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Question on differentiation of exponential functions. (1 Viewer)

youngsky

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y=xe^x
dy/dx= xe^x + e^x
= e^x(x+1)
= 0 for stationary points

As e^x never actually reaches 0, the only solution would be x= -1
Sub in that value for x into the equation y=xe^x, and you get the stationary point (-1, -1/e)
Then using second derivative or testing points you can show whether it's a relative maxima or minima.

As for sketching the curve, plot your stationary point, and you can determine the shape of the curve by subbing in very large/very small values of x to see the behaviour of x as it approaches infinity, e.g. sub in x=1000 and y=xe^x will approach a very large number.
 
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