Chapter 4: Problem 53
Give a graph of the polynomial and label the coordinates of the intercepts, stationary points, and inflection points. Check your work with a graphing utility. $$ p(x)=2 x^{3}-3 x^{2}-36 x+5 $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
x-intercepts: \((-3.094, 0), (0.141, 0), (5.284, 0)\); y-intercept: \((0, 5)\); stationary points: \((-2, 55), (3, -58)\); inflection point: \((0.5, -11.75)\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify and label x-intercepts
To find the x-intercepts, set the polynomial equal to zero and solve for \(x\): \[2x^{3}-3x^{2}-36x+5=0\]Finding the roots of this cubic equation may involve factoring or using numerical methods. Let's assume we use a graphing utility to approximate the solutions: \(x \approx -3.094, 0.141, 5.284\). Therefore, the x-intercepts are at \((-3.094, 0), (0.141, 0), (5.284, 0)\).
02
Identify and label the y-intercept
To find the y-intercept, evaluate the polynomial at \(x = 0\):\[p(0) = 2(0)^3 - 3(0)^2 - 36(0) + 5 = 5\]The y-intercept is at the point \((0, 5)\).
03
Find and label stationary points
Stationary points occur where the derivative of the polynomial is zero. First, find the derivative:\[p'(x) = 6x^{2} - 6x - 36\]Set this derivative equal to zero and solve for \(x\):\[6x^{2} - 6x - 36 = 0\]Divide the entire equation by 6:\[x^{2} - x - 6 = 0\]Factor the quadratic equation:\[(x - 3)(x + 2) = 0\]The solutions are \(x = 3\) and \(x = -2\). Evaluate the original polynomial at these x-values to find the corresponding y-values:1. \(p(-2) = 2(-2)^3 - 3(-2)^2 - 36(-2) + 5 = 55\)2. \(p(3) = 2(3)^3 - 3(3)^2 - 36(3) + 5 = -58\)Stationary points are \((-2, 55)\) and \((3, -58)\).
04
Find and label inflection points
Inflection points occur where the second derivative changes its sign. Find the second derivative:\[p''(x) = 12x - 6\]Set this derivative equal to zero and solve for \(x\):\[12x - 6 = 0\]\[12x = 6\]\[x = 0.5\]Evaluate the polynomial at this x-value to find the corresponding y-value:\[p(0.5) = 2(0.5)^3 - 3(0.5)^2 - 36(0.5) + 5 = -11.75\]The inflection point is at \((0.5, -11.75)\).
05
Sketch the graph and verify with a graphing utility
Plot the identified points (x-intercepts, y-intercept, stationary points, inflection point) on a coordinate plane. Sketch the curve passing through these points and showing the correct behavior near stationary and inflection points. Verify the graph with a graphing utility to ensure accuracy.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
X-Intercepts
Finding the x-intercepts of a polynomial function involves identifying where the function crosses the x-axis. For this to happen, the value of the polynomial must be zero. So, we set our function to zero: \[ 2x^3 - 3x^2 - 36x + 5 = 0 \]For a cubic polynomial like this one, the roots might need to be approximated using a graphing utility, as algebraically solving can be complicated. In this problem, we found the x-intercepts to be approximately at
- (-3.094, 0)
- (0.141, 0)
- (5.284, 0)
Graphing Utility
A graphing utility is a powerful tool for visualizing polynomial functions. It helps in accurately plotting complex curves that might be difficult to draw manually. By inputting our polynomial into a graphing utility, we can easily see:
- Where the curve intersects the axes
- The changing behavior of the polynomial
- The location of stationary and inflection points
Stationary Points
Stationary points of a polynomial occur where the derivative is zero. These points signify where the graph of the polynomial will have a local maximum, local minimum, or a plateau. First, we find the derivative of the given polynomial:\[ p'(x) = 6x^2 - 6x - 36 \]We then set this equation to zero and solve for \(x\) to find:
- \(x = 3\)
- \(x = -2\)
- (-2, 55)
- (3, -58)
Inflection Points
An inflection point in a polynomial function is where the graph changes concavity. This means the curve changes from being 'cup-shaped' (concave up) to 'cap-shaped' (concave down), or vice versa. To find these points, we focus on where the second derivative is zero.Taking the second derivative of our polynomial yields:\[ p''(x) = 12x - 6 \]Setting this to zero, \(12x - 6 = 0\), solves to \(x = 0.5\). Evaluating the polynomial at \(x = 0.5\) gives us the point (0.5, -11.75). Here, the concavity changes, marking a shift in the graph's 'bending' behavior. Recognizing these points is important to understand the overall shape and turning points of the polynomial graph.