Question:
Find points at which the tangent to the curve $y=x^{3}-3 x^{2}-9 x+7$ is parallel to the $x$-axis.
Solution:
The equation of the given curve is $y=x^{3}-3 x^{2}-9 x+7$.
$\therefore \frac{d y}{d x}=3 x^{2}-6 x-9$
Now, the tangent is parallel to the x-axis if the slope of the tangent is zero.
$\therefore 3 x^{2}-6 x-9=0 \Rightarrow x^{2}-2 x-3=0$
$\Rightarrow(x-3)(x+1)=0$
$\Rightarrow x=3$ or $x=-1$
When $x=3, y=(3)^{3}-3(3)^{2}-9(3)+7=27-27-27+7=-20$
When $x=-1, y=(-1)^{3}-3(-1)^{2}-9(-1)+7=-1-3+9+7=12$
Hence, the points at which the tangent is parallel to the x-axis are (3, −20) and
(−1, 12).