b Use calculus to prove that the relative minimum or maximum for any function f, as shown below, occurs at x = - 2a f(x) = ax² +bx+c, a‡0

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
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Author:James Stewart
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Chapter1: Functions And Models
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Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
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### Proving the Location of the Relative Minimum or Maximum

**Objective:**  
Use calculus to demonstrate that the relative minimum or maximum point for any quadratic function \( f \), described as follows, occurs at \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).

**Function Definition:**  
\[ f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, \quad a \neq 0 \]

### Explanation:
To find the relative minimum or maximum of the quadratic function \( f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c \), follow these steps:

1. **Take the Derivative:**   
   Find the first derivative of the function, \( f'(x) \), to determine the slope of the tangent at any point \( x \).
   
2. **Set Derivative to Zero:**  
   Solve \( f'(x) = 0 \) to find the critical points, where the slope of the tangent is zero, indicating a potential minimum or maximum.

3. **Calculate the Derivative:**
   - The derivative of \( f(x) \) is:
     \[ f'(x) = 2ax + b \]

4. **Solve for \( x \):**
   - Set the derivative equal to zero:
     \[ 2ax + b = 0 \]
   - Solve for \( x \):
     \[ x = -\frac{b}{2a} \]

This derivation shows that for any quadratic function of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c \), the critical point, which could be a relative minimum or maximum, occurs at \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).
Transcribed Image Text:### Proving the Location of the Relative Minimum or Maximum **Objective:** Use calculus to demonstrate that the relative minimum or maximum point for any quadratic function \( f \), described as follows, occurs at \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \). **Function Definition:** \[ f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, \quad a \neq 0 \] ### Explanation: To find the relative minimum or maximum of the quadratic function \( f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c \), follow these steps: 1. **Take the Derivative:** Find the first derivative of the function, \( f'(x) \), to determine the slope of the tangent at any point \( x \). 2. **Set Derivative to Zero:** Solve \( f'(x) = 0 \) to find the critical points, where the slope of the tangent is zero, indicating a potential minimum or maximum. 3. **Calculate the Derivative:** - The derivative of \( f(x) \) is: \[ f'(x) = 2ax + b \] 4. **Solve for \( x \):** - Set the derivative equal to zero: \[ 2ax + b = 0 \] - Solve for \( x \): \[ x = -\frac{b}{2a} \] This derivation shows that for any quadratic function of the form \( ax^2 + bx + c \), the critical point, which could be a relative minimum or maximum, occurs at \( x = -\frac{b}{2a} \).
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