The function f(x)\mathrm{f}(x), a polynomial of degree four, has stationary points at A(1,5)A(1, 5) and B(4,0)B(4, 0).
f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is an increasing function when x>4x > 4.
f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is not an increasing function when x<4x < 4.

  1. (i)

    State the nature of the stationary points AA and BB. Explain your answer.

  2. (ii)

    Given that f′(x)=a(x−1)2(x−4)\mathrm{f}'(x) = a(x-1)^2(x-4), where aa is a non-zero constant, find an expression for f(x)\mathrm{f}(x).

Work through it with AI →

It won't just hand you the answer — it asks where you're stuck.How the checker works

Worked solution

8(i)

1. Determine the nature of stationary point B

Since f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is an increasing function when x>4x > 4, f′(x)>0\mathrm{f}'(x) > 0 for x>4x > 4.
Since f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is not an increasing function when x<4x < 4, and B(4,0)B(4,0) is a stationary point, f′(x)<0\mathrm{f}'(x) < 0 for xx just before 4.
Thus, the gradient changes from negative to positive at x=4x = 4.
Therefore, BB is a minimum point.

2. Determine the nature of stationary point A

We are given that f(x)\mathrm{f}(x) is not an increasing function when x<4x < 4. This means f′(x)⩽0\mathrm{f}'(x) \leqslant 0 for x<4x < 4.
Since A(1,5)A(1,5) is a stationary point, f′(1)=0\mathrm{f}'(1) = 0.
For x<1x < 1, f′(x)<0\mathrm{f}'(x) < 0.
For 1<x<41 < x < 4, f′(x)<0\mathrm{f}'(x) < 0.
The gradient does not change sign at x=1x = 1 (it is negative on both sides).
Therefore, AA is a stationary point of inflexion.

Answer

AA is a point of inflexion and BB is a minimum point.

8(ii)

1. Expand the expression for $\mathrm{f}'(x)$ to prepare for integration.

f′(x)=a(x2−2x+1)(x−4)\mathrm{f}'(x) = a(x^2 - 2x + 1)(x - 4)
f′(x)=a(x3−4x2−2x2+8x+x−4)\mathrm{f}'(x) = a(x^3 - 4x^2 - 2x^2 + 8x + x - 4)
f′(x)=a(x3−6x2+9x−4)\mathrm{f}'(x) = a(x^3 - 6x^2 + 9x - 4)

2. Integrate $\mathrm{f}'(x)$ to find the general form of $\mathrm{f}(x)$.

f(x)=∫a(x3−6x2+9x−4) dx\mathrm{f}(x) = \int a(x^3 - 6x^2 + 9x - 4) \, dx
f(x)=a(x44−2x3+9x22−4x)+c\mathrm{f}(x) = a\left(\frac{x^4}{4} - 2x^3 + \frac{9x^2}{2} - 4x\right) + c

3. Use the given stationary points $A(1, 5)$ and $B(4, 0)$ to form simultaneous equations for $a$ and $c$.

Substitute x=1,f(x)=5x = 1, \mathrm{f}(x) = 5:
5=a(14−2+92−4)+c5 = a\left(\frac{1}{4} - 2 + \frac{9}{2} - 4\right) + c
5=a(−54)+c  ⟹  c=5+54a5 = a\left(-\frac{5}{4}\right) + c \implies c = 5 + \frac{5}{4}a

Substitute x=4,f(x)=0x = 4, \mathrm{f}(x) = 0:
0=a(444−2(43)+9(42)2−4(4))+c0 = a\left(\frac{4^4}{4} - 2(4^3) + \frac{9(4^2)}{2} - 4(4)\right) + c
0=a(64−128+72−16)+c0 = a(64 - 128 + 72 - 16) + c
0=a(−8)+c  ⟹  c=8a0 = a(-8) + c \implies c = 8a

4. Solve the simultaneous equations to find $a$ and $c$.

8a=5+54a8a = 5 + \frac{5}{4}a
274a=5  ⟹  a=2027\frac{27}{4}a = 5 \implies a = \frac{20}{27}
c=8(2027)=16027c = 8\left(\frac{20}{27}\right) = \frac{160}{27}

5. Write the final expression for $\mathrm{f}(x)$.

f(x)=2027(x44−2x3+9x22−4x)+16027\mathrm{f}(x) = \frac{20}{27}\left(\frac{x^4}{4} - 2x^3 + \frac{9x^2}{2} - 4x\right) + \frac{160}{27}
f(x)=527x4−4027x3+3027x2−8027x+16027\mathrm{f}(x) = \frac{5}{27}x^4 - \frac{40}{27}x^3 + \frac{30}{27}x^2 - \frac{80}{27}x + \frac{160}{27}

Answer

f(x)=527x4−4027x3+3027x2+4027x+10027\mathrm{f}(x) = \frac{5}{27}x^4 - \frac{40}{27}x^3 + \frac{30}{27}x^2 + \frac{40}{27}x + \frac{100}{27}

AI analysis — may contain mistakes.

Worked this one out on paper? Snap your steps and Gigle's AI math checker will circle the step where it went wrong.

More questions on this topic

  1. 1The curve CC has equation y=x2+x+3x−2y = \frac{x^2 + x + 3}{x - 2}. Without using a calculator, find the set of values that yy…
  2. 2The diagram shows a greenhouse built on a rectangular base. 140 m2140\text{ m}^2 of polyethene is used to build the curved r…
  3. 3The equation of a curve is given by y=x+sin⁡2xy = x + \sin^2 x for 0≤x≤π0 \le x \le \pi. Write down the expression for dydx\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}…
  4. 4A curve has equation y=ax+(bx)2+cx3+dy = \sqrt{ax + (bx)^2} + cx^3 + d where aa, bb, cc and dd are constants. The curve cuts the x…
  5. 5A cone of height, hh and radius, rr fits exactly inside a sphere of radius 5 cm5\text{ cm} as shown below. (Volume of cone=13πr2h)\left(\text{Volume of cone} = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h\right)…