How do you find stationary points of an equation, eg. y=x^2+3x+2

Stationary points of an equation are found where the gradient of the tangent at this point equals zero. A diagram can illustrate this. To find them differentiate the given equation (which gives the gradient) and set this to zero. eg. dy/dx = 2x+32x+3=0x=-3/2Plug this back into the equation of the line to find the y valuey=(-3/2)^2 + 3(-3/2) +2y= -1/4Stationary point is (-3/2, -1/4)To find the nature of this stationary point, find the second derivative, plug in your x value. If the value of the second derivative if positive, the point is a minimum, negative means a maximum.

EC
Answered by Ellie C. Maths tutor

3252 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

given that at a time t, a particle is accelerating in the positive x-direction at 1/t ms^-2, calculate the velocity and the displacement of the particle at time t = 2s


How to prove that (from i=0 to n)Σi^2= (n/6)(n+1)(2n+1), by induction.


If y=cos(3x)cosec(4x), find dy/dx.


Find the tangent for the line y=x^3+3x^2+4x+2 at x=2


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning