Question 302151
you need to find the maxima and minima


setting the first derivative equal to zero will give you the x values


this function is shaped roughly like a "W"


starting on the left-hand side of the "W"
___ the function is decreasing on the downward stroke
___ then increasing on the first inside upward stroke
___ then decreasing on the next inside downward stroke
___ then finally increasing on the last outside upward stroke


the points where the strokes intersect are the boundries between the increasing and decreasing intervals


remember that the outsides strokes go to infinity on the x-axis; one positive and one negative
___ they both go to positive infinity on the y-axis



in case you haven't had any calculus
___ the first derivative is ___ 4x^3 - 12x^2 - 44x + 52