100.0k views
2 votes
Which of the following graphs could be the graph of the function f(x) = x4 + x3 – x2 – x?

User Shihpeng
by
5.2k points

1 Answer

4 votes

The given function is ⇒ f(x) = x⁴ + x³ – x² – x

To graph the function, we need to find zeros, minimum and maximum points.

The zeros of the function can be obtained as following;

f(x) = x⁴ + x³ – x² – x = (x⁴ + x³) – (x² + x) = x³ (x+1) - x (x+1) = (x+1) (x³ - x)

∴ f(x) = (x+1) x ( x² - 1) = x (x+1) (x+1) (x-1) = x (x-1) (x+1)²

So, the zeros will be at x = 0 , 1 , -1

To find the minimum and maximum points, we need to get f'(x)

∴ f'(x) = 4x³ + 3x² - 2x - 1

solve for x when f'(x) = 0 using the calculator.

∴ x = -1 , -0.39 , 0.64

Making a table between x and f(x) with taking the zeros and minimum and maximum points into considerations.

So, the graph of f(x) will be as the attached figure.

Which of the following graphs could be the graph of the function f(x) = x4 + x3 – x-example-1
User Seekingtheoptimal
by
6.0k points