Q.

The number of points, where the curve y=x5-20x3+50x+2 crosses the x-axis, is __________ .          [2023]


Ans.

(5)

Let f(x)=y=x5-20x3+50x+2

dydx=5x4-60x2+50=5(x4-12x2+10)

Put dydx=0x4-12x2+10=0

x2=12±144-402x2=6±26x26±5.1

x211.1, 0.9x±3.3, ±0.95

f(0)=2, f(1)=+ve, f(2)=-ve; f(-1)=-ve, f(-2)=+ve

  y crosses the x-axis at 5 points.