Analyzing the Setup
Imagine you are standing on a landscape defined by a mathematical function. You are walking along the curve of f(x)=ax2+6x−15.
The problem states that you are walking uphill until you reach x=43, and then you begin to descend. This behavior indicates that the vertex of the parabola is located at x=43.
Because the graph transitions from increasing to decreasing, it must be a downward-opening parabola. This implies that the leading coefficient a must be negative.
The Algebra of the Vertex
We translate this geometric intuition into an algebraic equation. For any quadratic function f(x)=ax2+bx+c, the x-coordinate of the vertex is given by:
We know the vertex is at x=43 and the coefficient b=6. Substituting these values into the formula, we obtain:
Simplifying this expression, we get 43=−a3. Cross-multiplying yields 3a=−12, which reveals that a=−4. The negative sign confirms our earlier intuition that the parabola opens downwards.
The Transformation to g(x)
With the value of a determined, we define the second function as g(x)=ax2−6x+15. Substituting a=−4, we get:
To find the local extrema of this new landscape, we utilize calculus. We must find where the slope of the tangent line is zero by calculating the first derivative, g′(x):
g′(x)=dxd(−4x2−6x+15)=−8x−6
Setting the derivative to zero, we solve −8x−6=0. This leads to −8x=6, or:
The Final Verdict
We have identified the critical point at x=−43. To determine if this is a maximum or a minimum, we apply the second derivative test.
Calculating the second derivative, we find:
Since the second derivative is a negative constant, the function is concave downwards everywhere. Therefore, the critical point at x=−43 is a local maximum.