Chapter 4: Problem 3
Find the critical points for each function. Use the first derivative test to determine whether the critical point is a local maximum, local minimum, or neither. a. \(y=x^{4}-8 x^{2}\) b. \(f(x)=\frac{2 x}{x^{2}+9} \quad\) c. \(y=x^{3}+3 x^{2}+1\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
a. Local min at \( x = -2, 2 \), local max at \( x = 0 \). b. Local max at \( x = -3, 3 \). c. Local max at \( x = -2 \), local min at \( x = 0 \).
Step by step solution
01
Differentiate the given function (a)
The function given is \( y = x^4 - 8x^2 \). First, we find the derivative using the power rule. The derivative is \( y' = 4x^3 - 16x \).
02
Find critical points for function (a)
Set the derivative equal to zero to find critical points: \( 4x^3 - 16x = 0 \). Factor out the greatest common factor, \( 4x(x^2 - 4) = 0 \). This equation can be further factored to \( 4x(x-2)(x+2) = 0 \), yielding critical points at \( x = 0, -2, 2 \).
03
Determine the nature of critical points for function (a) using the First Derivative Test
Examine intervals around the critical points: - For \( x < -2 \), choose \( x = -3 \): \( y' = 4(-3)^3 - 16(-3) = -108 + 48 = -60 \), function is decreasing. - For \( -2 < x < 0 \), choose \( x = -1 \): \( y' = 4(-1)^3 - 16(-1) = -4 + 16 = 12 \), function is increasing.- For \( 0 < x < 2 \), choose \( x = 1 \): \( y' = 4(1)^3 - 16(1) = 4 - 16 = -12 \), function is decreasing.- For \( x > 2 \), choose \( x = 3 \): \( y' = 4(3)^3 - 16(3) = 108 - 48 = 60 \), function is increasing.Thus, \( x = -2 \) is a local minimum, \( x = 0 \) is a local maximum, and \( x = 2 \) is a local minimum.
04
Differentiate the given function (b)
The function is \( f(x) = \frac{2x}{x^2 + 9} \). By applying the quotient rule, the derivative is \( f'(x) = \frac{(x^2 + 9)2 - 2x(2x)}{(x^2 + 9)^2} = \frac{18 - 2x^2}{(x^2 + 9)^2} \).
05
Find critical points for function (b)
Set the numerator of the derivative equal to zero: \( 18 - 2x^2 = 0 \). Solving for \( x \), we have \( 2x^2 = 18 \) leading to \( x^2 = 9 \). Hence, the critical points are \( x = 3 \) and \( x = -3 \).
06
Determine the nature of critical points for function (b) using the First Derivative Test
Examine signs around critical points:- For \( x < -3 \), choose \( x = -4 \): \( f'(-4) = \frac{18 - (-4)^2 \cdot 2}{((-4)^2 + 9)^2} = \frac{18 - 32}{289} \), function is decreasing.- For \( -3 < x < 3 \), choose \( x = 0 \): \( f'(0) = \frac{18}{81} > 0 \), function is increasing.- For \( x > 3 \), choose \( x = 4 \): \( f'(4) = \frac{18 - 32}{289} \), function is decreasing. So, both \( x = -3 \) and \( x = 3 \) are local maxima.
07
Differentiate the given function (c)
The function is \( y = x^3 + 3x^2 + 1 \). Find the derivative: \( y' = 3x^2 + 6x \).
08
Find critical points for function (c)
Set the derivative equal to zero: \( 3x^2 + 6x = 0 \). Factor out the greatest common factor: \( 3x(x + 2) = 0 \). The critical points are \( x = 0 \) and \( x = -2 \).
09
Determine the nature of critical points for function (c) using the First Derivative Test
Examine intervals around the critical points:- For \( x < -2 \), choose \( x = -3 \): \( y'(-3) = 3(-3)^2 + 6(-3) = 27 - 18 = 9 \), function is increasing.- For \( -2 < x < 0 \), choose \( x = -1 \): \( y'(-1) = 3(-1)^2 + 6(-1) = 3 - 6 = -3 \), function is decreasing.- For \( x > 0 \), choose \( x = 1 \): \( y'(1) = 3(1)^2 + 6(1) = 3 + 6 = 9 \), function is increasing. Thus, \( x = -2 \) is a local maximum and \( x = 0 \) is a local minimum.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
First Derivative Test
The First Derivative Test is a valuable tool in calculus for determining the nature of critical points of a function. These critical points occur where the derivative of the function is zero or undefined. Once you find these points, the First Derivative Test helps to classify them as a local maximum, local minimum, or neither.
Here's how it works:
Here's how it works:
- Calculate the derivative of the function.
- Find critical points by setting the derivative equal to zero.
- Examine the sign of the derivative before and after each critical point.
- If the derivative changes from positive to negative, the point is a local maximum.
- If the derivative changes from negative to positive, the point is a local minimum.
- If there is no change in sign, the point is a saddle point or inflection point, and not a local extremum.
Power Rule
The Power Rule is a basic yet essential technique in calculus for finding derivatives. It applies when differentiating functions in the form of polynomials. The rule states that the derivative of a term like \(x^n\) is \(nx^{n-1}\), where \(n\) is any real number.
Here’s a simple example:
Here’s a simple example:
- If you have \(x^4\), applying the Power Rule gives you \(4x^3\) as the derivative.
- Similarly, for \(-8x^2\), the derivative becomes \(-16x\).
Quotient Rule
The Quotient Rule is used to find the derivative of functions that are fractions of two differentiable functions. It is a bit more involved than the Power Rule and is vital when dealing a situation where one function is divided by another.
The formula for the Quotient Rule is:
The formula for the Quotient Rule is:
- If you have two functions \(u\) and \(v\), and you want the derivative of \(\frac{u}{v}\), it's given by \(\left(\frac{u'}{v} - \frac{u \cdot v'}{v^2}\right)\).
- The derivative is computed as \(\frac{(x^2 + 9) \cdot 2 - 2x(2x)}{(x^2 + 9)^2}\),
- resulting in \(\frac{18 - 2x^2}{(x^2 + 9)^2}\).
Local Maximum and Minimum
Local maxima and minima are key concepts in analyzing the behavior of functions. They indicate where the function reaches a high or low point in a particular section of the domain.
Here are some characteristics:
Here are some characteristics:
- A local maximum is a point where the function value is higher than its immediate surroundings. A hilltop in a landscape.
- A local minimum is where the function value is lower than its immediate surroundings. A valley in a landscape.
- Use the First Derivative Test to confirm if a critical point is a local extremum.
- The behavior before and after these points (whether increasing or decreasing) aids in identifying these peaks and valleys.