My Math Forum Determining the nature of a stationary point?

 Calculus Calculus Math Forum

 August 21st, 2014, 01:15 PM #1 Newbie   Joined: Aug 2014 From: England Posts: 2 Thanks: 1 Determining the nature of a stationary point? Hello! I think I must be losing my mind because I cannot figure out a perfectly simple problem. I am supposed to find the coordinates of, and determine the nature of, the stationary point(s) of the curve: y=(2x-3)^6 So differentiating it you get dy/dx = 12(2x-3)^5 So there is a single stationary point at (1.5,0) and differentiating it again you get d^2y/dx^2 = 120(2x-3)^4 So at x=1.5 you get that the second derivative is equal to zero, so that means it's a point of inflexion, right? But it is actually a minimum point... Would be very grateful if someone could point out where I am going wrong! Thanks in advance
 August 21st, 2014, 01:23 PM #2 Senior Member   Joined: Jun 2013 From: London, England Posts: 1,316 Thanks: 116 What about $\displaystyle y = x^4$? Thanks from 21joanna12
 August 21st, 2014, 01:25 PM #3 Senior Member     Joined: Jul 2010 From: St. Augustine, FL., U.S.A.'s oldest city Posts: 12,209 Thanks: 517 Math Focus: Calculus/ODEs The second derivative being equal to zero is only one requirement for an inflection point. The other is that the sign of the second derivative must change across that point. Is this the case here? Thanks from 21joanna12
 August 22nd, 2014, 12:41 AM #4 Newbie   Joined: Aug 2014 From: England Posts: 2 Thanks: 1 I see... So I guess whenever you get a second derivative of zero you have to check what it means by seeing what is going on on either side... Thank you Thanks from MarkFL

 Tags determining, nature, point, stationary

 Thread Tools Display Modes Linear Mode

 Similar Threads Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post Rishabh Math 1 June 3rd, 2014 06:36 AM grfadaei Advanced Statistics 0 January 21st, 2014 09:28 PM JohnDejong Algebra 0 December 10th, 2012 08:20 AM yeoky Calculus 4 March 27th, 2010 11:29 PM roadnottaken Applied Math 44 January 22nd, 2007 08:18 PM

 Contact - Home - Forums - Cryptocurrency Forum - Top