In first and second derivatives, positive means "upward to the right", and negative means "downward to the right". The first derivative f' determines slope of a tangent line, i.e., increasing or decreasing. The second derivative f" determines how the graph is curving, i.e., curving concave upward or curving concave downward. f'(2) = 0 and if f'(x) > 0 when x < 2 and f"(x) < 0 when x > 2. f'(2) = 0 means that a tangent line drawn to the curve at the point where x=2 is horizontal. f'(x) > 0 when x < 2 means that to the immediate left of the point where x=2, the curve is increasing, i.e., a tangent line drawn there slopes upward to the right. f"(x) < 0 when x > 2 means that the curvature to the immediate right of the point where x = 2 is downward. The green lines are tangent lines.Edwin