Increasing/Decreasing Intervals of y=|2-x| and x/(x^2)-1

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the increasing and decreasing intervals of the functions y = |2 - x| and x/(x^2) - 1. Participants also touch on related derivative problems, including implicit differentiation and the differentiation of exponential functions involving trigonometric components.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that y = |2 - x| should be always increasing due to the absolute value, but acknowledges this is not the correct answer.
  • Another participant emphasizes that the positivity of a function does not determine whether it is increasing or decreasing, recommending a graphical approach to understand |2 - x|.
  • A different participant proposes breaking down the absolute value function into cases based on the value of x to analyze its behavior.
  • There is a suggestion to find the critical points of the function x/(x^2) - 1 by setting its derivative to zero and analyzing the sign of the derivative in the intervals defined by these critical points.
  • Participants discuss the implicit differentiation of the equation tan(xy) = x^2, indicating the need to apply the product rule and solve for y'.
  • For the function y = (sin x)^x, a participant notes that the chain rule will be necessary for differentiation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the increasing and decreasing nature of the functions, with no consensus reached on the correct intervals. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the specific intervals for the functions in question.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for critical points and derivatives, but the discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps necessary to find these intervals definitively.

parwana
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On what intervals is y= l 2-x l increasing or decreasing?? Wouldnt it be its always increasing cause of the absolute symbol, but that's not the answer.

Also find where x/(x^2) - 1 is increasing/decreasing??

Given tan(xy)= x^2, find y'

y' of (sinx)^x
 
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I am concern about the fact the answer to our first question is really obvious, but your two last ones are not so easy. If somebody asked you to tackle non-linear differential equations, you should be able to solve absolute value problems for a while now.
 
Whether or not a function is positive has nothing to do with it being increasing or decreasing. Draw a graph of |2 - x|. Surely the answer will come to you.

For the other function, study the sign of its derivative.
 
Uh..shouldn't this be in the homework forum??

Anyway - if my memory serves me correctly, the y = |2-x| is a "V" shaped graph - that should help you with the visualisation. I'm sure you'll figure out the rest of the problem once you draw the graph.
 
#1 Maybe it would help you if you broke it into an inequality

y= l 2-x l is equivalent to

if x > 2 then y= -1*(2-x)
if x < 2 then y = 2-x


for #2 where is that functions critical points? i.e. where does it’s derivative = 0. Then in what intervals of the critical points is the derivative positive?


#3 Given tan(xy)= x^2, find y'

Ill give you a hint the derivative of the left is

The derivative of tan(xy) multiplied by the quantity x’y + y’x

This is implicit differentiation so you will need to solve for y’


#4 y' of (sinx)^x

If y = (sinx)^x
This is chain rule.
The outer most function is g(x) = k^x and the inner function is k(x) = sinx
 

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