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Candidates test for absolute extrema

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52924612
The power output \(P\) of an experimental engine is modeled by \(P(x)=-2x^3+24x^2\) for \(0\le x\le12\), where \(x\) is measured in thousands of revolutions per minute. Analyze the monotonic behavior of \(P\) on the given interval and determine the engine speed at which the maximum power occurs.

Hints

- Find the critical numbers in the closed interval. - Use the sign of the first derivative to determine where the model increases or decreases. - Compare the function values at interior critical numbers and endpoints.

Solution

1. Differentiate: \(P'(x)=-6x^2+48x=-6x(x-8)\). 2. The candidates on \([0,12]\) are the endpoints \(x=0\), \(x=12\), and the interior critical number \(x=8\). 3. The derivative is positive on \((0,8)\) and negative on \((8,12)\). Therefore, \(P\) is strictly increasing on \([0,8]\) and strictly decreasing on \([8,12]\). 4. Compare the candidate values: \(P(0)=0\), \(P(8)=512\), and \(P(12)=0\). The absolute maximum occurs at \(x=8\), corresponding to \(8000\) revolutions per minute.

Answer

\(P\) is strictly increasing on \([0,8]\) and strictly decreasing on \([8,12]\). The maximum power occurs at \(8000\) revolutions per minute.
53426912
The graph shows the water level \(h\), in meters, at a harbor over \(13\) hours. a) On which time intervals is the water level increasing or decreasing? b) Find the times and water levels of all local maxima and minima. c) When is the water level lowest, and what is that level?
Figure for problem 534269

Hints

- Turning points separate increasing and decreasing intervals. - Read both coordinates of each peak and valley. - Include endpoints when finding the absolute minimum.

Solution

1. The water level increases on \([0,3]\), \([6,9]\), and \([12,13]\), and decreases on \([3,6]\) and \([9,12]\). 2. Local maxima occur at \((3,5)\) and \((9,4)\). Local minima occur at \((6,0.5)\) and \((12,1)\), where each ordered pair is \((\text{time in hours},\text{level in meters})\). 3. Comparing the local extrema and endpoints, the absolute minimum is \(0.5\,\text{m}\) at \(t=6\,\text{h}\).

Answer

a) Increasing on \([0,3]\), \([6,9]\), and \([12,13]\); decreasing on \([3,6]\) and \([9,12]\) b) Local maxima: \((3,5)\) and \((9,4)\); local minima: \((6,0.5)\) and \((12,1)\) c) The lowest water level is \(0.5\,\text{m}\) at \(t=6\,\text{h}\).
52244512
Let \(f(x) = \frac{1}{4}x^4 - 2x^2 + 3\). Find and classify all interior local extrema and all absolute extrema of \(f\) on \([-3, 2.5]\). Give the coordinates of each extremum.

Hints

- First find the critical numbers in the interior of the interval. - Use the second derivative to classify the interior critical points. - Include both endpoints when looking for absolute extrema. - Compare all candidate function values.

Solution

1. Differentiate: \(f'(x) = x^3 - 4x = x(x - 2)(x + 2)\). The critical numbers are \(x = -2\), \(x = 0\), and \(x = 2\). 2. Use \(f''(x) = 3x^2 - 4\). Since \(f''(-2) = 8 > 0\) and \(f''(2) = 8 > 0\), \((-2, -1)\) and \((2, -1)\) are local minima. Since \(f''(0) = -4 < 0\), \((0, 3)\) is a local maximum. 3. Evaluate the endpoints and critical numbers: \(f(-3) = \frac{21}{4} = 5.25\), \(f(-2) = -1\), \(f(0) = 3\), \(f(2) = -1\), and \(f(2.5) = \frac{17}{64} = 0.265625\). 4. Comparing these values, the absolute maximum is \((-3, 5.25)\), and the absolute minima are \((-2, -1)\) and \((2, -1)\).

Answer

Local maximum: \((0, 3)\) Local minima: \((-2, -1)\) and \((2, -1)\) Absolute maximum: \((-3, 5.25)\) Absolute minima: \((-2, -1)\) and \((2, -1)\)
52244612
Find and classify all interior local extrema and all absolute extrema of \(g(x) = \frac{1}{6}x^3 - \frac{1}{2}x^2 - \frac{3}{2}x + 2\) on the closed interval \([-2, 4]\).

Hints

- Find the critical numbers by setting the first derivative equal to zero. - Use the second derivative to classify the critical points. - Why must the endpoint values also be checked on a closed interval? - An absolute extremum is the highest or lowest value on the entire interval.

Solution

1. Differentiate: \(g'(x) = \frac{1}{2}x^2 - x - \frac{3}{2}\). 2. Solve \(g'(x) = 0\): \(x^2 - 2x - 3 = 0\), so \(x = -1\) and \(x = 3\). 3. Use \(g''(x) = x - 1\). Since \(g''(-1) = -2 < 0\), \((-1, \frac{17}{6})\) is a local maximum. Since \(g''(3) = 2 > 0\), \((3, -\frac{5}{2})\) is a local minimum. 4. Evaluate the endpoints: \(g(-2) = \frac{5}{3}\) and \(g(4) = -\frac{4}{3}\). 5. Compare the values. The local maximum at \((-1, \frac{17}{6})\) is also the absolute maximum, and the local minimum at \((3, -\frac{5}{2})\) is also the absolute minimum.

Answer

Local and absolute maximum: \((-1, \frac{17}{6})\) Local and absolute minimum: \((3, -\frac{5}{2})\)
52273912
Let \(f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 6\) and \(g(x) = -0.5x^2 + x + 2\). Define \(s(x) = f(x) + g(x)\) on \([0, 6]\). Find where \(s\) attains its absolute maximum and absolute minimum, and give the corresponding values. State whether each occurs at an endpoint or in the interior of the interval.

Hints

- First simplify the sum \(f(x) + g(x)\). - Find critical numbers in the interior by setting the derivative equal to zero. - Do not forget to evaluate the function at both endpoints. - Compare all candidate values to identify the absolute extrema.

Solution

1. Combine the functions: \(s(x) = x^2 - 4x + 6 - 0.5x^2 + x + 2 = 0.5x^2 - 3x + 8\). 2. Differentiate: \(s'(x) = x - 3\). The only interior critical number is \(x = 3\). 3. Evaluate \(s\) at the critical number and endpoints: \(s(0) = 8\), \(s(3) = 3.5\), and \(s(6) = 8\). 4. The absolute minimum is \(3.5\) at the interior point \(x = 3\). The absolute maximum is \(8\) at the endpoints \(x = 0\) and \(x = 6\).

Answer

Absolute minimum: \(s(3) = 3.5\), attained at the interior point \(x = 3\) Absolute maximum: \(s(0) = s(6) = 8\), attained at the endpoints \(x = 0\) and \(x = 6\)
52274012
Let \(f(x) = \frac{1}{3}x^3 - x^2 + 4\) and \(g(x) = -x^2 + x + 1\). Define \(d(x) = f(x) - g(x)\) on \([0, 3]\). Find the absolute extrema of \(d\) and their values. State whether each occurs at an endpoint or in the interior of the interval.

Hints

- Distribute the subtraction sign across the entire expression for \(g(x)\). - Which points must be checked for absolute extrema on a closed interval? - Keep only critical numbers that lie in the stated interval. - Compare the values at every candidate point.

Solution

1. Simplify the difference: \(d(x) = \frac{1}{3}x^3 - x^2 + 4 - (-x^2 + x + 1) = \frac{1}{3}x^3 - x + 3\). 2. Differentiate: \(d'(x) = x^2 - 1\). Solving \(d'(x) = 0\) gives \(x = -1\) and \(x = 1\). Only \(x = 1\) lies in \([0, 3]\). 3. Evaluate \(d\) at the interior critical number and endpoints: \(d(0) = 3\), \(d(1) = \frac{7}{3}\), and \(d(3) = 9\). 4. The absolute minimum is \(\frac{7}{3}\) at the interior point \(x = 1\). The absolute maximum is \(9\) at the endpoint \(x = 3\).

Answer

Absolute minimum: \(d(1) = \frac{7}{3}\), attained at the interior point \(x = 1\) Absolute maximum: \(d(3) = 9\), attained at the endpoint \(x = 3\)
52739312
Find the range of \(f(x)=\frac{x^2-6x+9}{x^2+3}\).

Hints

- Check whether the function is continuous on all real numbers. - Find and classify the critical points. - Compare the critical values with the end behavior. - Use continuity to determine whether all intermediate values occur.

Solution

1. Since \(x^2+3>0\) for every real \(x\), the function is continuous on \(\mathbb{R}\). 2. Differentiate: \(f'(x)=\frac{6x^2-12x-18}{(x^2+3)^2}=\frac{6(x-3)(x+1)}{(x^2+3)^2}\). 3. The critical points are \(x=-1\) and \(x=3\). The derivative changes from positive to negative at \(x=-1\), so \(f(-1)=4\) is a local maximum. It changes from negative to positive at \(x=3\), so \(f(3)=0\) is a local minimum. 4. Also, \(\lim_{x\to\pm\infty}f(x)=1\), which lies between \(0\) and \(4\). 5. Because the function is continuous on all real numbers, the minimum \(0\) and maximum \(4\) are absolute, and every value between them occurs. Therefore, the range is \([0, 4]\).

Answer

\([0, 4]\)
52743612
Let \(h(x)=\frac{x^2+4}{x^2+1}\), with domain \(\mathbb{R}\). Use monotonicity and the end behavior as \(x\to\pm\infty\) to find the range of \(h\).

Hints

- Use the sign of the first derivative to locate the absolute maximum. - Find the limit at both ends of the real line. - Decide whether the limiting value is ever attained.

Solution

1. Differentiate: \(h'(x)=\frac{2x(x^2+1)-2x(x^2+4)}{(x^2+1)^2}=\frac{-6x}{(x^2+1)^2}\). 2. The derivative is positive for \(x<0\) and negative for \(x>0\). Thus, \(h\) increases on \((-\infty, 0)\) and decreases on \((0, \infty)\). 3. The function has an absolute maximum at \(x=0\), where \(h(0)=4\). 4. Since \(\lim_{x\to\pm\infty}h(x)=1\), the value \(1\) is a lower bound. It is not attained because \(\frac{x^2+4}{x^2+1}>1\) for every real \(x\). 5. Therefore, the range is \((1, 4]\).

Answer

\((1, 4]\)
53257012
The graph of a polynomial function \(f\) is shown. The dashed vertical lines mark the interval \([-4, 2]\). a) Read the coordinates of all local maxima and minima from the graph. b) For each point, state whether it is a local or absolute extremum on \([-4, 2]\). Justify your classifications.
Figure for problem 532570

Hints

- Read each turning point using the grid. - An absolute extremum is the highest or lowest value on the entire interval. - A local extremum only compares values in a nearby neighborhood. - Include the endpoint values when determining absolute extrema.

Solution

1. The graph has local minima at \((-3, -2)\) and \((1, -2)\), and a local maximum at \((-1, 2)\). 2. On \([-4, 2]\), the smallest function value is \(-2\), so both \((-3, -2)\) and \((1, -2)\) are absolute minima as well as local minima. 3. The point \((-1, 2)\) is a local maximum, but it is not the absolute maximum because the endpoint values are \(f(-4) = f(2) = 4.25\). 4. The absolute maxima on the interval occur at the endpoints \((-4, 4.25)\) and \((2, 4.25)\).

Answer

a) Local minima: \((-3, -2)\) and \((1, -2)\); local maximum: \((-1, 2)\) b) The two local minima are also absolute minima. The local maximum at \((-1, 2)\) is not absolute. The absolute maxima occur at \((-4, 4.25)\) and \((2, 4.25)\).
53257412
From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the temperature is modeled by \(T(t)=-0.05t^3+0.6t^2+5\) for \(0\le t\le12\), where \(t\) is the number of hours after 6:00 a.m. and \(T(t)\) is measured in degrees Celsius. a) Use the graph to identify when the temperature is increasing and decreasing. Give each result as both a \(t\)-interval and a time interval. b) Find \(T'(t)\) and determine the exact time when the maximum temperature occurs. Confirm the graph-based result.
Figure for problem 532574

Hints

- Convert a value of \(t\) to a clock time by counting hours after 6:00 a.m. - Find the critical numbers in the closed interval. - Compare the temperature at the critical number and the endpoints.

Solution

1. The graph rises on \([0,8]\) and falls on \([8,12]\). Thus, the temperature increases from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and decreases from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 2. Differentiate: \(T'(t)=-0.15t^2+1.2t=-0.15t(t-8)\). The critical numbers in \([0,12]\) are \(t=0\) and \(t=8\). 3. The derivative is positive on \((0,8)\) and negative on \((8,12)\), confirming the monotonic intervals. 4. Compare candidates: \(T(0)=5\), \(T(8)=17.8\), and \(T(12)=5\). Therefore, the absolute maximum occurs at \(t=8\), which is 2:00 p.m.

Answer

a) Increasing on \([0,8]\), from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; decreasing on \([8,12]\), from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. b) \(T'(t)=-0.15t(t-8)\). The maximum temperature occurs at 2:00 p.m.
53374512
Use the graph of \(f\) on \([-3,3]\). Estimate all requested values to the nearest tenth. a) Find the coordinates of the local maxima and local minima. b) Give the intervals on which \(f\) is strictly decreasing. c) Find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum on the displayed interval.
Figure for problem 533745

Hints

- Include endpoints when finding absolute extrema on a closed interval. - Read turning-point coordinates and endpoint heights from the graph. - Report graph-based numerical values as estimates.

Solution

1. The graph has a local maximum near \((0,1.0)\) and local minima near \((-2,-0.6)\) and \((2,-0.6)\). 2. The graph decreases from \(x=-3\) to \(x=-2\), and from \(x=0\) to \(x=2\). Thus, it is strictly decreasing on \([-3,-2]\) and \([0,2]\). 3. The endpoint values are approximately \(f(-3)=f(3)=1.9\), which are the absolute maxima. The absolute minimum value is approximately \(-0.6\), attained at \(x=-2\) and \(x=2\).

Answer

a) Local maximum: approximately \((0,1.0)\); local minima: approximately \((-2,-0.6)\) and \((2,-0.6)\) b) \([-3,-2]\) and \([0,2]\) c) Absolute maximum: approximately \(1.9\) at \(x=-3\) and \(x=3\); absolute minimum: approximately \(-0.6\) at \(x=-2\) and \(x=2\)
53394412
The function \(g(x)=0.1x^3-0.6x^2+0.9x+2\) is defined on the closed interval \([0,5]\), and its graph is shown. 1) Use the candidates test to find the absolute maximum of \(g\) on \([0,5]\). Give its location and value. 2) Explain why \(g'(x_e)=0\) does not have to hold at the location \(x_e\) of this absolute maximum. 3) State the conditions under which \(g'(x_0)=0\) is necessary for a local extremum.
Figure for problem 533944

Hints

- Include both endpoints and all interior critical values as candidates. - Compare the function values at every candidate. - Fermat's theorem concerns differentiable interior extrema, not endpoints.

Solution

1. Differentiate: \(g'(x)=0.3x^2-1.2x+0.9=0.3(x-1)(x-3)\). The critical values in \([0,5]\) are \(x=1\) and \(x=3\). 2. Evaluate the endpoints and critical values: \(g(0)=2\), \(g(1)=2.4\), \(g(3)=2\), and \(g(5)=4\). The greatest value is \(4\), so the absolute maximum is \(g(5)=4\). 3. The maximum occurs at the endpoint \(x_e=5\). Fermat's theorem applies only to differentiable functions at interior local extrema, so it does not require an endpoint derivative to be zero. In fact, \(g'(5)=2.4\ne0\). 4. The condition \(g'(x_0)=0\) is necessary when \(x_0\) is an interior point of the domain, \(g\) is differentiable at \(x_0\), and \(g\) has a local extremum there.

Answer

1) Absolute maximum: \(g(5)=4\) 2) The maximum occurs at the endpoint \(x=5\), so the derivative need not be zero. 3) The zero-derivative condition is necessary for a differentiable function at an interior local extremum.
53394912
The graph of a polynomial function \(f\) is shown on \([-3, 3]\). At which \(x\)-values do local or absolute extrema occur? Classify each as a maximum or minimum and as local or absolute.
Figure for problem 533949

Hints

- Identify the highest and lowest points on the entire displayed interval. - Absolute extrema compare all points in the interval. - Local extrema compare only nearby points. - Endpoints can be absolute extrema.

Solution

1. The endpoint values are \(f(-3) = f(3) = 6.25\). These are the highest values on the interval, so \(x = -3\) and \(x = 3\) are absolute maxima. 2. At \(x = -2\) and \(x = 2\), the function value is \(0\), the lowest value on the interval. These are absolute minima and also local minima. 3. At \(x = 0\), the graph has a local maximum with value \(4\), but this is not an absolute maximum because the endpoint values are larger.

Answer

Absolute maxima: \(x = -3\) and \(x = 3\) Absolute and local minima: \(x = -2\) and \(x = 2\) Local maximum: \(x = 0\)
53007012
Consider the family \(f_k(x)=\frac{kx}{x^2+4}\), where \(k\in\mathbb{R}\setminus\{0\}\). 1) Determine the graph's symmetry. 2) Find the local extrema in terms of \(k\). 3) Find the end behavior as \(x\to\pm\infty\). 4) Find the range in terms of \(k\).

Hints

- Compare \(f_k(-x)\) with \(f_k(x)\). - Find and classify the critical points using the first derivative. - Compare numerator and denominator degrees for end behavior. - Use the absolute extrema to determine the range.

Solution

1. Since \(f_k(-x)=-f_k(x)\), every graph is symmetric about the origin. 2. The first derivative is \(f_k'(x)=\frac{k(4-x^2)}{(x^2+4)^2}\), so the critical points are \(x=-2\) and \(x=2\). 3. Their function values are \(f_k(-2)=-\frac{k}{4}\) and \(f_k(2)=\frac{k}{4}\). If \(k>0\), \(\left(-2, -\frac{k}{4}\right)\) is a local minimum and \(\left(2, \frac{k}{4}\right)\) is a local maximum. If \(k<0\), the classifications reverse. 4. Since the denominator has greater degree than the numerator, \(\lim_{x\to\pm\infty}f_k(x)=0\). 5. The function is continuous on \(\mathbb{R}\), and the two critical values are its absolute minimum and maximum. Therefore, the range is \(\left[-\frac{|k|}{4}, \frac{|k|}{4}\right]\).

Answer

1) Symmetric about the origin 2) Critical points: \(\left(-2, -\frac{k}{4}\right)\) and \(\left(2, \frac{k}{4}\right)\); their minimum/maximum roles depend on the sign of \(k\). 3) \(\lim_{x\to\pm\infty}f_k(x)=0\) 4) Range: \(\left[-\frac{|k|}{4}, \frac{|k|}{4}\right]\)

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