Worked solution
Use both coordinates and gradients at stationary points
[Graphs and Applications of Differentiation] The curve , where is a cubic polynomial, has stationary points at and . Determine the equation of the curve.
CJC · Lecture · Example 7
Define the polynomial and use zero gradients
Let , so . The source callout says stationary points imply zero derivative. Therefore and .
Use the points on the curve
Stationary points also lie on the curve, as the second source callout stresses. Their ordinates give and . Together these four linear equations determine the four coefficients.
Map the calculator output and interpret
The printed calculator screen gives , , , . Its callout maps these to respectively and warns against copying the screen variable names into the final solution. Thus . Verify , and .
Common mistakes
Two zero-gradient equations alone do not determine all four cubic coefficients. Use the ordinates too, and report the original coefficient names.
Solution notes
Student and Teacher PDF page 9 compared. Student printed page 169; Teacher visible footer 9 (underlying extracted label 169). No marks are printed.