What does it mean when a function does not have any critical numbers. Please explain ALL possibilities of what this means. For example, the function f(x)= (5x)/ (x^2-25) has no critical numbers.

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN:9781285741550
Author:James Stewart
Publisher:James Stewart
Chapter1: Functions And Models
Section: Chapter Questions
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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What does it mean when a function does not have any critical numbers. Please explain ALL possibilities of what this means. For example, the function f(x)= (5x)/ (x^2-25) has no critical numbers. 

Expert Solution
Step 1

Critical numbers for any function are defined as the real number x in the domain of the function where the function is either not defined or the derivative of function is 0 or undefined.

 

Case 1: If no critical points exist for any function then graphically it represents that the function is either strictly increasing or strictly decreasing in domain of function.

Case 2: Other than case 1 there is one more possibility that, the function can be strictly increasing in one part of domain and strictly decreasing in the other part of domain.

In the other case, the function is undefine at the points where the function changes its characteristic from strictly increasing to strictly decreasing.

Step 2

Now, consider the given function f (x).

The critical points for f (x) exist at x = -5 and 5.

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