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Calculus · Extrema

Critical points of x^3 - 3x

x^{3} - 3 x

Step by step

  1. f(x) = x^{3} - 3 x

    Critical points are where f′(x) = 0 or is undefined.

  2. f'(x) = 3 x^{2} - 3

    Differentiate.

  3. x = -1, x = 1

    Solve f′(x) = 0.

  4. f''(x) = 6 x

    Second-derivative test: f″ < 0 → maximum, f″ > 0 → minimum.

  5. f''(-1) = -6 \Rightarrow (-1, 2) \text{ is a local maximum}

  6. f''(1) = 6 \Rightarrow (1, -2) \text{ is a local minimum}

Reveal the answer
(-1, 2)\ \text{local maximum},\; (1, -2)\ \text{local minimum}