Thread: Application of derivative

Let H(x) be polynomial where H(x)>=0 for all x in R. Prove that:
f(x)= H(x)+H'(x)+H"(x)+...>=0.

First, a few simple observations:

• must be a polynomial of even degree
• Taking derivatives enough times will eventually give zero
• The function is a finite sum, and all of the derivatives are polynomials, so is a polynomial
• Since has even degree, has even degree too

Now, to show that , we should just try to find its minimum. (And in this case, it is enough to do so. Be sure to justify this!) To do this, we set the derivative equal to zero:



and "solve". Suppose is a solution. We can put it back into to see what value we get:



Since is positive for all , we have that . Therefore, all minimum values of are greater than or equal to zero, so all of must be greater than or equal to zero. This proves it!

Great. Definitely this works, but how do formally prove that f has a minimum?

Your question basically boils down to showing that all positive even-degree polynomials have a minimum. I would probably try to show that if is high or low enough, the polynomial eventually becomes monotonic. (This is behaviour makes the "W"-shape where the tails of the polynomial run out to infinity.) Then I would cut the tails off. What would be left is some portion of the polynomial on a closed interval. Since polynomials are the nicest functions we have, the extreme value theorem applies, so it has to take a minimum on that interval (which then serves as a minimum for the whole thing).

Does this sketch work for you? If you have trouble writing it down formally, you can let us know and we can help you through it.