Question

for some constant b, if the minimum value of f(x)=(x^2-2x+b)/(x^2+2x+b) is 1/2, what is the maximum value of f(x)?

Answer 1

Hey Miss Tina!
Is this a Calculus problem?
Or you're not quite on that level yet?

Answer 2

its a math contest problem and it's for practice

Answer 3

If you know calculus and want to find the min or max of a function, the first thing you do is to take the derivative of the function with respect to x, and next, set the derivative = to 0. Try doing that. Let x=(1/2). Can you now identify the correct value of b?

Answer 4

i'm still a bit confused

Answer 5

Have you formally studied calculus?

Answer 6

Calculus is essential here.

Answer 7

no i'm a freshman in high school this is a math contest question the teacher assigned for practice

Answer 8

Appreciate your interest in such a challenging question, but calculus is not something you can learn in an hour here on OpenStudy. It's usually a full-academic-year course. Your time might be better spent focusing on questions for which you have some background.

Answer 9

Using Calculus, I found b=9 and the maximum is 2 when x=-3

Answer 10

You can avoid calculus here and use some discriminant analysis. The result will be the same as eliesaab found.