Is #f(x) = (x+3)^(2/3) - 6# concave or convex?

1 Answer
Oct 10, 2016

#f(x)# has a convex hypograph.

Explanation:

For #x in (-3,oo)# as we can see, #f(x) = (x+3)^(2/3) - 6# has a convex hypograph. This can be stated observing that in the same range, #f'(x) =2/(3 (3 + x)^(1/3)) # has a positive strictly decreasing value. Further rigorous proof can be established by stating that if
#(x_1,f(x_1))# and #(x_2,f(x_2))# are two hypograph points, then

#(x_1+lambda(x_2-x_1),f(x_1+lambda(x_2-x_1)))# for #lambda in [0,1]# is also a hypograph point.

Attached the hypograph set

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