Chapter 9: Problem 8
Draw a sketch of the graph of the curve having the given equation. \(y=x \ln x\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
The curve \(y = x \, \ln x\) starts just above x-axis at x > 0, passes through (1, 0), and rises without bound.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the equation
The given equation is \(y = x \, \ln x\). This represents a curve where \(x\) is multiplied by the natural logarithm of \(x\).
02
Identify the domain
The natural logarithm function \(\ln x\) is only defined for \(x > 0\). Therefore, the domain of the function \(y = x \, \ln x\) is \((0, \infty)\).
03
Calculate key points
Find the values of \(y\) at select \(x\) values: - When \(x = 1\), \(y = 1 \, \ln 1 = 0\).- When \(x = e (\approx 2.718)\), \(y = e \, \ln e = e\).
04
Determine the behavior at extremes
Analyze the behavior as \(x\) approaches 0 and infinity: - As \(x \to 0^+\), \(y = x \, \ln x \to 0\) (since \(\ln x \to -\infty\) but \(x \to 0\)). - As \(x \to \infty\), \(y = x \, \ln x\) increases without bound as both \(x\) and \(\ln x\) increase.
05
Sketch the graph
Using the points and behaviors identified, draw the graph starting from just above the x-axis at x = 0, passing through the point (1, 0), and continuing to rise as x increases.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Natural Logarithm
The natural logarithm, denoted as \(\ln x\), is a logarithmic function with the base \(e\) (where \(e\) is approximately 2.718). It is a fundamental function in mathematics that tells us how many times we need to multiply \(e\) to get a number \(x\).
Some important properties of the natural logarithm are:
Some important properties of the natural logarithm are:
- \(\ln 1 = 0\) because \(e^0 = 1\).
- \(\ln e = 1\) because \(e^1 = e\).
- \(\ln(ab) = \ln(a) + \ln(b)\)
- \(\ln(a^b) = b \ln(a)\)
Domain and Range
The domain of a function refers to all possible input values (or \('x'\) values) for which the function is defined.
In the given equation \(y = x \ln x\), the term \(\ln x\) is only defined when \(x > 0\). This is because you can't take the logarithm of zero or a negative number. Therefore, the domain of \(y = x \ln x\) is \((0, \infty)\).
The range of a function is all possible output values (or \('y'\) values) that the function can take.
For small values of \(x\) (closer to 0), \(y = x \ln x\) approaches 0. For large values of \(x\), since \(\ln x\) increases but more slowly than \(x\), \(y\) will continue to grow. Thus, the range of \(y = x \ln x\) is \((-\infty, \infty)\).
In the given equation \(y = x \ln x\), the term \(\ln x\) is only defined when \(x > 0\). This is because you can't take the logarithm of zero or a negative number. Therefore, the domain of \(y = x \ln x\) is \((0, \infty)\).
The range of a function is all possible output values (or \('y'\) values) that the function can take.
For small values of \(x\) (closer to 0), \(y = x \ln x\) approaches 0. For large values of \(x\), since \(\ln x\) increases but more slowly than \(x\), \(y\) will continue to grow. Thus, the range of \(y = x \ln x\) is \((-\infty, \infty)\).
Curve Sketching
Curve sketching is the process of drawing a diagram that represents the behavior of a function. For the equation \(y = x \ln x\), follow these steps to sketch the curve:
**Identify Key Points:** Find specific points by substituting values of \(x\) into the equation. For instance:
**Identify Key Points:** Find specific points by substituting values of \(x\) into the equation. For instance:
- When \(x = 1\), \(y = 1 \ln 1 = 0\).
- When \(x = e (\approx 2.718)\), \(y = e \ln e = e\).
- As \(x \rightarrow 0^+\), \(y = x \ln x \rightarrow 0\). This happens because \(\ln x\) approaches \(-\infty\) but \(x\) approaches 0.
- As \(x \rightarrow \infty\), \(y = x \ln x\) increases without bound since both \(x\) and \(\ln x\) increase.
- Start from just above the x-axis at \(x = 0\).
- Pass through the point \((1, 0)\).
- Continue to rise as \(x\) increases.