Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.5 - Continuity - 2.5 Exercises - Page 126: 70

Answer

The equation $~~\frac{a}{x^3+2x^2-1}+\frac{b}{x^3+x-2} = 0~~$ has at least one solution in the interval $(-1,1)$

Work Step by Step

$\frac{a}{x^3+2x^2-1}+\frac{b}{x^3+x-2} = 0$ $\frac{a(x^3+x-2)+b(x^3+2x^2-1)}{(x^3+2x^2-1)(x^3+x-2)} = 0$ This expression is equal to 0 when the numerator is equal to 0. We can evaluate the numerator when $x=1$: $a[(1)^3+(1)-2]+b[(1)^3+2(1)^2-1] = a(0) +b(2) = 2b \gt 0$ We can evaluate the numerator when $x=-1$: $a[(-1)^3+(-1)-2]+b[(-1)^3+2(-1)^2-1] = a(-4) +b(0) = -4a \lt 0$ Note that the expression for the numerator $~~a(x^3+x-2)+b(x^3+2x^2-1)~~$ is continuous on the interval $(-1,1)$ According to the Intermediate Value Theorem, there is a number $c$ in the interval $(-1,1)$ such that the numerator $~~a(c^3+c-2)+b(c^3+2c^2-1) = 0$ Therefore, the equation $\frac{a}{x^3+2x^2-1}+\frac{b}{x^3+x-2} = 0$ has at least one solution in the interval $(-1,1)$
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