Hand-In Homework 10 Solutions

November 18, 2016

Problem 12

A) Critical points occur where f 0 (x) = 0 or is undefined.

1
f 0 (x) is given: f 0 (x) = x 2 (x-3)
Quick analysis reveals that the derivative is zero at x=3 and undefined at
x=0, so these are your critical points. Note that the derivative isnt defined for
x 0, so we neednt concern ourselves with those values.
B) Next test the sign of f 0 (x) around these points to determine increasing/decreasing
and extrema.

As these are the only places where the sign can change you can choose any
points before and after a critical point, so pick easy ones. For zero I pick x=-1
and x=1 and for 3 we already have x=1, so I pick x=4
1

f 0 (1) = 1( 2 ) (1 3) = 2, so negative
1

f 0 (4) = 4( 2 ) (4 3) = 12 , so positive
Recalling that a positive slope implies that a function is increasing and
a negative slope implies that a function is decreasing we can determine the
increases/decreases.

Increasing: (3, )

Decreasing: (0, 3)

C) Minima and maxima

Now that we know where the sign changes we can identify local extrema.

Minima: minima occur where the sign changes from negative to positive (if
you imagine walking down a hill into a valley you hit the bottom right before
you start climbing the other side). Here that change occurs at x=3, so it is a
local minimum.

Maxima: maxima occur when the sign changes from positive to negative
(climbing a hill you reach the top before descending). Here x=0 is a candidate
for being a maximum, however because the function is undefined at this point
we have no idea what its value is if it even has one. Thus, we cannot confirm if
there is a local maxima here.

Problem 14

A) Setting the equation equal to zero we have:

sin(x) = cos(x) and sin(x) = cos(x)

These reduce to tan(x) = 1 and tan(x) = 1

tan(x) = 1 at multiples of
negative, 4 and 5
4

tan(x) = 1 at multiples of
and 7
4
So our critical points are

where sin and cos are both positive or both

where sin and cos are of opposite signs,

3 5 7
4, 4 , 4 , 4

3
4

as well as the endpoints 0 and 2

I trust that you can test points and determine increasing/decreasing after
the first problem, but if youre wondering what points to choose again choose
easy ones. Here I would recommend the axes (0, 2 , , 3
2 , 2)
2

5
7
Decreasing: [0, 4 ) ( 3
4 , 4 ) ( 4 , 2]

5 7
Increasing: ( 4 , 3
4 )( 4 , 4 )

C) In this problem all critical points are defined and occur at sign changes
(including the endpoints) so all are minima or maxima depending on the change.

7
Maxima: 0, 3
4 , 4

Minima:

5
4 , 4 ,2

Problem 34

Use the product rule to find your derivative and set it equal to zero

2
g 0 (x) = 2x 5 x 2x5x = 0
Solving for x yields x=0 and x=4, both defined

B) Test points (I used -1,1, and 5)

Decreasing: (, 0) (4, 5)

Increasing: (0, 4)

NOTE: The function does

not increase to infinity after the sign change at
four! The original function, x2 5 x, stops producing real numbers after x=5,
so we cannot make a statement about it increasing or decreasing after x=5
where the value under the radical is 0.

C) Our critical points are defined and are points of sign change, so they are
local extrema.

Maxima: 4 is a local maximum because the sign goes from positive to negative.

Minima: 0 is a local minimum because the sign goes from negative to positive.

Problem 44

As with the previous problem, there are restrictions on the domain of this
equation (recall that ln(x) is undefined for x 0). Regardless, approach it by
taking the derivative and equating it to zero.

f 0 (x) = 2xln(x) + x, which simplifies to x(2ln(x) + 1) = 0

Simplifying this requires you to remember your log rules, so Ill cover it briefly.
x=0 is a critical point, but it is undefined (ln(0) is undefined). 2ln(x) + 1
simplifies to x= 1e
Plugging in values shows that the function is decreasing from 0 until
then increasing to infinity, so we have a local minimum at that point.

1
e

Analyzing the function reveals that is also an ABSOLUTE minimum, because before it the function decreases from zero to 1e and after it increases into
infinity like a parabola (though it isnt strictly a parabola).

Problem 48

This problem is very similar to the previous exercises, with the reintroduction
of boundary points which we touched upon in problem 14.

Equating the derivative with zero gives us -2x-6=0, or x=-3. Including the
border point x=-4, we have our two critical points, and can now test points to
determine increasing/decreasing.

Increasing: [4, 3)

Decreasing: (3, 0)

Finally we come to extrema. As with previous problems we determine the

local extrema as such:

Local minimum: (-4,-1); Local maximum: (-3,0).

Now, however, we must consider the entire span of the function we are
working with. At this point it may be helpful to construct a rudimentary graph,
or at least identify the shape. This is a downward-pointing parabola, so the
vertex will be the absolute maximum with a value of (-3,0).

Problem 56

8x
Using the quotient rule and simplifying you get (4x
2 ) = 0, giving a defined
critical point at x=0 and undefined critical points at x=2, as well as the
boundary point x=1.However, 2 does not fall within 2 < x 1 so we can
safely ignore it.

Testing our critical points we find that the function decreases until zero then
increases to one, making zero our local minimum and one our local maximum.
Constructing a graph of the function we see from the derivative that it has
asymptotes at x=2, giving the function a U shape (not quite a parabola). so
there can be no absolute maximum as both sides extend to .

Note: these problems are unusual in that they do not cover a closed interval
(an interval thst includes its endpoints, like 0 x 5 or [9,23]) It is good
to remember that a function over a closed interval will ALMOST always have
absolute extrema (asymptotic behavior and a few other quirks may render this
invalid).