Find the set of all the possible values of a for which the function f(x)=5+(a-2)x+(a-1)x^2-x^3 has a local minimum value at some x<1 and local maximum value at some x>1.

Parker Bird

Parker Bird

Answered question

2022-07-18

Question on Local Maxima and Local Minima
Find the set of all the possible values of a for which the function f ( x ) = 5 + ( a 2 ) x + ( a 1 ) x 2 x 3 has a local minimum value at some x < 1 and local maximum value at some x > 1.
The first derivative of f(x) is:
f ( x ) = ( a 2 ) + 2 x ( a 1 ) 3 x 2
I do know the first derivative test for local maxima and local minima, but I can't figure out how I could use monotonicity to find intervals of increase and decrease of f′(x)
The expression for f′(x) might suggest the double derivative test is the key, considering f ( x ) = 2 ( a 1 ) 6 x for which the intervals where it is greater than zero and less than zero can be easily found, but then again I can't think of a way how I could find a c such that f ( c ) = 0.

Answer & Explanation

autarhie6i

autarhie6i

Beginner2022-07-19Added 18 answers

Step 1
f ( x ) = 0 is an inverse parabola, which has real roots in x if 4 [ ( a 1 ) 2 + 3 ( a 2 ) ] 0 ,, or, a [ 1 21 2 , 1 + 21 2 ] ..
Step 2
Let that be the case, then f ( x ) = 0 means that there are two critical points, namely
x 1 = a 1 + ( a 1 ) 2 + 3 ( a 2 ) 3 , x 2 = a 1 ( a 1 ) 2 + 3 ( a 2 ) 3 .
Now, you need to check whether f ( x 1 ) 0 and f ( x 2 ) 0 as well as whether the critical points satisfy x < 1 or x > 1 as in your question.

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?