IB Maths HL

2: Harder Stationary Points

 Harder Stationary Points

The stationary points of a curve are the points where

the gradient is zero
We may be able to determine the nature of a
stationary point just by knowing the shape of a
curve.
2
e.g.1 We know the curve y  3 x  12 x  9 has
2
a minimum because the sign of the x
term ( positive ) tells us that the graph
has the following shape
 Harder Stationary Points

e.g.1 The cubic curve y  1  3 x  5 x 2  x 3 has 2

stationary points.
They are 13 , 1427  and 3, 10
Plotting the stationary points and using our
knowledge that a cubic is a continuous function
( we can draw it with a single stroke ) means we
must get the following:
3, 10
x

The y-intercept
is also useful
0, 1 x x
13 , 1427 
 Harder Stationary Points

e.g.1 The cubic curve y  1  3 x  5 x 2  x 3 has 2

stationary points.
They are 13 , 1427  and 3, 10
Plotting the stationary points and using our
knowledge that a cubic is a continuous function
( we can draw it with a single stroke ) means we
must get the following:
3, 10
x

0, 1 x x
13 , 1427 
 Harder Stationary Points

We may not know the shape of some functions, so

we need to determine the nature of the
stationary points by another method.

Using the 2nd derivative is usually the easiest

method.
 Harder Stationary Points

e.g.2 Calculate the coordinates of the stationary 1

points on the graph of y  f ( x ) where f ( x )  x 
x
Distinguish between the max and the min.
1 1
Solution: f ( x )  x   x f (must
x )  xbe

1 xwritten
1 in
x the form
/
x before
2
we
canf differentiate
( x)  1  x
/ 1
 f ( x)  1 
x2
/ 1
For st. pts. f ( x )  0  1 2
0
x
2 2
Multiply by x :  x  1  0  x2  1
this quadraticequation xhas
 no
1
linear term so there is no need
to factorize
 Harder Stationary Points
Calculate y-values at x = 1 and 1:
1
f ( x)  x   f (1)  1  1  2 , f ( 1)  1  1  2
x
The stationary points are ( 1, 2 ) and (1, 2)
To distinguish between the stationary points we need
the 2nd derivative
2
f / ( x)  1  x  2  f // ( x )  2 x 3 
x3
 f // (1)  2  0  (1, 2) is a min
// 2
 f ( 1)  3
  2  0  ( 1,  2) is a max
( 1)
N.B. The maximum has a smaller y -value than the
minimum !
It’s interesting to see what the graph looks like.
 Harder Stationary Points
1 1
f ( x)  x   f ( 0)  0 
x 0
1
is infinite, so x = 0 (the y-axis) is an asymptote
0
So, we now have

x=0

x
( 1, 2)
(min)
( 1,  2)
x
(max)
 Harder Stationary Points

1
f ( x ) Also,
x  as
x 1
x  ,  0 so f ( x)  x
x
is also an asymptote
 ““y 1x“ approaches
x zero x“ “ “
f ( x ) approaches
approaches infinity
x

x=0
y=x
x
( 1, 2)
(min)
( 1,  2)
x
(max)
 Harder Stationary Points

We can now complete the curve.

1
y x
x

Asymptote, x = 0

x
( 1, 2)
(min)

(
x
1,  2) (max)
 Harder Stationary Points
Exercise
1. Find the stationary points on the curve y  f ( x )
where
9
f ( x )  x  10 
x
Determine the nature of the stationary points.
Ans: ( 3, 16 ) is a minimum
(  3, 4 ) is a maximum 9
y  x  10 
x

The question didn’t ask

for the graph but it looks
like this:
The asymptotes are
x0 and y  x  10
Harder Stationary Points
 Harder Stationary Points

The following slides contain repeats of

information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as “Handouts” with up to 6 slides per sheet.
 Harder Stationary Points
e.g.2 Calculate the coordinates of the stationary 1
points on the graph of y  f ( x ) where f ( x )  x 
x
Distinguish between the max and the min.
1
Solution: f ( x )  x   f ( x )  x  x 1
x
1 / 2
x must be written in  f ( x )  1  x
the form x  1 before we / 1
can differentiate  f ( x)  1  2
x
/ 1
For st. pts. f ( x )  0  1  2  0
x
2 2
Multiply by x :  x  1  0  x2  1
this quadraticequation xhas  no
1
linear term so there is no need
to factorize
 Harder Stationary Points

Calculate y-values at x = 1 and 1: 1

f ( x)  x 
x
f (1)  1  1  2 f ( 1)  1  1  2
The stationary points are ( 1, 2 ) and (1, 2)
To distinguish between the stationary points we need
the 2nd derivative
/ 2 // 3 2
f ( x)  1  x  f ( x)  2 x 
x3
 f // (1)  2  0  (1, 2) is a min
// 2
 f ( 1)  3
  2  0  ( 1,  2) is a max
( 1)
N.B. The maximum has a smaller y -value than the
minimum !