Chapter 6: Problem 8
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of \(f\) on the given closed interval, and state where those values occur. $$f(x)=2 x^{3}-3 x^{2}-12 x ;[-2,3]$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Maximum is 7 at \( x = -1 \), minimum is -20 at \( x = 2 \).
Step by step solution
01
Find the derivative of the function
To find the critical points of the function, first, calculate the derivative of the function. Given:\[ f(x) = 2x^3 - 3x^2 - 12x \]Differentiate with respect to \( x \):\[ f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}(2x^3) - \frac{d}{dx}(3x^2) - \frac{d}{dx}(12x) \]\[ f'(x) = 6x^2 - 6x - 12 \]
02
Find critical points
Set the derivative equal to zero to find critical points:\[ 6x^2 - 6x - 12 = 0 \]Divide the entire equation by 6:\[ x^2 - x - 2 = 0 \]Factor the quadratic equation:\[ (x - 2)(x + 1) = 0 \]Setting each factor to zero gives the critical points:\[ x = 2 \quad \text{and} \quad x = -1 \]
03
Evaluate the function at critical points and endpoints
Evaluate \( f(x) \) at the critical points and at the endpoints of the interval \([-2, 3]\).- At \( x = -2 \):\[ f(-2) = 2(-2)^3 - 3(-2)^2 - 12(-2) = -16 - 12 + 24 = -4 \]- At \( x = -1 \):\[ f(-1) = 2(-1)^3 - 3(-1)^2 - 12(-1) = -2 - 3 + 12 = 7 \]- At \( x = 2 \):\[ f(2) = 2(2)^3 - 3(2)^2 - 12(2) = 16 - 12 - 24 = -20 \]- At \( x = 3 \):\[ f(3) = 2(3)^3 - 3(3)^2 - 12(3) = 54 - 27 - 36 = -9 \]
04
Determine the absolute maximum and minimum values
Compare the values obtained:- \( f(-2) = -4 \)- \( f(-1) = 7 \)- \( f(2) = -20 \)- \( f(3) = -9 \)The absolute maximum value is 7 at \( x = -1 \).The absolute minimum value is -20 at \( x = 2 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Derivative
In calculus, a derivative represents how a function changes as its input changes. It essentially gives us the rate of change or the slope of the function at any given point. To find the derivative of a function, we use differentiation, which involves simple rules to handle powers of x and constants. For a given function like \( f(x) = 2x^3 - 3x^2 - 12x \), we differentiate each term separately:
- The derivative of \( 2x^3 \) is \( 6x^2 \).
- The derivative of \( -3x^2 \) is \( -6x \).
- The derivative of \( -12x \) is \( -12 \).
Critical Points
Critical points are where the function's derivative is zero or undefined. These points are important in determining where a function might have a maximum or minimum value. To find them, we solve \( f'(x) = 0 \). For example, with \( 6x^2 - 6x - 12 = 0 \), we first divide by 6:
- This simplifies to \( x^2 - x - 2 = 0 \).
- The factored form \( (x - 2)(x + 1) = 0 \) gives solutions \( x = 2 \) and \( x = -1 \).
Absolute Maximum and Minimum
The absolute maximum and minimum values of a function on a closed interval can be determined by examining the function at critical points and endpoints of the interval. For instance, let's consider a function evaluated on the interval \([-2,3]\).
- Calculate \( f(x) \) at critical points you found, \( x = 2 \) and \( x = -1 \).
- Also check the function at endpoints, \( x = -2 \) and \( x = 3 \).
- The highest value is the absolute maximum.
- The lowest is the absolute minimum.
Quadratic Equation
A quadratic equation is a polynomial of degree two, described by the standard form \( ax^2 + bx + c = 0 \). Solving quadratic equations can be done by factoring, using the quadratic formula, or completing the square. In our example, we solved the equation \( x^2 - x - 2 = 0 \) by factoring:
- Factor to get \( (x - 2)(x + 1) = 0 \).
- Set each factor equal to zero, yielding solutions \( x = 2 \) and \( x = -1 \).