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Concavity of tan(x) on (-π/2, π/2)

Consider the function f(x)=tan⁡(x)f(x) = \tan(x) defined on the open interval (−π2,π2)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right).

Recall that f′(x)=sec⁡2(x)f'(x) = \sec^2(x) and f′′(x)=2sec⁡2(x)tan⁡(x)f''(x) = 2\sec^2(x)\tan(x).

Using f′′(x)f''(x), determine the concavity of f(x)=tan⁡(x)f(x) = \tan(x) on the interval (−π2,0)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, 0\right) and on the interval (0,π2)\left(0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right). State whether x=0x = 0 is an inflection point, and justify your conclusion using the sign of f′′(x)f''(x).

Hint

Since sec⁡2(x)>0\sec^2(x) > 0 everywhere it is defined, the sign of f′′(x)=2sec⁡2(x)tan⁡(x)f''(x) = 2\sec^2(x)\tan(x) is determined entirely by the sign of tan⁡(x)\tan(x). Check the sign of tan⁡(x)\tan(x) on each side of 00.

Step-by-step solution

Since sec⁡2(x)>0\sec^2(x) > 0 for all xx in (−π2,π2)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, \frac{\pi}{2}\right), the sign of f′′(x)=2sec⁡2(x)tan⁡(x)f''(x) = 2\sec^2(x)\tan(x) matches the sign of tan⁡(x)\tan(x). On (−π2,0)\left(-\frac{\pi}{2}, 0\right), tan⁡(x)<0\tan(x) < 0, so f′′(x)<0f''(x) < 0, meaning ff is concave down there.

On (0,π2)\left(0, \frac{\pi}{2}\right), tan⁡(x)>0\tan(x) > 0, so f′′(x)>0f''(x) > 0, meaning ff is concave up there. Since f′′f'' changes sign from negative to positive as xx passes through 00, and f′′(0)=0f''(0) = 0, the point x=0x = 0 (where f(0)=0f(0)=0) is indeed an inflection point of ff.

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