How do you test the critical points of a function if the second derivaive test quals zero? I know you have to use higher order tests, but I don't know what they are... Can anyone help?

Question

How do you test the critical points of a function if  the second derivaive test quals zero? I know you have to use higher order tests, but I don't know what they are... Can anyone help?

anonymous · Answer

What are you testing the critical points for?

amistre64 · Answer

if the second derivative test is zero for the same values you found in the 1st derivative, you most likely have inflection points that are giving you a false reading in your 1st.

anonymous · Answer

If you can get your derivative into a fully factored form it's pretty easy to see if you have a min/max or inflection point.

anonymous · Answer

Make a sign diagram using the first derivative