In Problem Set 1, Part 1C- Slope and Derivative, Question 4a), how does a sketcher know where the peak of the left part of the graph is? Can you tell without differentiating?

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anonymous · Answer

Now that I looked again at the question... $$x <-2, $$ then the function is always negative... but the y-intercept is 0, so it can't go higher than that.

Is there any other way to figure it out where the peak is?

anonymous · Answer

Hi kablooey, eyeballing the peak can be very misleading. It is better to differentiate, however, some people have shown a knack for visualizing peaks and locations of lines, peaks and slopes.