Question

what is the relative minimum and maximum of f(x)= x + 1/x

Answer 1

You need derive the function with respect to x after igual a cero y will obtain

min{f(x)}=-1
max{f(x)}=1

Answer 2

ok, well when i derived it i got f(x)= 2/x^3. is that correct? and how do you tell what the relative min and max are from there?

Answer 3

\[df(x)/dx=(dx/dx=1)+(d(1/x)/dx=-1/x^2)\]
so that
\[df(x)/dx=1-1/x^2\]
after
\[df(x)/dx=1-1/x^2=0\]
x=1
x=-1

Answer 4

Hope that helps