Critical Points of Log Function

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 6K views
Qube
Gold Member
Messages
461
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement



http://i.minus.com/jCH20SF290QIb.png

Homework Equations



Critical point: when the derivative = 0 or the derivative fails to exist.

The Attempt at a Solution



I got x = 0 and x = e as critical points.

When x = e, the function becomes 0 / e, which = 0. Therefore, e is a critical point of f.

When x = 0, the function becomes 1/0, which = ∞. The derivative of ∞ does not exist, so wouldn't x = 0 be a critical point?

The answer key disagrees; the only critical point the key provides is x = e.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
the key to this problem is in the first line: "for all x > 0". Log(x) is not defined for any x ≤ 0