Problem source

Criticise each step of the following arguments. You should correct the arguments where necessary and possible, and say (with justification) whether you think the conclusion are true even though the argument is incorrect. 
\begin{questionparts}
\item The function $g$ defined by 
\[
\mathrm{g}(x)=\frac{2x^{3}+3}{x^{4}+4}
\]
satisfies $\mathrm{g}'(x)=0$ only for $x=0$ or $x=\pm1.$ Hence the stationary values are given by $x=0$, $\mathrm{g}(x)=\frac{3}{4}$ and $x=\pm1,$ $\mathrm{g}(x)=1.$ Since $\frac{3}{4}<1,$ there is a minimum at $x=0$ and maxima at $x=\pm1.$ Thus we must have $\frac{3}{4}\leqslant\mathrm{g}(x)\leqslant1$ for all $x$. 
\item ${\displaystyle \int(1-x)^{-3}\,\mathrm{d}x=-3(1-x)^{-4}}\quad$ and so
$\quad{\displaystyle \int_{-1}^{3}(1-x)^{-3}\,\mathrm{d}x=0.}$
\end{questionparts}

Solution source

\begin{questionparts}
\item \begin{align*}
&& g(x) &= \frac{2x^3+3}{x^4+4} \\
\Rightarrow && g'(x) &= \frac{6x^2(x^4+4) - (2x^3+3)(4x^3)}{(x^4+4)^2} \\
&&&= \frac{-2x^6-12x^3+24x^2}{(x^4+4)} \\
&&&= \frac{-2x^2(x^4+6x-12)}{(x^4+4)}
\end{align*}

So $g'(x)$ is not $0$ for $x = \pm 1$.

We can also note that $g(-1) = \frac1{5} \neq 1$

Even if the other turning point was $1$, we would also need to check the behaviour as $x \to \pm \infty$.

We can also note that $g(-1) = \frac{1}{5} < \frac34$ so the conclusion is also not true.

\item There are several errors.
\[ \int (1-x)^{-3} \d x = \underbrace{\frac{1}{4}}_{\text{correct constant}}(1-x)^{-4} + \underbrace{C}_{\text{constant of integration}} \]

We cannot integrate through the asymptote at $1$.

There is a sense in which we could argue $\displaystyle \int_{-1}^3 (1-x)^{-3} \d x = 0$, specifically using Cauchy principal value

\begin{align*}
\mathrm {p.v.} \int_{-1}^3 (1-x)^{-3} &=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [  \int_{-1}^{1-\epsilon} (1-x)^{-3} \d x+ \int_{1+\epsilon}^{3} (1-x)^{-3} \d x\right] \\
&=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [  \left[ \frac14 (1-x)^{-4}\right]_{-1}^{1-\epsilon}+ \left[ \frac14 (1-x)^{-4}\right]_{1+\epsilon}^3\right] \\
&=\lim_{\epsilon \to 0} \left [ \frac14 \epsilon^{-4}-\frac14 \frac1{2^4} + \frac14 \frac1{2^4} - \frac14 \epsilon^{-4} \right] \\
&= \lim_{\epsilon \to 0} 0 \\
&= 0
\end{align*}

However, in many normal ways of treating this integral it would be undefined.

\end{questionparts}