Find both the maximum value and the minimum value of 3x4 – 8x3 + 12x2 – 48x + 25 on the interval [0, 3].
Let f (x) = 3x4 – 8x3 + 12x2 – 48x + 25, x ∈[0,3]
⇒ f’(x) = 12x3 - 24x2 + 24x – 48
=12(x3 - 2x2 + 2x – 4)
=12[x2 (x – 2)+ 2(x – 2)]
=12(x -2)( x2+ 2)
Now, f’(x) = 0
⇒ x =2 or (x2+ 2) = 0 for which there are no real roots.
Therefore, we will only consider x = 2
Now, we evaluate the value of f at critical point x = 2 and at end points of the interval [0,3].
f(2) = 3(2)4 – 8(2)3 + 12(2)2 – 48(2) + 25
= 3(16) – 8(8) + 12(4) +25
=48 – 64 +48 – 96 + 25
= -39
f(0) = 3(0)4 – 8(0)3 + 12(0)2 – 48(0) + 25
= 0+ 0 + 0 +25
= 25
f(3) = 3(3)4 – 8(3)3 + 12(3)2 – 48(3) + 25
= 3(81) – 8(27) + 12(9) +25
=243 – 216 +108 – 144 + 25
= 16
Therefore, we have the absolute maximum value of f on [0,3] is 25 occurring at x =0.
And, the absolute minimum value of f on [0,3] is -39 occurring at x = 2.