Find the Inflection Points x^4-4x^3+10
Problem
Solution
Find the first derivative by applying the power rule to each term of the function
ƒ(x)=x4−4*x3+10
Find the second derivative by differentiating the first derivative with respect to
x
Set the second derivative to zero to find potential inflection points where the concavity might change.
Factor the equation to solve for the critical values of
x
Solve for x by setting each factor to zero.
Test the intervals around
x=0 andx=2 in the second derivativeƒ(x)″=12*x*(x−2) to confirm a change in sign (concavity).
Forx<0 ƒ″*(−1)=36>0 (concave up).
For0<x<2 ƒ(1)″=−12<0 (concave down).
Forx>2 ƒ(3)″=36>0 (concave up).
Since the sign changes at bothx=0 andx=2 both arex coordinates of inflection points.Calculate the y-coordinates by substituting the
x values back into the original functionƒ(x)=x4−4*x3+10
Final Answer
Want more problems? Check here!