On differentiating both sides w.r.t. x, we get,
f'(x) = $ 3 x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 3 } { x ^ { 4 } }$
On putting f'(x) = 0, we get,
$ 3 x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 3 } { x ^ { 4 } } = 0$$ \Rightarrow \frac { 3 x ^ { 6 } - 3 } { x ^ { 4 } } = 0$
$ \Rightarrow$ 3x6 - 3 = 0 $ \Rightarrow$3x6 = 3
$ \Rightarrow$ x6 = 1 $ \Rightarrow$ x = $ \pm$1
Now, we find intervals in whch f(x) is strictly increasing or strictly decreasing.
| Interval | f'(x) =$ \frac { 3 x ^ { 6 } - 3 } { x ^ { 4 } }$ | Sign of f'(x) |
| x<-1 | $\frac { ( + ) } { ( + ) }$ | +ve |
| -1<x<1,x$\ne$0 | $\frac { ( - ) } { ( + ) }$ | -ve |
| x > 1 | $\frac { ( + ) } { ( + ) }$ | +v |
So, f(x) is strictly increasing on intervals (-$ \infty$, -1) and (1, $ \infty$) and it is strictly decreasing on (-1, 1)-{0}.
Also, f(x) is continuous at x = 1 , -1.
Hence, f(x) is
- increasig on intervals (-$ \infty$, -1 ] and [1, $ \infty$).
- decreasing on interval [-1, 1]- {0}.