lisarh said:
Hey guys, can anyone help me with these tricky questions.
1) Maximum & minimum points occur when dy/dx = 0
i.e. when 3x^2 + 2ax + b = 0
Using the quadratic formula:
x = (-2a +- (plus and minus) SQRT (4a^2 - 4 . 3 . b))/6
So there are two (maximum and minimum) points.
x = (-2a + SQRT (4a^2 - 12b))/6 and (-2a - SQRT (4a^2 - 12b))/6
Add them up together, you get -4a/6 = -2a/3
Therefore, @ + $ (the roots) = -2a/3
2) point of inflexion is at d^2y/dx^2 = 0
i.e. 6x + 2a = 0
6x = -2a
x= -a/3 which is essentially -(2a/3)/2 = (@+$)/2