Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Critical Points
Critical points of a function occur where its derivative is zero or undefined. These points are potential locations for local extrema, as they indicate where the function's slope changes direction. To find critical points, compute the derivative of the function and solve for values of the variable where the derivative equals zero or is undefined.
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First Derivative Test
The First Derivative Test helps determine whether a critical point is a local maximum or minimum. By analyzing the sign of the derivative before and after the critical point, one can infer the behavior of the function. If the derivative changes from positive to negative, the point is a local maximum; if it changes from negative to positive, it is a local minimum.
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Second Derivative Test
The Second Derivative Test provides another method to classify critical points. If the second derivative at a critical point is positive, the function is concave up, indicating a local minimum. Conversely, if the second derivative is negative, the function is concave down, indicating a local maximum. If the second derivative is zero, the test is inconclusive.
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