Precalculus Examples

Find the Maximum/Minimum Value
Step 1
The minimum of a quadratic function occurs at . If is positive, the minimum value of the function is .
occurs at
Step 2
Find the value of .
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Step 2.1
Substitute in the values of and .
Step 2.2
Remove parentheses.
Step 2.3
Multiply by .
Step 3
Evaluate .
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Step 3.1
Replace the variable with in the expression.
Step 3.2
Simplify the result.
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Step 3.2.1
Simplify each term.
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Step 3.2.1.1
Use the power rule to distribute the exponent.
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Step 3.2.1.1.1
Apply the product rule to .
Step 3.2.1.1.2
Apply the product rule to .
Step 3.2.1.2
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.2.1.3
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.1.4
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.2.1.5
Raise to the power of .
Step 3.2.1.6
Cancel the common factor of .
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Step 3.2.1.6.1
Factor out of .
Step 3.2.1.6.2
Cancel the common factor.
Step 3.2.1.6.3
Rewrite the expression.
Step 3.2.1.7
Multiply .
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Step 3.2.1.7.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.1.7.2
Combine and .
Step 3.2.1.7.3
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.1.8
Move the negative in front of the fraction.
Step 3.2.2
Find the common denominator.
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Step 3.2.2.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.3
Write as a fraction with denominator .
Step 3.2.2.4
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.5
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.2.6
Reorder the factors of .
Step 3.2.2.7
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.3
Combine the numerators over the common denominator.
Step 3.2.4
Simplify each term.
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Step 3.2.4.1
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.4.2
Multiply by .
Step 3.2.5
Simplify the expression.
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Step 3.2.5.1
Subtract from .
Step 3.2.5.2
Subtract from .
Step 3.2.5.3
Move the negative in front of the fraction.
Step 3.2.6
The final answer is .
Step 4
Use the and values to find where the minimum occurs.
Step 5
Enter YOUR Problem
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