Question

A 2-column table with 10 rows. The first column is labeled x with entries negative 4, negative 3, negative 2, negative 1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The second column is labeled f of x with entries 105, 0, negative 15, 0, 9, 0, negative 15, 0, 105, 384.
According to the table, which ordered pair is a local minimum of the function, f(x)?

(0, 9)
(4, 105)
(–1, 0)
(2, –15)

Answer 1

(2, –15)

At x = 2, f(2) = –15, which is less than both neighboring values f(1) = 0 and f(3) = 0, so it's a local minimum.