Asked by julie

absolute maximum of (x^2-4)/(x^2+4)


the critical numbers i got was x=0,-2.59, and 3.09

the absolute minimum is f(0)=-1

what is the absolute maximum:
is it both f(-4)=(f(4))=.6?

or can there only be one

Answers

Answered by drwls
The absolute maximum must occur where the deriviative is zero. But you also have to use othe tests to show that it not a minimum or only a relative maximum.

The derivative is [(x^2+4)(2x) - (x^2-4)(2x)]/(x^2+4)^2
=16 x/(x^2+4)^2
That only equals zero when x = 0. That happens to be the absolute minimum. There is no absolute maximum. The function approaches +1 as x goes to plus or minus infinity.
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