Minimum value of the expression

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gfd43tg
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Homework Statement


Problem is posted as image

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


Hello,

I am having some confusion over what is meant by 'type in the boxes the minimum value of the expression'. Does that mean take the derivative of the function? Or does that mean the value at which the function is a minimum? That would be setting them all to zero

a) ##\underset \min{x} \hspace{0.05 in} x = ##

[itex]f(x) = x[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 1[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 0[/itex] at the minimum
[itex]1 \neq 0[/itex]
[itex]\bar{x} = -\infty[/itex]

b) ## \underset \min{x}\hspace{0.05 in}2x^2 = ##

[itex]f(x) = 2x^2[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 4x[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 0[/itex] at the minimum
[itex]4x = 0[/itex]
[itex]\bar{x} = 0[/itex]c) ##\underset \min{x} \hspace{0.05 in}x + 2x^2 = ##

[itex]f(x) = x + 2x^2[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 4x + 1[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 0[/itex] at the minimum
[itex]4x = -1[/itex]
[itex]\bar{x} = -0.25[/itex]

d) ##\underset \min{x}\hspace{0.05 in} 5 - x + 2x^2 = ##

[itex]f(x) = x + 2x^2[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 4x - 1[/itex]
[itex]f'(x) = 0[/itex] at the minimum
[itex]4x = 1[/itex]
[itex]\bar{x} = 0.25[/itex]
 
Attachments
  • Quiz form with four minimization problems: min over x of x (answer -inf, x-bar -inf), min of 2x^2 (answer 0, x-bar 0), min of x + 2x^2 (blank answer, x-bar -0.25), and min of 5 - x + 2x^2 (blank answer, x-bar 0.25).
    minimization.jpg
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Last edited:
It means to write the y value of the function that occurs at the minimum x value.
For the parabola

[tex]x+2x^2[/tex]

the min occurs at [itex]x=-0.25[/itex] and hence the answer would be [tex]f(-0.25)=-0.25+2(-0.25)^2=-0.125[/tex]
 
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