Calculate all local & global extremums of this exponential-function

700 Views Asked by At

$$f(x)=(x^{2}+x+1) \cdot e^{-x}$$

$$f'(x)=e^{-x}(x-x^{2})$$

$$f''(x)=e^{-x}(x^{2}-3x+1)$$

(Both derivatives are correct, checked this with an online calculator.)

$$f'(x)=0$$

$$0=e^{-x}(x-x^{2})$$

$$0=x-x^{2}$$

$$0=x(1-x)$$

$$x_{1}=0$$

$$x_{2}=1$$

Check if these are maximum / minimum:

$$f''(0)=1>0$$

$\Rightarrow$ minimum at $P(0|1)$

$$f''(1) = -\frac{1}{e}<0$$

$\Rightarrow$ maximum at $Q(1|\frac{3}{e})$

Now check if local or global extremums:

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow\infty}(x^{2}+x+1) \cdot e^{-x}= 0$$

$$\lim_{x\rightarrow -\infty}(x^{2}+x+1) \cdot e^{-x}= \infty$$

Thus $P$ is a global minimum and $Q$ is a local maximum.

I'd like to know if everything is alright? The bolt printed means this is the part I care most about, the main reason I ask this question. Because I'm not sure if this is right, about the rest, it seems correct to me but who knows :o

1

There are 1 best solutions below

2
On BEST ANSWER

$P$ is not a global minimum because, as you stated, the limit of the function as $x\to \infty$ is 0. There is a value of $x$ where $f(x)<1 = P(0).$

And to check the rest of your work: Plot of $f(x)$