Skip to main content
Ch. 4 - Applications of the Derivative
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Non è quello che usi tu?Cambia libro di testo
Capitolo 4, Problema 4.1.39

Locating critical points Find the critical points of the following functions. Assume a is a nonzero constant.


ƒ(x) = x √(x-a)

Guida verificata passo dopo passo
1
To find the critical points of the function \( f(x) = x \sqrt{x-a} \), we first need to find its derivative. Start by expressing the function in a form that is easier to differentiate: \( f(x) = x (x-a)^{1/2} \).
Apply the product rule to differentiate \( f(x) = x (x-a)^{1/2} \). The product rule states that if \( u(x) \) and \( v(x) \) are functions of \( x \), then \( (uv)' = u'v + uv' \). Here, let \( u(x) = x \) and \( v(x) = (x-a)^{1/2} \).
Differentiate \( u(x) = x \) to get \( u'(x) = 1 \). Differentiate \( v(x) = (x-a)^{1/2} \) using the chain rule: \( v'(x) = \frac{1}{2}(x-a)^{-1/2} \cdot 1 = \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x-a}} \).
Substitute the derivatives back into the product rule: \( f'(x) = 1 \cdot (x-a)^{1/2} + x \cdot \frac{1}{2\sqrt{x-a}} \). Simplify this expression to find \( f'(x) \).
Set \( f'(x) = 0 \) to find the critical points. Solve the equation for \( x \) to determine the values where the derivative is zero or undefined, which will give the critical points of the function.

Risposta video verificata per un problema simile:

Questa soluzione video è stata consigliata dai nostri tutor come utile per risolvere questo problema.
Durata del video:
7m

Concetti chiave

Ecco i concetti essenziali che devi comprendere per rispondere correttamente alla domanda.

Critical Points

Critical points of a function occur where its derivative is either zero or undefined. These points are essential for determining local maxima, minima, and points of inflection. To find critical points, one must first compute the derivative of the function and then solve for the values of x that satisfy the condition of the derivative being zero or undefined.
Video consigliato:
04:50
Critical Points

Derivative

The derivative of a function measures the rate at which the function's value changes as its input changes. It is a fundamental concept in calculus that provides information about the function's slope at any given point. For the function ƒ(x) = x √(x-a), applying the product and chain rules will be necessary to find its derivative.
Video consigliato:

Function Behavior

Understanding the behavior of a function involves analyzing its continuity, limits, and the nature of its critical points. This includes determining whether critical points correspond to local maxima, minima, or saddle points. By evaluating the second derivative or using the first derivative test, one can gain insights into the function's overall shape and trends.
Video consigliato:
5:46
Graphs of Exponential Functions