Derivative Calculator with Complete Function Analysis

Differentiate functions step by step and perform a complete calculus analysis including critical points, extrema, increasing and decreasing intervals, concavity, inflection points, asymptotes, variation tables, interactive graphs, tangent lines, and downloadable PDF reports.

Analyze a Function

Enter a real-valued function of x. Use notation such as x^3, sin(x), sqrt(x), exp(x), and log(x).

Analyzing function...
Function being analyzed
\(f(x)=\)

Quick Analysis

Key results from the complete function analysis.

Domain
First Derivative
Second Derivative
Symmetry
Critical Points
Local Maximum
Local Minimum
Inflection Points

First Derivative

Step-by-Step Differentiation

  1. Derivative steps will appear here.

Second & Higher Derivatives

Roots, Critical Points & Extrema

Analyze intercepts and derivative sign changes to determine maxima and minima.

Roots / X-Intercepts

Y-Intercept

Critical Points

Extrema

Increasing & Decreasing Intervals

The sign of \(f'(x)\) determines where the function rises and falls.

Increasing

Decreasing

Interval Sign of f′(x) Behavior
Analysis will appear here.

Variation Table

A complete visual summary of critical values, derivative signs, and function behavior.

The variation table will appear after analysis.

Concavity & Inflection Points

Concavity is determined using the sign of the second derivative.

Concave Up

Concave Down

Inflection Points

Concavity table will appear here.
A solution of \(f''(x)=0\) is only an inflection-point candidate. The calculator verifies that the concavity actually changes before reporting an inflection point.

Limits & Asymptotes

Important Limits

Asymptotes

Function Sign Analysis

Determine where the function is positive, negative, or equal to zero.

f(x) > 0

f(x) < 0

Sign table will appear here.

Interactive Function & Derivative Graph

Compare the original function with its first and second derivatives and visualize important calculus features.

Tangent & Normal Line Calculator

Choose a point \(x=a\) to calculate the tangent and normal lines to the function.

Point
Slope
Tangent Line
Normal Line

Download Complete Function Analysis

Generate a professional MathVisualLab PDF report containing the function, derivatives, step-by-step work, critical points, extrema, variation table, concavity, inflection points, asymptotes, graph, and tangent analysis.

How Function Analysis Works

First Derivative

\[ f'(x)>0 \Rightarrow f(x)\text{ is increasing} \] \[ f'(x)<0 \Rightarrow f(x)\text{ is decreasing} \]

Second Derivative

\[ f''(x)>0 \Rightarrow f(x)\text{ is concave up} \] \[ f''(x)<0 \Rightarrow f(x)\text{ is concave down} \]
Symbolic results are preferred whenever they can be established reliably. Numerical searches are limited to the selected analysis interval and will be clearly identified as numerical approximations rather than exact global results.