If $f(x)=x e^{x(1-x)}, x \in R$, then $f(x)$ is

If $f(x)=x e^{x(1-x)}, x \in R$, then $f(x)$ is
  1. decreasing on $[-1 / 2,1]$
  2. decreasing on $R$
  3. increasing on $[-1 / 2,1]$
  4. increasing on $R$

Solution

$ \begin{aligned} & f(x)=x e^{x(1-x)}, x \in R \\ & f^{\prime}(x)=e^{x(1-x)} \cdot\left[1+x-2 x^2\right] \end{aligned} $ $ \begin{aligned} & =-e^{x(1-x} \cdot\left[2 x^2-x-1\right] \\ & =-2 e^{x(1-x} \cdot\left[\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)(x-1]\right) \\ & f^{\prime}(x)=-2 e^{x(1-x)} A \\ & \text { where } A=\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)(x-1) \end{aligned} $ Now, exponential function is always $+$ ve and $f^{\prime}(x)$ will be opposite to the sign of $A$ which is -ve in $\left[-\frac{1}{2}, 1\right]$ Hence, $f^{\prime}(x)$ is $+$ ve in $\left[-\frac{1}{2}, 1\right]$ $\therefore f(x)$ is increasing on $\left[-\frac{1}{2}, 1\right]$

Asked in: JEE Main 2012 (12 May Online)

Practice more Applications of Derivatives questions on Aicharya