Analyzing the Setup
We are given a polynomial f(x) of degree four. Our goal is to determine the value of f(2) by first identifying the coefficients of the polynomial.
The problem provides the limit condition:
x→0lim[1+x2f(x)]=3
Subtracting 1 from both sides, we obtain:
x→0limx2f(x)=2
Decoding the Polynomial Structure
For the limit to exist as a finite value, f(x) cannot contain constant or linear terms, as these would cause the expression to diverge as x→0. Thus, f(x) must take the form f(x)=ax4+bx3+cx2.
Substituting this into our limit:
x→0limx2ax4+bx3+cx2=x→0lim(ax2+bx+c)=2
As
x approaches 0, the terms
ax2 and
bx vanish, leaving
c=2. Our polynomial is now defined as:
f(x)=ax4+bx3+2x2
The Power of Derivatives
We are told that f(x) has extreme values at x=1 and x=2. In calculus, this implies that the derivative f′(x) must be zero at these points.
First, we calculate the derivative:
f′(x)=4ax3+3bx2+4x
Solving the System
Using the conditions f′(1)=0 and f′(2)=0, we generate a system of linear equations:
For
x=1:
4a(1)3+3b(1)2+4(1)=0⟹4a+3b+4=0
For
x=2:
4a(2)3+3b(2)2+4(2)=0⟹32a+12b+8=0
Dividing the second equation by 4, we simplify it to 8a+3b+2=0. We now solve the system:
1) 4a+3b=−4
2) 8a+3b=−2
Subtracting the first equation from the second yields
4a=2, which gives
a=21. Substituting
a=21 into the first equation:
4(21)+3b=−4⟹2+3b=−4⟹3b=−6⟹b=−2
Final Calculation
The complete polynomial is:
f(x)=21x4−2x3+2x2
To find
f(2), we substitute
x=2 into the expression:
f(2)=21(2)4−2(2)3+2(2)2
f(2)=21(16)−2(8)+2(4)
f(2)=8−16+8=0
The final value is 0.