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NDA 2024 Maths · Mathematics · Application of Derivatives · hard

Let f(x)=x^3. 1. f has a local maximum at x=0. 2. f'(x) changes sign at x=0.

Single correct option

Let f(x)=x3f(x)=x^3. Consider the following statements:
1. ff has a local maximum at x=0x=0.
2. f′(x)f'(x) changes sign at x=0x=0.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
  1. A. 1 only
  2. B. 2 only
  3. C. Both 1 and 2
  4. D. Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (D) Neither 1 nor 2

Here f′(x)=3x2≥0f'(x)=3x^2\ge0 for all xx, so ff is increasing everywhere. Hence there is no local maximum at 0, and statement 1 is false. Since f′f' is non-negative on both sides of 0, it does not change sign, so statement 2 is false. Trap: f′(0)=0f'(0)=0 suggests an extremum, but a stationary point need not be one; x=0x=0 is a point of inflection.
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