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C3 maths question - differentiate to find a stationary point

Hi, I'm stuck on this question:

Q. The curve with equation y = 1/(x^2 + 1) has a single stationary point A. Find the coordinates of A.

... so I've differentiated the equation which gives dy/dx = (-2x)/(x^2 +1)^2
then I've made that equal to 0, but I'm not sure how you go on to solve it because I don't think you can just multiply up because the 0 would just cancel it out?

Thanks for any help!

(the answer is (0,1) by the way, but idk why)
(edited 6 years ago)
Reply 1
Original post by daisy18000
Hi, I'm stuck on this question:

Q. The curve with equation y = 1/(x^2 + 1) has a single stationary point A. Find the coordinates of A.

... so I've differentiated the equation which gives dy/dx = (-2x)/(x^2 +1)^2
then I've made that equal to 0, but I'm not sure how you go on to solve it because I don't think you can just multiply up because the 0 would just cancel it out?

Thanks for any help!

(the answer is (0,1) by the way, but idk why)


The numerator must be 0 for a fraction to be equal to 0. So you're solving 2x=0
Reply 2
Original post by B_9710
The numerator must be 0 for a fraction to be equal to 0. So you're solving 2x=0


Ahh okay that makes sense. Thank you.
Reply 3
Nothing worse than doing all that hard work only to end up with x=0

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