Consider the function
Step 1 :Given the function
Step 2 :The critical numbers of a function are the values of x where the derivative of the function is either 0 or undefined. So, we first need to find the derivative of the function.
Step 3 :The derivative of the function
Step 4 :Setting the derivative equal to zero gives us the critical numbers. Solving
Step 5 :The function is undefined when the denominator is zero. So, we also need to find the value of x for which the function is undefined. Solving
Step 6 :Therefore, the critical numbers are -1 and 1, and the function is undefined at 0. So, the intervals are
Step 7 :Finally, we find that
Step 8 :