f(x) = 2x3 – 21x2 + 36x – 20
the roots of f'(x) = 0 are x1 = 1 and x2 = 6.
Method 1 (Second Derivative Test):
(a) f”(1) = 12(1) – 42 = -30 < 0
∴ by the second derivative test, f has maximum at x = 1 and maximum value of f at x = 1
(b) f”(6) = 12(6) – 42 = 30 > 0
∴ by the second derivative test, f has minimum at x = 6 and minimum value of f at x = 6
Hence, the function f has maximum value -3 at x = 1 and minimum value -128 at x = 6.
Method 2 (First Derivative Test):
(a) f'(x) = 6(x – 1)(x – 6)
Consider x = 1
Let h be a small positive number. Then
f'(1 – h) = 6(1 – h – 1)(1 – h – 6)
= 6(-h)(-5 – h)
= 6h(5 + h)> 0 and f'(1 + h) = 6(1 + h – 1)(1 + h – 6)
= 6h(h – 5) < 0, as h is small positive number.
∴ by the first derivative test, f has maximum at x = 1 and maximum value of f at x = 1
f(1) = 2(1)3 – 21(1)2 + 36(1) – 20
= 2 – 21 + 36 – 20
= -3
(b) f'(x) = 6(x – 1)(x – 6)
Consider x = 6
Let h be a small positive number.
Then f'(6 – h) = 6(6 – h – 1)(6 – h – 6)
= 6(5 – h)(-h)
= -6h(5 – h) < 0, as h is small positive number and f'(6 + h) = 6(6 + h – 1)(6 + h – 6) = 6(5 + h)(h) > 0
∴ by the first derivative test, f has minimum at x = 6
and minimum value of f at x = 6
f(6) = 2(6)3 – 21(6)2 + 36(6) – 20
= 432 – 756 + 216 – 20
= -128
Hence, the function f has maximum value -3 at x = 1 and minimum value -128 at x = 6.