Chapter 3: Problem 16
Find the relative extrema of the function, if they exist. ist your answers in terms of ordered pairs. Then sketch a graph of the function. $$ f(x)=x^{4}-8 x^{2}+3 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
(0, 3) is a relative maximum. (2, -13) and (-2, -13) are relative minima.
Step by step solution
01
- Find the first derivative
To determine the relative extrema, start by finding the first derivative of the function. For the function \(f(x) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 3\), the first derivative is assessed as follows:\[f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}(x^4 - 8x^2 + 3)\]Using the power rule, we get:\[f'(x) = 4x^3 - 16x\]
02
- Set the first derivative to zero
To find critical points, set the first derivative equal to zero and solve for x:\[4x^3 - 16x = 0\]Factor the equation:\[4x(x^2 - 4) = 0\]This gives us:\[4x(x - 2)(x + 2) = 0\]Therefore, the solutions are:\[x = 0, x = 2, x = -2\]
03
- Find the second derivative
Next, we need the second derivative to apply the second derivative test. The second derivative of \(f(x)\) is:\[f''(x) = \frac{d}{dx}(4x^3 - 16x)\]Taking the derivative again using the power rule, we get:\[f''(x) = 12x^2 - 16\]
04
- Apply the second derivative test
Evaluate the second derivative at each critical point. If \(f''(x) > 0\), then \(f\) has a relative minimum at that point. If \(f''(x) < 0\), then \(f\) has a relative maximum. If \(f''(x) = 0\), the test is inconclusive.For \(x = 0:\)\[f''(0) = 12(0)^2 - 16 = -16 < 0\]So, there is a relative maximum at \(x = 0\).For \(x = 2:\)\[f''(2) = 12(2)^2 - 16 = 32 > 0\]So, there is a relative minimum at \(x = 2\).For \(x = -2:\)\[f''(-2) = 12(-2)^2 - 16 = 32 > 0\]So, there is a relative minimum at \(x = -2\).
05
- Find the y-values for the critical points
To get the coordinates of the relative extrema, substitute the x-values back into the original function \(f(x)\):For \(x = 0:\)\[f(0) = (0)^4 - 8(0)^2 + 3 = 3\]So the relative maximum is \((0, 3)\).For \(x = 2:\)\[f(2) = (2)^4 - 8(2)^2 + 3 = 16 - 32 + 3 = -13\]So the relative minimum is \((2, -13)\).For \(x = -2:\)\[f(-2) = (-2)^4 - 8(-2)^2 + 3 = 16 - 32 + 3 = -13\]So the relative minimum is \((-2, -13)\).
06
- Sketch the graph
Use the relative extrema points found to sketch the graph of the function. Plot the points \((0, 3)\), \((2, -13)\), and \((-2, -13)\). Make sure to show that the graph has a relative maximum at \((0, 3)\) and relative minima at \((2, -13)\) and \((-2, -13)\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Critical Points
Critical points are pivotal in finding the relative extrema of a function. They occur where the first derivative of the function is zero or undefined. For a given function, say \(f(x) = x^4 - 8x^2 + 3\), you'll begin by finding its first derivative \(f'(x)\). Using the power rule, this derivative is \(f'(x) = 4x^3 - 16x\). Next, set \(f'(x) = 0\) to find the x-values where the function's slope is zero. For our function:
- \(4x(x^2 - 4) = 0\)
- \(x = 0, x = 2, x = -2\)
First Derivative Test
The first derivative test helps determine whether each critical point is a relative minimum, maximum, or neither. After you find the critical points, you investigate the intervals around these points to see how the sign of the first derivative changes:
- If \(f'(x)\) changes from positive to negative, \(f(x)\) has a relative maximum at that point.
- If \(f'(x)\) changes from negative to positive, \(f(x)\) has a relative minimum at that point.
- If \(f'(x)\) does not change sign, the critical point is neither a maximum nor a minimum.
Second Derivative Test
The second derivative test offers a more straightforward validation of the nature of critical points. Once the critical points are determined, compute the second derivative of the function. For our example:
- The first derivative is \(f'(x) = 4x^3 - 16x\).
- The second derivative is \(f''(x) = 12x^2 - 16\).
- For \(x = 0\): \(f''(0) = 12(0)^2 - 16 = -16 < 0\), indicating a relative maximum.
- For \(x = 2\): \(f''(2) = 12(2)^2 - 16 = 32 > 0\), indicating a relative minimum.
- For \(x = -2\): \(f''(-2) = 12(-2)^2 - 16 = 32 > 0\), also indicating a relative minimum.
Polynomial Functions
Understanding polynomial functions makes the process of finding extrema more accessible. A polynomial function is of the form \(f(x) = a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x^{n-1} + ... + a_1 x + a_0\). Key characteristics include:
- Continuity and smoothness: Polynomials are continuous and differentiable over their domain.
- Degrees: The degree of the polynomial affects its shape and the number of extrema it can have.
- Symmetry: Even-degree polynomials may exhibit symmetry about the y-axis, while odd-degree polynomials may show rotational symmetry about the origin.