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Consider the function f (x) = 5x + 3x^-1. For this function there are four impor

ID: 2883958 • Letter: C

Question

Consider the function f (x) = 5x + 3x^-1. For this function there are four important intervals: (-infinity, A], [A, B) (B, C], and [C, infinity) where A, and C are the critical numbers and the function is not defined at B. Find A and B and C For each of the following intervals, tell whether f (x) is increasing (type in INC) or decreasing (type in DEC). (-infinity, A]: [A, B): (B, C]: [C, infinity) Note that this function has no inflection points, but we can still consider its concavity. For each of the following intervals, tell whether f (x) is concave up (type in CU) or concave down (type in CD). (-infinity, B): (B, infinity):

Explanation / Answer

f(x) = 5x+ 3/x

to find the critical points

f'(x) = 0

=> 5 - 3/x^2 =0 => x = +/- sqrt(3/5)

i)

A = -sqrt(3/5)

B = 0

C = sqrt(3/5)

ii) in interval(-infinity , -sqrt(3/5] f(x) is increasing as the value increases

in interval[-sqrt(3/5,0) f(x) is increasing as the value increases

in interval(0, sqrt(3/5 ] f(x) is decreasing as the value decreases

in interval[sqrt(3/5 , infinity] f(x) is decreasing as the value decreases