Chapter 4: Problem 30
Let \(h(x)=e^{-x}+k x,\) where \(k\) is any constant. For what value(s) of \(k\) does \(h\) have (a) No critical points? (b) One critical point? (c) A horizontal asymptote?
Short Answer
Expert verified
(a) \( k \leq 0 \), (b) \( k > 0 \), (c) \( k = 0 \).
Step by step solution
01
Differentiate h(x)
To find the critical points, we first need the derivative of the function. The function is given by \( h(x) = e^{-x} + kx \). The derivative \( h'(x) \) is found by differentiating each term separately. The derivative of \( e^{-x} \) is \( -e^{-x} \), and the derivative of \( kx \) is \( k \). Thus, \( h'(x) = -e^{-x} + k \).
02
Solve for Critical Points
Critical points occur where \( h'(x) = 0 \). Setting the derivative equal to zero gives \( -e^{-x} + k = 0 \). Rearranging gives \( e^{-x} = k \). To find \( x \), take the natural logarithm of both sides to obtain \( x = -\ln(k) \). Critical points exist if \( k > 0 \) (as the exponential function is positive).
03
Analyse Values for k
We have the equation \( x = -\ln(k) \) for critical points, which is defined only for \( k > 0 \). Therefore:(a) For no critical points, \( k \leq 0 \) as the equation \( x = -\ln(k) \) is not defined.(b) For one critical point, \( k > 0 \) as \( x \) is defined only when \( k \) is positive.
04
Check for Horizontal Asymptotes
A horizontal asymptote occurs when the function approaches a constant value as \( x \to \infty \) or \( x \to -\infty \). As \( x \to \infty \), \( e^{-x} \rightarrow 0 \), so the term \( kx \) determines this behavior. There is no horizontal asymptote since \( kx \) tends toward infinity for \( k eq 0 \). For \( k = 0 \), \( h(x) = e^{-x} \) which approaches \( 0 \), thus having a horizontal asymptote at \( y = 0 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Differentiation
Differentiation is a fundamental concept in calculus that deals with finding the rate at which a function is changing at any given point. In simpler terms, if you want to know how steep a curve is at a particular point, you'd need to find the derivative of the function representing that curve. Differentiation allows us to obtain this derivative.
For the function given in the exercise, \( h(x) = e^{-x} + kx \), differentiation is used to determine its derivative, \( h'(x) \).
For the function given in the exercise, \( h(x) = e^{-x} + kx \), differentiation is used to determine its derivative, \( h'(x) \).
- The process involves differentiating each term separately.
- For the term \( e^{-x} \), the derivative is \( -e^{-x} \) because the chain rule applies here.
- The derivative of \( kx \) is simply \( k \), since the derivative of \( x \) with respect to \( x \) is 1, and \( k \) is a constant multiplier.
Critical Points
Critical points are where a function's derivative is zero or undefined. These points are significant because they can indicate where the function has a relative maximum, relative minimum, or a point of inflection. To find these, set the derivative of the function equal to zero and solve for the variable.
In the exercise, we start with the derivative \( h'(x) = -e^{-x} + k \). Setting this equal to zero:
In the exercise, we start with the derivative \( h'(x) = -e^{-x} + k \). Setting this equal to zero:
- \( -e^{-x} + k = 0 \)
- Rearrange to find \( e^{-x} = k \)
- Taking the natural logarithm gives \( x = -\ln(k) \)
- No critical points: If \( k \leq 0 \), the equation is not valid.
- One critical point: If \( k > 0 \), the point \( x = -\ln(k) \) is defined.
Horizontal Asymptotes
Horizontal Asymptotes describe the behavior of a function as the input approaches positive or negative infinity. Essentially, if as \( x \to \pm \infty \), the function approaches some constant value \( L \), then \( y = L \) is a horizontal asymptote.
For the function \( h(x) = e^{-x} + kx \), we analyze \( x \to \infty \):
For the function \( h(x) = e^{-x} + kx \), we analyze \( x \to \infty \):
- For \( x \to \infty \), \( e^{-x} \) approaches 0, as exponential decay means it tends to zero.
- The term \( kx \) will grow indefinitely large when \( k \) is non-zero, as multiplying a linear function by any non-zero constant results in a term tending to \( \pm \infty \).
- If \( k = 0 \), \( h(x) = e^{-x} \) and approaches 0 as \( x \to \infty \),