Thread: Optimization

find the point on the curve y=x^2 closest to the point (3,4)
i have the first derivative to be 4x^3 -14x -6, using the distance formula
Question: 1 i dont know how to get the critical numbers?

Originally Posted by henri

find the point on the curve y=x^2 closest to the point (3,4)
i have the first derivative to be 4x^3 -14x -6, using the distance formula
Question: 1 i dont know how to get the critical numbers?

has three irrational roots ... recommend using a calculator.

thanks that was what I was getting as well. The professor removed it because no calculators allowed