Given the following function:
$f(x) = \ln(x^4 + 27)$
I found $f'(x) =$ $\frac{4x^3}{x^4+27}$
I set the $f'(x) = 0$ and found that $x = 0$
The interval would thus be:
$(-\infty, 0), (0, \infty)$
Next I'm told to find the following:
Find the local minimum values.
Find the local maximum values.
Find the inflection points.
Find when the graph is concave upward.
Find when the graph is concave downward.
So I know that a local minimum occurs when $f'' > 0$ and a local maximum occurs when $f'' < 0$. So given my function, I don't have a local maximum, but I do have a local minimum. My guess is that it occurs at zero since $f'$ changes from negative to positive. Am I wrong?
Best Answer
You are not wrong. It is correct that $f(x)$ will have a local minimum at $x=0$ since $f'$ changes from negative to positive at $x=0$.