Find the local maximum and minimum of $LaTeX: \displaystyle f(x) = - 5 x^{3} - 21 x^{2} + 9 x - 1$ .

To find the critical numbers solve $LaTeX: \displaystyle f'(x) = 0$ . The derivative is $LaTeX: \displaystyle f'(x) = - 15 x^{2} - 42 x + 9$ . Solving $LaTeX: \displaystyle - 15 x^{2} - 42 x + 9 = 0$ gives $LaTeX: \displaystyle x = \left[ -3, \ \frac{1}{5}\right]$ . Using the 2nd derivative test gives:
$LaTeX: \displaystyle f''\left( -3 \right) = 48$ which is greater than zero, so the function is concave up and $LaTeX: \displaystyle f\left(-3\right) = -82$ is a local minimum.
$LaTeX: \displaystyle f''\left( \frac{1}{5} \right) = -48$ which is less than zero, so the function is concave down and $LaTeX: \displaystyle f\left(\frac{1}{5}\right) = - \frac{2}{25}$ is a local maximum.