University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 4 - Section 4.1 - Extreme Values of Functions - Exercises - Page 216: 80

Answer

$f(-c)=f(c)$ and at $x=-c$ there is also a local maximum.

Work Step by Step

Because f(x) is even, its graph is symmetric about the y-axis. First, we know that $f(-c)=f(c).$ Next, the part of the graph around $P=(c,f(c)$ is such that $f(c)$ is the greatest value of $f(x)$ for some interval around x=c. There exists a positive $h$ such that $x\in(c-h,c+h)\Rightarrow f(x)\leq f(c)$ Then, reflecting that part of the graph over the y-axis, point P will be reflected to point $Q=(-c, f(c))$, and the points that were below P (points for which $f(x)\leq f(c)$), will be reflected to points that are below Q. This means that Q is a point of local maximum. (If all points below P (in some local vicinity) have their y-coordinate not greater than f(c), then their reflections, points around Q, will also be below Q.)
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