Homework Help: local min

Posted by Jen on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at 5:11pm.

f(x) = x^4 + ax^2
What is a if f(x) has a local minimum at x=5.
How do I justify the answer.

The first derivative has to be zero at x = 5. You then check what the second derivative is at x = 5. If it is positive then that's ok.

In this case you find that a = -50 and that the second derivative at x = 5 is positive.

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