## boopie Group Title What is the maximum and min value of the function m(x)=3x^4−4x^3−12x^2 on the interval [−23] ? 2 years ago 2 years ago

1. boopie Group Title

interval -2,3 not -23

2. Zarkon Group Title

use extreme value theorem

3. Zarkon Group Title

continuous functions on a compact set attain an absolute max and min

4. Jemurray3 Group Title

The derivative of that function has zeroes at -1, 0, and 2, and the second derivative is negative at zero. So checking the endpoints and the local maximum, m(-2) = 32, m(0) = 0, and m(3) = 27. Therefore, your maximum value on that interval would be m(-2) = 32. Similarly, the second derivative is negative at -1 and 2, and m(-1) = -5 and m(2) = -32, so your minimum value would be at m(2) = -32.

5. Jemurray3 Group Title

Oops, I meant "Similarly, the second derivative is positive at -1 and 2......"

6. mathTalk Group Title

lets see take the first derivative to get m'(x)=12x^3-12x^2-24x setting m'(x) to zero, 12x(x^2-1x-2)=0 x = 0 for which y = 0 or x^2-x-2=0 x = (1+ (1+8)^(1/2))/2 =2 or (1-(1+8)^(1/2) / 2 =-1 substitute for value of x to get y. which gives you the critical points. Evaluate the function's value at these points for a comparison.

7. Zarkon Group Title

you don't need the 2nd derivative

8. Zarkon Group Title

find the critical numbers that lie within the set you are interested in and then evaluate the original function at those critical numbers and the endpoints of your interval. pick the smallest and largest

9. boopie Group Title

i have a whole bunch of calculus that i need help with

10. mathTalk Group Title

m(x)=3x^4−4x^3−12x^2 for x =2 y = 48-32-48 = -32 for x = -1 y =3-4+12=11

11. Jemurray3 Group Title

Given that this appears to be a first-semester calculus question I don't think it's wholly unreasonable to mention that the second derivative can distinguish between minima and maxima. The fact that this particular question is asking for both does mean that you need to evaluate all the points, but in general that's not necessarily true if they ask only for a min or a max and it's reasonably good practice to know whether to expect a min or a max when you're just starting out, I think.

12. boopie Group Title

What is the maximum and min value of f(x)=t2/t2+3 on the interval [−1,1] ?

13. Jemurray3 Group Title

I assume that's $f(x) = \frac{t^2}{t^2 + 3}$ right?

14. boopie Group Title

yes

15. Jemurray3 Group Title

Well, $f'(x) = \frac{(t^2+3)(2t) - t^2(2t)}{(t^2+3)^2} = \frac{6t}{(t^2+3)^2}$ Which is zero only at t=0. From that you can conclude that f(x) has either a local minimum or a local maximum at that point. Evaluating at the endpoints, as well as at that point, $f(-1) = 1/4, f(1) = 1/4, f(0) = 0$ so it appears that the function attains its maximum value (1/4) at the endpoints and its minimum value (0) at t=0.

16. boopie Group Title

do you have time for a few more ?

17. Jemurray3 Group Title

18. Zarkon Group Title

usually the extreme value theorem appears before the 1st and 2nd derivative tests so talking about using the 1st or 2nd D-test to find relative extrema could be confusing.

19. Jemurray3 Group Title

The extreme value theorem is the basis for those tests, but in and of itself it doesn't tell you where you get a minimum or a maximum, only that you will, so I'm not sure what you mean when you say to use it to find those values.

20. Jemurray3 Group Title

In the context of real analysis and the theoretical foundations of calculus its an important theorem but it's intuitively obvious to a toddler with a piece of spaghetti.

21. Zarkon Group Title

The EVT is obviously needed here (along with Fermat's theorem), but the 2nd derivative is not needed.