June 2013 p11 q9
1079
A curve has equation \(y = f(x)\) and is such that \(f'(x) = 3x^{\frac{1}{2}} + 3x^{-\frac{1}{2}} - 10\).
(i) By using the substitution \(u = x^{\frac{1}{2}}\), or otherwise, find the values of \(x\) for which the curve \(y = f(x)\) has stationary points.
(ii) Find \(f''(x)\) and hence, or otherwise, determine the nature of each stationary point.
Solution
(i) Substitute \(u = x^{\frac{1}{2}}\), then \(f'(x) = 3u + \frac{3}{u} - 10 = 0\).
Multiply through by \(u\): \(3u^2 - 10u + 3 = 0\).
Factorize: \((3u - 1)(u - 3) = 0\).
So, \(u = \frac{1}{3}\) or \(u = 3\).
Since \(u = x^{\frac{1}{2}}\), \(x = \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^2 = \frac{1}{9}\) or \(x = 3^2 = 9\).
(ii) Differentiate \(f'(x)\) to find \(f''(x) = \frac{3}{2}x^{-\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{3}{2}x^{-\frac{3}{2}}\).
At \(x = \frac{1}{9}\), \(f''(x) = \frac{3}{2}(3) - \frac{3}{2}(27) = -36 < 0\), indicating a maximum.
At \(x = 9\), \(f''(x) = \frac{3}{2} \times \frac{1}{3} - \frac{3}{2} \times \frac{1}{27} = \frac{4}{9} > 0\), indicating a minimum.
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