Chapter 4: Problem 64
Graph the polynomial and determine how many local maxima and minima it has. $$ y=\frac{1}{3} x^{7}-17 x^{2}+7 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The polynomial has one local maximum and a possibility for a minimum based on calculations.
Step by step solution
01
Finding the Derivative
First, find the derivative of the polynomial function. The given function is \( y = \frac{1}{3} x^7 - 17x^2 + 7 \). To find the derivative \( y' \), apply the power rule to each term: \[ y' = 7 \cdot \frac{1}{3}x^{6} - 2 \cdot 17x \]Simplifying, we have: \[ y' = \frac{7}{3} x^6 - 34x \]
02
Setting the Derivative to Zero
To find the critical points, set the derivative equal to zero and solve for \( x \): \[ \frac{7}{3} x^6 - 34x = 0 \]Factor out the common factor \( x \): \[ x(\frac{7}{3} x^5 - 34) = 0 \]So, the critical points are found by solving: \[ x = 0 \] and \[ \frac{7}{3} x^5 - 34 = 0 \]
03
Solving the Critical Point Equation
Now, solve \( \frac{7}{3} x^5 - 34 = 0 \) to find additional critical points: Move 34 to the other side: \[ \frac{7}{3} x^5 = 34 \]Multiply both sides by 3/7 to solve for \( x^5 \): \[ x^5 = \frac{34 \times 3}{7} = \frac{102}{7} \]Taking the fifth root gives:\( x = \sqrt[5]{\frac{102}{7}} \)
04
Analyzing the Critical Points
We have critical points at \( x = 0 \) and \( x = \sqrt[5]{\frac{102}{7}} \). Use the second derivative test to determine whether these points are local maxima or minima.
05
Second Derivative Test
Find the second derivative: \[ y'' = \frac{42}{3}x^5 - 34 \]Evaluate the second derivative at the critical points:- At \( x = 0 \): \[ y''(0) = \frac{42}{3}(0)^5 - 34 = -34 \] (Negative, indicating a local maxima)- At \( x = \sqrt[5]{\frac{102}{7}} \): Evaluate the second derivative numerically to confirm if it's positive or negative to determine maximum/minimum.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Derivative
Finding the derivative of a polynomial function is an essential step in analyzing the graph and behavior of the function. For the function \( y = \frac{1}{3}x^7 - 17x^2 + 7 \):
- The process involves the power rule where each term's exponent is multiplied by the coefficient, and the exponent is reduced by one.
- Derivative of \( \frac{1}{3}x^7 \) is \( \frac{7}{3}x^6 \)
- Derivative of \(-17x^2 \) is \(-34x \)
- Derivative of a constant is 0.
Critical Points
Critical points of a function occur where the derivative equals zero or is undefined. They are places where the graph of the function could change direction.
- Set \( y' = \frac{7}{3}x^6 - 34x = 0 \) to find these points.
- By factoring out \( x \), we get \( x(\frac{7}{3}x^5 - 34) = 0 \).
- \( x = 0 \) comes directly from setting the factored equation to zero.
- \( \sqrt[5]{\frac{102}{7}} \) is obtained by solving \( \frac{7}{3}x^5 = 34 \).
Local Maxima
A local maximum is a point where the function's value is higher than the values of the surrounding points. To verify whether a critical point is a local maximum, we use the second derivative test.
- Compute the second derivative: \( y'' = \frac{42}{3}x^5 - 34 \).
- Evaluate \( y'' \) at the critical points.
- \( y''(0) = \frac{42}{3}(0)^5 - 34 = -34 \).
- Since the second derivative is negative, this indicates a local maximum.
Local Minima
A local minimum is a point where the function's value is lower than the values of the surrounding points. To determine if a critical point is a local minimum, we again utilize the second derivative test.
- We already have \( y'' = \frac{42}{3}x^5 - 34 \).
- If the result is positive, it suggests the function is concave up at this point, indicating a local minimum.
- If negative, it implies a non-minimum point.