Calculus Derivatives?

I need to find the absolute maximum of

f(x)=7x-2xlnx

and absolute minimum of

f(x)=x-3/x+6/x^3

In my lesson it just jumps to the critical value, but I don't know how to get to that point.

Comments

  • The domain of f(x) is the domain of y=lnx, which is x>0.

    Using product rule, f '(x) = 7 - 2lnx - 2 = 5 - 2lnx. Set f '(x) equal to 0 to find any critical values:

    5 - 2lnx = 0

    lnx = 2.5

    x = e^2.5 ≈ 12.1825

    Since f'(x) > 0 on the interval (0,e^2.5) and f '(x) < 0 on the interval (e^2.5, ∞), the function has a relative and absolute maximum at (e^2.5, f(e^2.5)) = (e^2.5, 2e^2.5).

    f(x) = x - 3x⁻¹ + 6x⁻³

    f ' (x) = 1 + 3x⁻² - 18x⁻⁴

    Critical values are where f '(x) = 0 or is undefined. It's clearly undefined at x = 0, so we need to find where f '(x) = 0:

    0 = 1 + 3x⁻² - 18x⁻⁴

    Multiply by x⁴:

    0 = x⁴ + 3x² - 18

    0 = (x² + 6)(x²-3)

    x = ±√3

    Test the following intervals in f '(x) to determine where f(x) is increasing and decreasing. x = 0 is a vertical asymptote, but still needs to be included as a critical value since f(x) can change direction on either side of the asymptote:

    (-∞, -√3):: test value x = -4 :: f '(x) > 0 → f(x) is increasing

    (-√3, 0):: test value x = -1 :: f '(x) < 0 → f(x) is decreasing

    (0,√3):: test value x = 1 :: f '(x) < 0 → f(x) is decreasing

    (√3, ∞):: test value x = 4 :: f '(x) > 0 → f(x) is increasing

    relative maximum at x = -√3, which is at the point (-√3, -2/√3)

    relative minimum at x = √3, which is at the point (√3, 2/√3)

    These are relative (i.e., local) extrema. There is no absolute minimum (see http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=y%3Dx-3%2Fx%2...

  • f(x) = 7x - 2x ln (x)

    f'(x) = 7 - 2 ln(x) - 2x / x

    f'(x) = 7 - 2 ln (x) -2 = 0

    -2 ln (x) = -5

    ln(x) = 5/2

    x=e^(5/2) is a critical point

    f''(x) = -2/x < 0 when x=e^5, so f(x) has a local global maximum when x=e^(5/2)

    The global maximum is f(e^(5/2)) = 7 [e^(5/2)] - 2 [e^(5/2)] ln [e^(5/2) ] = 24.365

    ----------------------------------------

    f(x) = x - 3/x + 6/x^3

    f(x) = x - 3 x^(-1) + 6 x^(-3)

    f'(x) = 1 - 3(-1) x^(-2) + 6(-3) x^(-4)

    f'(x) = 1 + 3/x^2 -18/x^4 = 0

    multiply everything by x^4

    x^4+3x^2-18 = 0

    Let y=x^2

    y^2-3y-18=0

    (y+6)(y-3) = 0

    y = -6 ; y= 3

    x^2=-6 (not possible)

    x^2 = 3

    x = ±√ 3

    f'(x) = 1 + 3/x^2 -18/x^4

    f'(x) = 1 + 3 x^(-2) - 18 x^(-4)

    f''(x) = 3 (-2) x^(-3) - 18 (-4) x^(-5)

    f''(x) = -6 /x^3 +72 /x^5

    When x= √ 3 , f''(x) = - 6 / (√ 3)^3 + 72 / (√ 3)^5 = 3.464 > 0

    f has a 'local minimum'

    The local minimum is f(√ 3)

    substitute x=√ 3 and evaluate x-3/x+6/x^3 = 3.464

    The local minimum is 3.464

    There is no absolute minimum

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