Worked example 18: Finding stationary points

QUESTION
Calculate the stationary points of the graph of p (x) = x
3
6x
2
+ 9x 4.
SOLUTION
Step 1: Determine the derivative of p (x)
Using the rules of differentiation we get:
p

(x) = 3x
2
12x + 9
Step 2: Let p

(x) = 0 and solve for x

3x
2
12x + 9 = 0
x
2
4x + 3 = 0
(x 3) (x 1) = 0
x = 1 or x = 3
Therefore, the x-coordinates of the turning points are x = 1 and x = 3.
Step 3: Substitute the x-values into p (x)
We use the x-coordinates to calculate the corresponding y-coordinates of the stationary
points.
p (1) = (1)
3
6(1)
2
+ 9 (1) 4
= 1 6 + 9 4
= 0
p (3) = (3)
3
6(3)
2
+ 9 (3) 4
= 27 54 + 27 4
= 4
Step 4: Write nal answer
The turning points of the graph of p (x) = x
3
6x
2
+ 9x 4 are (1; 0) and (3; 4).
234 6.6. Sketching graphs