Sign

Definition

In mathematics, "sign" refers to whether a number is positive (+), negative (-), or zero (0). It helps us understand direction and magnitude when analyzing functions and their derivatives.

Related terms

Increasing/Decreasing: The sign of the first derivative determines whether a function is increasing (positive) or decreasing (negative).

Relative Extrema: Relative extrema occur at points where a function changes from increasing to decreasing (maximum) or from decreasing to increasing (minimum). These points are determined by the sign change in the first derivative.

Critical Points: Critical points on a graph occur where either the first derivative is equal to zero or does not exist. They help identify possible local extrema.