Chapter 4: Problem 36
Identify the coordinates of any local and absolute extreme points and inflection points. Graph the function. $$y=x^{2 / 3}(x-5)$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
Local minimum at \( x = 2 \); inflection point at \( x = -1 \).
Step by step solution
01
Find the First Derivative
To find extremes, calculate the first derivative of the function. The given function is \( y = x^{2/3}(x-5) \). Use the product rule: \( u = x^{2/3} \) and \( v = x - 5 \). The derivatives: \( u' = \frac{2}{3}x^{-1/3} \) and \( v' = 1 \). So, \( y' = u'v + uv' = \frac{2}{3}x^{-1/3}(x-5) + x^{2/3} \cdot 1 \). This simplifies to: \( y' = \frac{2}{3}x^{2/3} - \frac{10}{3}x^{-1/3} + x^{2/3} \), ultimately \( y' = \frac{5}{3}x^{2/3} - \frac{10}{3}x^{-1/3} \).
02
Identify Critical Points
Critical points occur where \( y' = 0 \) or \( y' \) is undefined. Set \( \frac{5}{3}x^{2/3} - \frac{10}{3}x^{-1/3} = 0 \). Factor out \( x^{-1/3} \): \( x^{-1/3}(\frac{5}{3}x - \frac{10}{3}) = 0 \). Thus, \( x = 0 \) or \( x = 2 \). Check for undefined points; none in the domain \( x > 0 \).
03
Determine Local Extremes from Critical Points
Use the first derivative test. Test intervals around critical points \( x = 0 \) and \( x = 2 \). For \( x < 0 \), choose \( x = -1 \): \( y'(-1) < 0 \). For \( 0 < x < 2 \), choose \( x = 1 \): \( y'(1) < 0 \). For \( x > 2 \), choose \( x = 3 \): \( y'(3) > 0 \). So, a local minimum at \( x = 2 \).
04
Find the Second Derivative for Inflection Points
Calculate the second derivative. From \( y' = \frac{5}{3}x^{2/3} - \frac{10}{3}x^{-1/3} \), differentiate again. \( y'' = \frac{10}{9}x^{-1/3} + \frac{10}{9}x^{-4/3} \). Set \( y'' = 0 \) to find inflection points. Factor \( \frac{10}{9}x^{-4/3}(x + 1) = 0 \). Hence, \( x = -1 \).
05
Verify Inflection Points
Check the sign change of \( y'' \) around \( x = -1 \). For \( x < -1, \) choose \( x = -2 \): \( y''(-2) > 0. \) For \( x > -1, \) choose \( x = 0 \): \( y''(0) < 0 \). Since \( y'' \) changes sign, \( x = -1 \) is an inflection point.
06
Graph the Function
Plot the function considering the identified points: the local minimum at \( x = 2 \), inflection point at \( x = -1 \), and behavior as \( x \to \infty \) and \( x \to 0 \). Use these to sketch the curve.
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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 where a function's derivative is zero or undefined. These points might be where a curve changes direction, defining peaks or troughs. For the function given, critical points are found by setting the first derivative to zero and solving:
- Start with the derivative: \( y' = \frac{5}{3}x^{2/3} - \frac{10}{3}x^{-1/3} \).
- Set \( y' = 0 \) to find points: \( x^{-1/3}(\frac{5}{3}x - \frac{10}{3}) = 0 \).
- This leads to \( x = 0 \) or \( x = 2 \).
Local Extremes
Local extremes refer to local maximums or minimums of a function. At these points, the slope of the tangent to the function's graph is zero. Once critical points are identified, use the first derivative test to determine whether each is a maximum or minimum:
- Evaluate the sign of \( y' \) around critical points.
- For \( x = 0 \), test values show \( y' < 0 \) around this point.
- For \( x = 2 \), test values change from negative \( y' \) before \( x = 2 \) to positive after, indicating a local minimum.
Inflection Points
Inflection points are where a function's graph changes its concavity. This means the curve goes from bending upwards to downwards, or vice versa. These points are found using the second derivative:
- Calculate the second derivative: \( y'' = \frac{10}{9}x^{-1/3} + \frac{10}{9}x^{-4/3} \).
- Set \( y'' = 0 \) to find inflection points: factor \( \frac{10}{9}x^{-4/3}(x + 1) = 0 \).
- Solution gives \( x = -1 \).
Derivative
The derivative tells us how a function changes as you move along its graph. For our function, taking the derivative helps find rates of change and critical points. Here's a quick summary on how derivatives work:
- The first derivative, \( y' \), indicates slope and helps find critical points for potential extremes.
- The second derivative, \( y'' \), gives insight into concavity, revealing inflection points.
Graphing Functions
Graphing a function involves visually representing its mathematical behavior. Here's how the key calculus concepts from the earlier steps assist in sketching the function's curve:
- Identify key coordinates like local minimums and inflection points to mark on the graph.
- The critical points \( x = 0 \) and \( x = 2 \) guide where the curve bends or twists.
- Inflection point at \( x = -1 \) shows where the curve changes direction in concavity.