Answer:
The location are [tex]x_1 = 2 \ and \ x_2 = 3[/tex]
Explanation:
From the question we are told that
The potential energy is [tex]U(x) = (2.0 \ J/m^3) * x^3 - (15 \ J/m) * x^2 + (36 \ J/m) * x - 23 \ J[/tex]
The force on the mass can be mathematically evaluated as
[tex]F = - \frac{d U(x)}{d x } = -( 6 x^2 - 30x +36)[/tex]
The negative sign shows that the force is moving in the opposite direction of the potential energy
[tex]F = - 6 x^2 + 30x - 36[/tex]
At critical point
[tex]\frac{d U(x)}{dx} = 0[/tex]
So
[tex]- 6 x^2 + 30x - 36 = 0[/tex]
[tex]- x^2 + 5x - 6 = 0[/tex]
Using quadratic equation formula to solve this we have that
[tex]x_1 = 2 \ and \ x_2 = 3[/tex]
