Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.2 – Increasing and Decreasing Functions | Boundless Maths
Chapter 6 · Application of Derivatives

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.2: Increasing and Decreasing Functions

This Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.2 page covers all 19 questions, solved step-by-step — using the sign of f′(x) to prove functions are increasing or decreasing and to find exact intervals, across polynomial, trigonometric and logarithmic functions, for CBSE Application of Derivatives.

19Questions
Easy–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.2 — All 19 Questions

1

Show that the function given by f(x) = 3x + 17 is increasing on \mathbb{R}.

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = 3 > 0 for all x \in \mathbb{R}.

Since f'(x) > 0 for all x \in \mathbb{R}, f is strictly increasing on \mathbb{R}.
2

Show that the function given by f(x) = e^{2x} is increasing on \mathbb{R}.

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = 2e^{2x} > 0 for all x, since e^{2x} > 0 always.

Since f'(x) > 0 for all x, f is increasing on \mathbb{R}.
3

Show that the function given by f(x) = \sin x is (a) increasing in (0, \tfrac{\pi}{2}) (b) decreasing in (\tfrac{\pi}{2}, \pi) (c) neither increasing nor decreasing in (0, \pi)

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = \cos x.

(a) On \left(0, \tfrac{\pi}{2}\right): \cos x > 0 — increasing.

(b) On \left(\tfrac{\pi}{2}, \pi\right): \cos x < 0 — decreasing.

(c) f' changes sign on (0,\pi), so f is neither throughout.

Proved: increasing on (0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}), decreasing on (\tfrac{\pi}{2},\pi), neither on the full interval (0,\pi).
4

Find the intervals in which the function f(x) = 2x^2 - 3x is (a) increasing (b) decreasing.

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = 4x - 3 = 0 \Rightarrow x = \tfrac{3}{4}.

For x < \tfrac{3}{4}: decreasing. For x > \tfrac{3}{4}: increasing.

Increasing on \left(\tfrac{3}{4}, \infty\right); decreasing on \left(-\infty, \tfrac{3}{4}\right).
5

Find the intervals in which the function f(x) = 2x^3 - 3x^2 - 36x + 7 is (a) increasing (b) decreasing.

Medium +
Solution

f'(x) = 6x^2 - 6x - 36 = 6(x-3)(x+2) = 0 \Rightarrow x = -2, 3.

Test each interval: (-\infty,-2) gives 6 > 0 (increasing); (-2,3) gives -6 < 0 (decreasing); (3,\infty) gives 6 > 0 (increasing).

Increasing on (-\infty,-2) \cup (3,\infty); decreasing on (-2,3).
6

Find the intervals in which the following functions are strictly increasing or decreasing: (a) x^2+2x-5  (b) 10-6x-2x^2  (c) -2x^3-9x^2-12x+1  (d) 6-9x-x^2  (e) (x+1)^3(x-3)^3

Hard +
(a) x² + 2x − 5

f'(x) = 2x+2 = 2(x+1) = 0 \Rightarrow x=-1.

Increasing on (-1,\infty); decreasing on (-\infty,-1).
(b) 10 − 6x − 2x²

f'(x) = -6-4x = -2(2x+3) = 0 \Rightarrow x=-\tfrac{3}{2}.

Increasing on \left(-\infty,-\tfrac{3}{2}\right); decreasing on \left(-\tfrac{3}{2},\infty\right).
(c) −2x³ − 9x² − 12x + 1

f'(x) = -6x^2-18x-12 = -6(x+1)(x+2) = 0 \Rightarrow x=-2,-1.

Test each interval: negative on (-\infty,-2), positive on (-2,-1), negative on (-1,\infty).

Increasing on (-2,-1); decreasing on (-\infty,-2)\cup(-1,\infty).
(d) 6 − 9x − x²

f'(x) = -9-2x = 0 \Rightarrow x=-\tfrac{9}{2}.

Increasing on \left(-\infty,-\tfrac{9}{2}\right); decreasing on \left(-\tfrac{9}{2},\infty\right).
(e) (x+1)³(x−3)³

Product rule: f'(x) = 3(x+1)^2(x-3)^3 + 3(x+1)^3(x-3)^2.

Factoring: f'(x) = 3(x+1)^2(x-3)^2\big[(x-3)+(x+1)\big] = 6(x+1)^2(x-3)^2(x-1).

Since (x+1)^2(x-3)^2 \geq 0 always, the sign of f'(x) follows (x-1).

Increasing on (1,\infty); decreasing on (-\infty,1).
7

Show that y = \log(1+x) - \dfrac{2x}{2+x}, x > -1, is an increasing function of x throughout its domain.

Hard +
Solution

Quotient rule: \dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{1}{1+x} - \dfrac{4}{(2+x)^2}.

Combine over a common denominator: \dfrac{dy}{dx} = \dfrac{(2+x)^2 - 4(1+x)}{(1+x)(2+x)^2} = \dfrac{x^2}{(1+x)(2+x)^2}.

For x > -1: (1+x) > 0, (2+x)^2 > 0, x^2 \geq 0.

So \dfrac{dy}{dx} \geq 0 throughout the domain — hence y is increasing for all x > -1.
8

Find the values of x for which y = [x(x-2)]^2 is an increasing function.

Medium +
Solution

Let u = x^2-2x, so y=u^2 \Rightarrow \dfrac{dy}{dx} = 2u(2x-2) = 4x(x-2)(x-1) = 0 \Rightarrow x = 0, 1, 2.

Sign of x(x-2)(x-1): negative on x<0, positive on 0<x<1, negative on 1<x<2, positive on x>2.

Increasing for x \in (0,1) \cup (2,\infty).
9

Prove that y = \dfrac{4\sin\theta}{2+\cos\theta} - \theta is an increasing function of \theta in \left[0, \tfrac{\pi}{2}\right].

Hard +
Solution

Quotient rule (using \cos^2\theta+\sin^2\theta=1): \dfrac{dy}{d\theta} = \dfrac{8\cos\theta+4}{(2+\cos\theta)^2} - 1.

Combine and expand: \dfrac{dy}{d\theta} = \dfrac{\cos\theta(4-\cos\theta)}{(2+\cos\theta)^2}.

On \left[0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right]: \cos\theta \geq 0 and 4-\cos\theta > 0 (since \cos\theta \leq 1).

So \dfrac{dy}{d\theta} \geq 0 throughout \left[0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right] — hence y is increasing on this interval.
10

Prove that the logarithmic function is increasing on (0, \infty).

Easy +
Solution

Let f(x) = \log x, x > 0. Then f'(x) = \dfrac{1}{x} > 0 always, since x > 0.

Hence the logarithmic function is increasing on (0,\infty).
11

Prove that the function f(x) = x^2-x+1 is neither strictly increasing nor strictly decreasing on (-1,1).

Medium +
Solution

f'(x) = 2x-1 = 0 \Rightarrow x=\tfrac{1}{2}, inside (-1,1).

On \left(-1,\tfrac{1}{2}\right): decreasing. On \left(\tfrac{1}{2},1\right): increasing.

Since f' changes sign inside (-1,1), f is neither increasing nor decreasing on the whole interval.
12

MCQ. Which of the following functions are decreasing on \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right)?   (A) \cos x   (B) \cos 2x   (C) \cos 3x   (D) \tan x

Medium +
Solution

(A) \cos x: derivative -\sin x < 0 throughout — decreasing.

(B) \cos 2x: derivative -2\sin 2x; 2x ranges over (0,\pi) where \sin 2x > 0 — decreasing.

(C) \cos 3x: 3x passes \pi at x=\tfrac{\pi}{3}, so \sin 3x changes sign — not decreasing throughout.

(D) \tan x: derivative \sec^2 x > 0 always — increasing, not decreasing.

Answer: (A) and (B) — \cos x and \cos 2x are decreasing on the whole interval.
13

MCQ. On which interval is f(x) = x^{100}+\sin x - 1 decreasing?   (A) (0,1)   (B) \left(\tfrac{\pi}{2},\pi\right)   (C) \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right)   (D) None of these

Medium +
Solution

f'(x) = 100x^{99}+\cos x.

On all three intervals x>0, so 100x^{99} dominates even where \cos x turns negative — f'(x) > 0 throughout, so f is increasing, not decreasing, on each.

Answer: (D) None of these.
14

For what values of a is the function f(x) = x^2+ax+1 increasing on [1,2]?

Medium +
Solution

f'(x) = 2x+a; need f'(x) \geq 0 throughout [1,2].

f'(x) is increasing in x, so its minimum on [1,2] is f'(1) = 2+a. Requiring 2+a \geq 0 gives a \geq -2.

Answer: a \in [-2, \infty).
15

Let I be any interval disjoint from [-1,1]. Prove that the function f(x) = x + \dfrac{1}{x} is increasing on I.

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = 1 - \dfrac{1}{x^2} = \dfrac{x^2-1}{x^2}.

I is disjoint from [-1,1], so every x \in I has x^2 > 1, making x^2-1>0.

So f'(x) > 0 throughout I — hence f is increasing on I.
16

Prove that the function f(x) = \log \sin x is increasing on \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right) and decreasing on \left(\tfrac{\pi}{2},\pi\right).

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = \dfrac{\cos x}{\sin x} = \cot x.

On \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right): \cot x > 0 — increasing. On \left(\tfrac{\pi}{2},\pi\right): \cot x < 0 — decreasing.

Proved as required.
17

Prove that the function f(x) = \log|\cos x| is decreasing on \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right) and increasing on \left(\tfrac{3\pi}{2},2\pi\right).

Medium +
Solution

f'(x) = -\tan x.

On \left(0,\tfrac{\pi}{2}\right): \tan x > 0 \Rightarrow f'(x) < 0 — decreasing. On \left(\tfrac{3\pi}{2},2\pi\right): \tan x < 0 \Rightarrow f'(x)>0 — increasing.

Proved as required.
18

Prove that the function given by f(x) = x^3-3x^2+3x-100 is increasing on \mathbb{R}.

Easy +
Solution

f'(x) = 3x^2-6x+3 = 3(x-1)^2 \geq 0 for all x, touching zero only at x=1.

Since f'(x)\geq 0 everywhere (zero only at an isolated point), f is increasing on \mathbb{R}.
19

MCQ. The interval in which y = x^2 e^{-x} is increasing is:   (A) (-\infty,\infty)   (B) (-2,0)   (C) (2,\infty)   (D) (0,2)

Easy +
Solution

y' = 2xe^{-x} - x^2e^{-x} = e^{-x}\,x(2-x).

Since e^{-x}>0 always, y' takes the sign of x(2-x), positive exactly when 0<x<2.

Answer: (D) (0,2)

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Common Questions

FAQs — Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.2

How many questions are there in Exercise 6.2?

Exercise 6.2 has 19 questions (16 short-answer/proof questions plus 3 MCQs), all on increasing and decreasing functions.

What concept does Exercise 6.2 test?

It tests how to use the sign of f'(x) to prove a function is increasing or decreasing, and to find the exact intervals where it does so, including on trigonometric and logarithmic functions.

Where can I find the official NCERT textbook for this exercise?

Exercise 6.2 is from Chapter 6, Application of Derivatives, in the NCERT Class 12 Mathematics textbook (Part I), published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prescribed by CBSE. You can download the official textbook PDF directly from ncert.nic.in, NCERT's official website — the solutions on this page follow the questions exactly as they appear there.

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