Graphing Function: (x^2 + x -12)/(x-4)

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Homework Statement



I should sketch function (x^2 + x -12)/(x-4).




The Attempt at a Solution


I have problem with first derivative i find it to be (x^2 - 8x +8)/(x-4)^2 with roots at 4 - 2√2, 4 + 2√2, and 4(we lose four because f is not defined at 4). Where at 4 - 2√2 f is at max and at 4 + 2√2 f is at min. But when i plug those two roots in f i find that when x 4 - 2√2 f is = 3.32 and when i plug 4 + 2√2 i find f to be 16.47. How come min is greater then max? Is that even possible?
 
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Government$ said:

Homework Statement



I should sketch function (x^2 + x -12)/(x-4).

The Attempt at a Solution


I have problem with first derivative i find it to be (x^2 - 8x +8)/(x-4)^2 with roots at 4 - 2√2, 4 + 2√2, and 4(we lose four because f is not defined at 4). Where at 4 - 2√2 f is at max and at 4 + 2√2 f is at min. But when i plug those two roots in f i find that when x 4 - 2√2 f is = 3.32 and when i plug 4 + 2√2 i find f to be 16.47. How come min is greater then max? Is that even possible?

Sure it is possible. They are only a local max and a local min. Start filling in your sketch of the rest of the function. You'll see what's happening.
 
I figured it out by myself when i sketched graph. My professor didn't mention local max and min, he only talked about absolute. Thank you anyway.
 
Hi Government$! :smile:
Government$ said:
… But when i plug those two roots in f i find that when x 4 - 2√2 f is = 3.32 and when i plug 4 + 2√2 i find f to be 16.47. How come min is greater then max? Is that even possible?

At x = 4 it goes off to infinity.

The graph is effectively two unconnected graphs either side of x = 4, one with a maximum and one with a minimum …

since they're unconnected, there's no reason why the maximum should be more than the minimum! :wink:
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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