Is #f(x)=-8x^5-x^2+5x-4# concave or convex at #x=-4#?
1 Answer
Feb 28, 2016
convex at x = -4
Explanation:
To test if a function is concave/convex at f(a), require to find the value of f''(a).
• If f''(a) > 0 then f(x) is convex at x = a
• If f''(a) < 0 then f(x) is concave at x = a
hence
#f(x) = -8x^5 - x^2 + 5x - 4#
#f'(x) = -40x^4 - 2x + 5# and
# f''(x) = -160x^3 - 2#
#rArr f''(-4) = -160(-4)^3 - 2(-4) = 10240 + 8 = 10248# since f''(-4) > 0 then f(x) is convex at x = -4
graph{-8x^5-x^2+5x-4 [-18.02, 18.03, -9.01, 9.01]}
