Question:
Find the intervals in which the function $f$ given by $f(x)=x^{3}+\frac{1}{x^{3}}, x \neq 0$ is
(i) increasing (ii) decreasing
Solution:
$f(x)=x^{3}+\frac{1}{x^{3}}$
$\therefore f^{\prime}(x)=3 x^{2}-\frac{3}{x^{4}}=\frac{3 x^{6}-3}{x^{4}}$
Then, $f^{\prime}(x)=0 \Rightarrow 3 x^{6}-3=0 \Rightarrow x^{6}=1 \Rightarrow x=\pm 1$
Now, the points $x=1$ and $x=-1$ divide the real line into three disjoint intervals i.e., $(-\infty,-1),(-1,1)$, and $(1, \infty)$.
In intervals $(-\infty,-1)$ and $(1, \infty)$ i.e., when $x<-1$ and $x>1, f^{\prime}(x)>0$.
Thus, when $x<-1$ and $x>1, f$ is increasing.
In interval $(-1,1)$ i.e., when $-1 Thus, when $-1