# Math Help - mix/max problem

1. ## mix/max problem

I am working on a mix/max problem and am stuck.

$y=xe^(-\frac{x^2}{8})$ within the interval of [-1,4]. The exponent of e is $-\frac{x^2}{8}$, can't get Latex to cooperate with me.

Using the product rule to differentiate and I get:

y'= $e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})+x(e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})(\frac{x}{4})$

Factor out the $e^(-\frac{x^2}{8}$ and I get

$e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})(1+\frac{x^2}{4})$

For all real numbers, the 2nd term will never equal 0, so the only one that can equal 0 is $e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})$.

I don't know how to solve for x when $e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})=0$. Any pointers?

2. ## Re: mix/max problem

\displaystyle \begin{align*} e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}} > 0 \end{align*} for all x, so there are not any critical points to this function.

3. ## Re: mix/max problem

Originally Posted by baldysm
I am working on a mix/max problem and am stuck.

$y=xe^{-\frac{x^2}{8}}$ within the interval of [-1,4]. The exponent of e is $-\frac{x^2}{8}$, can't get Latex to cooperate with me.

Using the product rule to differentiate and I get:

y'= $e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})+x(e^(-\frac{x^2}{8})(\frac{x}{4})$
. Any pointers?
You missed a minus sign y'= $e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}}+x(e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}})({\frac{-x}{4})$

Look at this graph

About your LaTeX, If you have more than one character in an exponent the you must use {} around the entire exponent.
[TEX] e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}} [/TEX] gives $e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}}$.

4. ## Re: mix/max problem

Originally Posted by Plato
You missed a minus sign y'= $e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}}+x(e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}})({\frac{-x}{4})$

Look at this graph

About your LaTeX, If you have more than one character in an exponent the you must use {} around the entire exponent.
[TEX] e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}} [/TEX] gives $e^{-\frac{x^2}{8}}$.
Please disregard my previous post as Plato has pointed out the error I and the OP have both made.

5. ## Re: mix/max problem

Yup, I see my algebra error, it should be $-\frac{x}{4}$.

I also screwed up the interval. It should be [-4,1].

The derivative is

$y'=e^{\frac{-x^2}{8}}+x(e^{\frac{-x^2}{8}})(\frac{-x}{4})$

Some factoring and I get

$y'=e^{\frac{-x^2}{8}}(1-\frac{x^2}{4})$

The e term can't be 0 for all of x (although my TI-84 gives an error when x=-100, not sure why), and the only number that makes the 2nd term zero is either -2 or 2. Only -2 is in the interval, so I need to find out f(x).for x= -4, -2, and 1. Biggest number is max, smallest is min. I might just understand this yet.

I appreciate the help.