A curve has equation y = x^3 - 3x^2 -24x + 5, find the x co-ordinates of the two stationary points of the curve and hence determine whether they are maximum or minimum points.

y = x3 - 3x2 - 24x + 5, First, calculate the derivative of y and find its roots when y = 0:dy/dx = 3x2 - 6x -24 = 0 -> x2 - 2x - 8 = 0 -> (x+2)(x-4) = 0Therefore the coordinates of the stationary points are x = -2, 4. Now calculate the second derivative of y and insert these x values:d2y/dx2 = 6x - 6,For x = -2: d2y/dx2 = -12 - 8 = -18, this result is < 0 so this point is a maximum point.For x = 4, d2y/dx2 = 24 - 6 = 18, this result is > 0 so this point is a minimum point.

TS

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Can you give an example of using the chain rule for differentiation? Example: Let y=(6 + 2x + 2x^2)^3, find dy/dx.


How would you differentiate ln(sin(3x))?


A curve C is mapped by the equation ( 1+x)(4-x). The curve intersects the x-axis at x = –1 and x = 4. A region R is bounded by C and the x-axis. Use calculus to find the exact area of R.


Given the two curves y1 and y2, verify the two curves intersect at (-5,0) and (2,0)