QuestionSuppose is a critical point of a function with continuous second derivatives. In each case, what can you say about ? (a) The critical point is a local minimum. The critical point is a local maximum. The critical point is a saddle point. Nothing can be determined about the critical point . (b) The critical point is a local minimum. The critical point is a local maximum. The critical point is a saddle point. Nothing can be determined about the critical point .
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking? We're figuring out if the point is a minimum, maximum, saddle point, or if we just can't tell, based on the second derivatives of the function at that point! Watch out! Don't forget the *second derivatives test* formula!
STEP 2
1. Apply the Second Derivatives Test to (a)
2. Apply the Second Derivatives Test to (b)
STEP 3
Let's **calculate** at using the given values.
Remember, .
This helps us **classify** critical points!
STEP 4
Plugging in our values, we get .
Since is **positive**, the point is *either* a **local minimum** or a **local maximum**.
STEP 5
Since , the function is **concave up** at .
Combining this with the **positive** value, we conclude that is a **local minimum**!
STEP 6
Let's **calculate** at again, this time with the new values.
STEP 7
We have .
Since is **negative**, the point is a **saddle point**!
STEP 8
(a) The critical point is a **local minimum**. (b) The critical point is a **saddle point**.
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