How do you find the critical values for f(x)=x^(2/3)+x^(-1/3)?

1 Answer
Oct 26, 2015

Find values in the domain of f at which f'(x) does not exist or f'(x)=0 . See the explanation.

Explanation:

f(x)=x^(2/3)+x^(-1/3)

"Dom"(f) = RR - {0}

f'(x) = 2/3x^(-1/3) - 1/3x^(-4/3)

=1/3 x^(-4/3) (2x-1)

= (2x-1)/(3x^(4/3))

f'(x) does not exist at x=0, which is not in "Dom"(f).

f'(x) = 0 at x=1/2 which is in "Dom"(f).

The only critical number for f is 1/2.