Given that y=x(2x−4)3y = x(2x-4)^3.

  1. (i)

    find the coordinates of the stationary points of the curve,

  2. (ii)

    determine the nature of each of these points.

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Worked solution

10(i)

1. Differentiate the function $y$ with respect to $x$ using the product and chain rules.

dydx=1⋅(2x−4)3+x⋅3(2x−4)2⋅2\frac{dy}{dx} = 1 \cdot (2x-4)^3 + x \cdot 3(2x-4)^2 \cdot 2

2. Simplify and factorise the derivative.

dydx=(2x−4)3+6x(2x−4)2\frac{dy}{dx} = (2x-4)^3 + 6x(2x-4)^2
dydx=(2x−4)2[(2x−4)+6x]\frac{dy}{dx} = (2x-4)^2 [ (2x-4) + 6x ]
dydx=(2x−4)2(8x−4)\frac{dy}{dx} = (2x-4)^2 (8x - 4)

3. Set the derivative to zero to find the $x$-coordinates of the stationary points.

For stationary points, dydx=0\frac{dy}{dx} = 0:
(2x−4)2(8x−4)=0(2x-4)^2 (8x - 4) = 0
2x−4=0  ⟹  x=22x - 4 = 0 \implies x = 2
8x−4=0  ⟹  x=0.58x - 4 = 0 \implies x = 0.5

4. Find the corresponding $y$-coordinates for each $x$-value.

When x=2x = 2:
y=2(2(2)−4)3=2(0)3=0y = 2(2(2)-4)^3 = 2(0)^3 = 0

When x=0.5x = 0.5:
y=0.5(2(0.5)−4)3=0.5(1−4)3=0.5(−3)3=0.5(−27)=−13.5y = 0.5(2(0.5)-4)^3 = 0.5(1-4)^3 = 0.5(-3)^3 = 0.5(-27) = -13.5

Answer

(2,0)(2, 0) and (0.5,−13.5)(0.5, -13.5)

10(ii)

1. Recall the first derivative and the $x$-coordinates of the stationary points from part (i)

From part (i),
dydx=(2x−4)2(8x−4)\frac{dy}{dx} = (2x-4)^2(8x-4)
The stationary points are at x=0.5x = 0.5 and x=2x = 2.

2. Use the first derivative test to determine the nature of the stationary point at $x = 0.5$

For x=0.5x = 0.5:
When x=0.4x = 0.4, dydx=(2(0.4)−4)2(8(0.4)−4)=(−3.2)2(−0.8)<0\frac{dy}{dx} = (2(0.4)-4)^2(8(0.4)-4) = (-3.2)^2(-0.8) < 0
When x=0.5x = 0.5, dydx=0\frac{dy}{dx} = 0
When x=0.6x = 0.6, dydx=(2(0.6)−4)2(8(0.6)−4)=(−2.8)2(0.8)>0\frac{dy}{dx} = (2(0.6)-4)^2(8(0.6)-4) = (-2.8)^2(0.8) > 0
Since the gradient changes from negative to positive, the point at x=0.5x = 0.5 is a minimum point.

3. Use the first derivative test to determine the nature of the stationary point at $x = 2$

For x=2x = 2:
When x=1.9x = 1.9, dydx=(2(1.9)−4)2(8(1.9)−4)=(−0.2)2(11.2)>0\frac{dy}{dx} = (2(1.9)-4)^2(8(1.9)-4) = (-0.2)^2(11.2) > 0
When x=2x = 2, dydx=0\frac{dy}{dx} = 0
When x=2.1x = 2.1, dydx=(2(2.1)−4)2(8(2.1)−4)=(0.2)2(12.8)>0\frac{dy}{dx} = (2(2.1)-4)^2(8(2.1)-4) = (0.2)^2(12.8) > 0
Since the gradient is positive on both sides, the point at x=2x = 2 is a stationary point of inflexion.

Answer

The point (0.5,−13.5)(0.5, -13.5) is a minimum point and (2,0)(2, 0) is a stationary point of inflexion.

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