# Function x - Finding the intervals, ranges, and points of inflection

1. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Let f be the function defined by f(x) = xe$$^{1-x}$$ for all real numbers x.

a. Find each interval on which f is increasing.

b. Find the range of F.

c. Find the x-coordinate of each point of inflection of the graph of f

2. Relevant equations

I don't think there are any.

3. The attempt at a solution

It's been a while since I did calculus, so I might be a bit rusty on this. I'll take this 1 letter at a time.

For part a, if f is incresaing, then its first derivative must be positive. Therefore, I took the derivative of f(x), using the product rule.

f(x) = xe$$^{1-x}$$
f'(x) = x(1-x)(-1) + e$$^{1-x}$$
f'(x) = -x$$^{2}$$+x-1+e$$^{1-x}$$

And ... this is where I get stuck. I'm not sure how to proceed from here for part a (I'll attempt the other 2 at a later date).

2. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

The product rule is:
(f*g)' = f'*g + f*g' where f and g are functions.
Try finding f'(x) again.

3. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

My notes say it's f*g' + g*f'. Or uv' + vu'.

I've used this rule for other prod. rule problems and it seems to work all right.

4. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

It doesn't matter what the order is; addition is commutative.

Your error was when differentiating e1 - x.

5. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

I thought e^(1-x) was -(1-x) because I bring down the (1-x) from the expnoent, then use the chain rule to get (-1) and just multiply the two together. Is it just (1-x)?

6. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

You're missing a part when you differentiate e1-x. What is the derivative of ef(x) using the chain rule?

7. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

Wait hang on ... is it ...

f'(x) = -e$$^{1-x}$$

8. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

Yes!
Now what is f'(x), all of it?

9. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

Wow, I nearly ate my shorts.

Anyway, here's the new f'(x).

f ' (x) = e$$^{1-x}$$(1-x)

I'm still not quite sure what to do next, can you sort of "poke" me in the general direction without actually giving away the answer since I'd like to learn this stuff.

10. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

Now you want to find where f(x) changes from increasing to decreasing, or vice versa. What will the derivative be right where that change is?

11. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

Just a quick question, but is finding what you said possible without a calculator, becuase my teacher says we can't use a calculator on this problem? Just wanted to make sure since don't you have to do some substitution of "x" to find where it's increasing/decreasing?

12. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

Think of the graph of x2. What is the value of the derivative when it changes from positive to negative (the slope of the tangent line at the vertex)? No calculator needed.

13. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

Oh ok .. good, x squared is easier for me. :)

So the value of the derivative for x squared increases all the way through the graph (from left to right across the x axis). Derivative value at the origin is zero.

The derivative graph is basically a straight line going northeast by going north 2 spaces and east 1 space.

14. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

Now how do you find where the derivative of xe1-x changes from positive to negative, or vice versa?

15. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

When x is more than than one, because 1-x means that the chain part of the derivative is negative, while the other part (e^(1-x)) is negative ... wait, nevermind that's 2 negatives. Hm ... I'm not sure.

16. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

When is the derivative of xe1-x equal to 0? One one side of that point (or points) the derivative will be positive and the other side will be negative. Think back to x2.

17. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

The derivative of xe$$^{1-x}$$ is zero when x=1.

Ah, so the derivative of xe$$^{1-x}$$ is negative when x < 1 and positive when x > 1.

18. Sep 23, 2009

### Bohrok

Check the signs again for the derivative for x<1 and x>1.

For b, how do you think you would go about finding the range? Is there a maximum or minimum value for the function?

19. Sep 23, 2009

### DMOC

Ack! Sorry, it's actually positive when x < 1 (I then took out my graphing calculator to prove this, just for confirmation).

For the range, I know the e graph doesn't have a negative y limit so the der. wouldn't have a POSITIVE y limit, right?

(Gotta go offline now, but be back later, thanks for the help so far!)

20. Sep 23, 2009