# Find values for a and b such that f(x)= (ax+b)/(x+1)^2 has a critical number at x=-2.

You need to remember that the critical value is a zero for the first derivative of function, hence you need to differentiate the function with respect to x using quotient rule such that:

`f'(x) = ((ax+b)'*(x+1)^2 - (ax+b)*((x+1)^2)')/((x+1)^4)`

`f'(x) = ((a*(x+1)^2 - 2(ax+b)*(x+1)))/((x+1)^4)`

You need to factor out x+1 such that:

`f'(x) = ((x+1)(a*(x+1) - 2(ax+b)))/((x+1)^4)`

Reducing by x+1 yields:

`f'(x) = (ax + a - 2ax + 2b)/((x+1)^3)`

The problem provides the information that `x = -2`  is a critical value to function f(x), thus `f'(-2) = 0 ` .

`f'(x) = (-ax + a + 2b)/((x+1)^3)`

`f'(-2) = 0 =gt f'(-2) = (2a + a + 2b)/((-2+1)^3)`

`3a + 2b = 0 =gt a = -2b/3`

Notice that the problem provides just one condition and you need more than one (at least two) since you need to find two unknowns, a and b.

Hence, evaluating a and b under given conditions  yields `a = -2b/3.`

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