the graph (x^5-15*x^3 +10) is sketched without axes and not to scale. I found f'(x), set it to zero and got x=0, x=3, x=-3. these are critical numbers? I plugged them into original equation to find y (?) and got (0,10),3,-152)(-3, 172). I have to show for what intervals (for x) is the function increasing, decreasing,I don't get this and then I found for F'' for concativity and got 20x^3-90x = 0.and came up with (+/-)2.121 ...points of inflection but I don't know what to do with this as I need the intervals for concave up/down. Do I plug these in for (x) in the original equation too? If these are the x-values for inflection, how do I solve for the y as I have to graph points of inflection too. I also have to determine max and minvalues of (y) if x is restricted to the interval (1,5) Thanks Much

from what you have done correctly, I made the following sketch

Graph rises out of quadr III to a max point (-3,175) in II , turns around at that point and has a point of inflection at (-2.12,110), has another point of inflection at (0,10), and continued to drop to (3,-152)in quadrant IV for a minimum point. It then rises and continues to do so into quadrant I

Did you notice that at (0,10)both y' and y'' = 0, thus you have a point inflection and a turning point.
When that happens there will be a point where the graph "levels off".
In general, at a point of inflection, the graph will have the shape of the letter S.
So from there, the graph is concave down from -infinity to -2.12, concave up from -2.12 to 0, concave down from 0 to 2.12, and finally concave up from 2.12 to +infinity

I often use this online grapher to look at the functions

http://rechneronline.de/function-graphs/
enter: x^5 - 15x^3 + 10 in "first graph" window
change setting in "Range y-axis from" to -300 and +300

you might also want to click on "derivative" after studying the original graph.

or to make it even more interesting, enter the first derivative in "second graph"
and the second derivative in"third graph"

WOW! Thanks Much! Love that site you gave me and I totally understand and can plainly see it all except the max and min. I am seeing the max at (-3, 175) and the min at (3, -152) but does that satisfy "if x is restricted to the interval {1, 5)" because I thought that meant between +1 and +5 on the x-axis? And did I get the correct "critical points", (0,10), 3,-152),-3, 175)?Critical point cannot be the same as max and min can they?

ahh, I didn't notice the part about 1 ≤ x ≤ 5

- that means you want to consider the graph of the function only in that domain,
f(1) = 1^5 - 15(1^3) = -14
f(5) = 5^5 - 15(5^3) = 3125 - 1875 = 1250
let's change the "Range x-axis from" to 1 to 5 and
change the "Range y-axis from" from -300 to 1300

We can see that the minimum value of y is -152 when x=3 and the maximum value is 1250 when x=5

Usually the word "critical points" refer to either maximum or minimum points, or to points where the derivative does not exist.

Some texts refer to critical points as any point where something "important" happens.

So I am ttinking the critical points are the (-3,175)(3, -152)

So I am correct in my thinking the critical points are the (-3,175)(3 -152) because that was asked of the original function,.... because I only have to give only the max and min values for y if x is restricted to the interval {1,5}? Thanks again for all your help.

not for the given domain of x from 1 to 5, since x=-3 lies outside that domain.

What was the actual wording of the question ?

the original function was x^5-15x^3 +10 so when you figured the min and max with the restrictions and substituted 1, and 5 for the x's should you have included the constant 10? So I came up with (-4) and (1260), but forgive me I still don't know what that means...thes are the y values for the max and min when x is restricted to intervals {1, 2} ?

The question was 6-fold but the only part with the restriction was min and max values of y...everything else pertained to the original function.Thanks for staying with me...it's been a long day!

Of course I should have included the +10 in the calculation, I really don't know why I didn't

(you get those temporary "mind gaps" when you get my age, ha ha)
f(1) = 1^5 - 15(1^3) + 10 = -4
etc

When you look at the graph between x=1 and x=5,
what is the lowest value of y you get or see ? y = -4
what is the largest value of y you see ? y = 1260

That's really all there is to this.