Is #f(x)=(1-xe^x)/(1-x^2)# increasing or decreasing at #x=2#?

2 Answers
Mar 9, 2018

Function #f(x)=(1-xe^x)/(1-x^2)# is increasing at #x=2#

Explanation:

To find whether a function is increasing or decreasing at a given point say #x=x_0#, we need to differentiate it and find value of the derivative at #x=x_0#.

As #f(x)=(1-xe^x)/(1-x^2)#, using quotient formula

#(df)/(dx)=(-(1-x^2)(e^x+xe^x)+2x(1-xe^x))/(1-x^2)^2#

and at #x=2#

#(df)/(dx)=(-(1-4)(e^2+2e^2)+4(1-2e^2))/(1-4)^2#

= #(9e^2+4-8e^2)/9=(e^2+4)/9#

As #(df)/(dx)>0#, the function is increasing at #x=2#.

graph{(1-xe^x)/(1-x^2) [-9.67, 10.33, -1.12, 8.88]}

Mar 9, 2018

Increasing

Explanation:

the sign of the derivative of the function determines if its increasing or decreasing

therefore, we have to differentiate it first,
I'll use the quotient rule here

therefore derivative =

#(e^x(x^3 - x^2 - x - 1) + 2x)/(1-x^2)^2#

therefore, just put in x = 2

#(e^2(8 - 4 - 2 - 1) + 2*2)/9#

this value is positive, therefore
the function is increasing at #x = 2#