derivative is

[tex]y''=\dfrac{(1+3x+x^2)(0)-2(3+2x)}{(1+3x+x^2)^2}=-\dfrac{2(2x+3)}{(1+3x+x^2)^2}[/tex]

From here you can proceed with determining the concavity of [tex]y[/tex] by finding the possible inflection points (when [tex]y''=0[/tex] or undefined). Since the denominator is positive for all [tex]x[/tex], you know that [tex]y''[/tex] is defined for all [tex]x[/tex]. So you're left with solving

[tex]y''=-\dfrac{2(2x+3)}{(1+3x+x^2)^2}=0[/tex]
[tex]\implies 2x+3=0[/tex]
[tex]\implies x=-\dfrac32[/tex]

So you have two intervals to consider, [tex]\left(-\infty,-\dfrac32\right)[/tex] and [tex]\left(-\dfrac32,\infty\right)[/tex]. Check the sign of [tex]y''[/tex] in both of these intervals; if [tex]y''>0[/tex] on some interval, then [tex]y[/tex] is concave upward on that interval.