Increasing and Decreasing Function Intervals Practice

Master identifying increasing and decreasing intervals of functions with step-by-step practice problems, graphical analysis, and real-world applications.

📚What You'll Master in This Practice Session
  • Identify increasing intervals where function values grow as x increases
  • Locate decreasing intervals where function values fall with increasing x
  • Analyze function graphs to determine interval notation for increasing/decreasing regions
  • Connect minimum and maximum points to interval boundaries
  • Apply interval concepts to real-world situations and word problems
  • Use proper mathematical notation to express increasing and decreasing intervals

Understanding Increasing Intervals of a function

Complete explanation with examples

The increasing intervals of a function

An increasing interval of a function expresses the same values of X (the interval), in which the values of the function (Y) grow parallel to the growth of the values of X to the right.

In certain cases, the increasing interval begins at the minimum point, but it does not necessarily have to be this way.

Detailed explanation

Practice Increasing Intervals of a function

Test your knowledge with 17 quizzes

Which domain corresponds to the described function:

The function represents the velocity of a stone after being dropped from a great height as a function of time.

Examples with solutions for Increasing Intervals of a function

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Is the function shown in the graph below decreasing?

yx

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Visually inspect the graph to see if it is consistently sloping downward.
  • Step 2: Apply the definition of a decreasing function.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: Observing the graph, the function's graph is a line moving from the top left to the bottom right. This indicates it slopes downward as we move from left to right across the x x -axis.
Step 2: According to the definition of a decreasing function, for any x1<x2 x_1 < x_2 , it must hold true that f(x1)>f(x2) f(x_1) > f(x_2) . Since the graph shows a line moving downward, this condition is satisfied throughout its domain.

Therefore, the function represented by the graph is indeed decreasing.

The final answer is Yes.

Answer:

Yes

Exercise #2

Is the function in the graph decreasing?

yx

Step-by-Step Solution

To analyze whether the function in the graph is decreasing, we must understand how the function's behavior is defined by its graph:

  • Step 1: Examine the graph. The graph presented is a horizontal line.
  • Step 2: Recognize the properties of a horizontal line. Horizontally aligned lines correspond to constant functions because the y y -value remains the same for all x x -values.
  • Step 3: Define the criteria for a function to be decreasing. A function decreases when, as x x increases, the value of f(x) f(x) decreases.
  • Step 4: Apply this criterion to the horizontal line. Since the y y -value is constant and does not decrease as x x moves rightward, the function is not decreasing.

Therefore, the function represented by the graph is not decreasing.

Answer:

No

Exercise #3

In what domain is the function increasing?

–5–5–5555101010151515–5–5–5555000

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's first remember that a function is increasing if both the X and Y values are increasing simultaneously.

Conversely, a function is decreasing if the X values are increasing while the Y values are decreasing simultaneously.

In the graph shown, we can see that the function is increasing in every domain and therefore the function is increasing for all values of X.

Answer:

All values of x x

Video Solution
Exercise #4

In what interval is the function increasing?

Purple line: x=0.6 x=0.6

111222333111000

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's remember that a function is described as increasing if both X values and Y values are increasing simultaneously.

A function is decreasing if X values are increasing while Y values are decreasing simultaneously.

In the graph, we can see that in the domain x < 0.6 the function is increasing, meaning the Y values are increasing.

Answer:

x<0.6

Video Solution
Exercise #5

Determine in which domain the function is negative?

–0.5–0.5–0.50.50.50.51111.51.51.5222000

Step-by-Step Solution

Remember that a function is increasing if both X values and Y values are increasing simultaneously.

A function is decreasing if X values are increasing while Y values are decreasing simultaneously.

In the graph, we can observe that in the domain x > 1 the function is decreasing, meaning the Y values are decreasing.

Answer:

x > 1

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an increasing interval of a function?

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An increasing interval is a range of x-values where the function values (y) grow as x increases to the right. On a graph, this appears as the function rising from left to right in that interval.

How do you find increasing and decreasing intervals on a graph?

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To find intervals: 1) Look at the graph from left to right, 2) Mark where the function rises (increasing) or falls (decreasing), 3) Write intervals using proper notation like (a,b) or [a,b].

Do increasing intervals always start at minimum points?

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No, increasing intervals don't necessarily begin at minimum points. While they often do, an increasing interval can start at any point where the function begins to rise.

What's the difference between increasing and decreasing function intervals?

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Increasing intervals show function values rising as x increases (upward slope). Decreasing intervals show function values falling as x increases (downward slope).

How do you write interval notation for increasing functions?

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Use parentheses ( ) for open intervals and brackets [ ] for closed intervals. For example: increasing on (2,5) means from x=2 to x=5, not including endpoints.

Can a function be both increasing and decreasing?

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Yes, most functions have different intervals where they increase and decrease. The function changes behavior at turning points like maximums and minimums.

What are real-world examples of increasing and decreasing intervals?

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Examples include: population growth over time (increasing), temperature throughout a day (both increasing and decreasing), or profit vs. production cost relationships in business.

How do maximum and minimum points relate to function intervals?

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Maximum points often mark the end of increasing intervals and start of decreasing intervals. Minimum points typically end decreasing intervals and begin increasing intervals.

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