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Mathematics 8 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

what is the maximum number of relative extrema contained in the graph of this function F(x)=5x^4-x^3+6x-2

OpenStudy (dape):

Relative extrema occur where the derivative is zero (at least for your polynomial function). So taking the derivative we get \[20x^3-3x^2+6=0\] This is a 3rd degree equation, now if we are working with complex numbers this equation is guaranteed to have 3 solutions by the fundamental theorem of algebra. But the number of real roots are 1 which can be found out by using Descartes' rule of signs ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descartes'_rule_of_signs). So the maximum number of relative extrema are 1.

OpenStudy (dape):

Also that one must be a global minimum since the polynomial is of degree 4 and has a positive coefficient, so at large distances from the origin the function tends to infinity.

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