The function $f(x)=(x+2) e^{-x}$ is

The function $f(x)=(x+2) e^{-x}$ is
  1. decreasing in $(-\infty,-1)$ and increasing in $(-1, \infty)$
  2. decreasing for all $x$
  3. increasing in $(-\infty,-1)$ and decreasing in $(-1, \infty)$
  4. increasing for all $x$

Solution

Given $\begin{array}{l} f(x)=(x+2) e^{-x} \\ \begin{aligned} \therefore f^{\prime}(x) &=(x+2)\left(e^{-x}\right)(-1)+e^{-x}(1) \\ &=e^{-x}[1-(x+2)]=e^{-x}(-x-1) \\ &=-e^{-x}(x+1) \end{aligned} \end{array}$ Here $e^{-x}$ is always positive. $\begin{array}{l} \text { Now }-(x+1)>0 \Rightarrow-x>1 \Rightarrow x < -1 \\ \text { Also }-(x+1) < 0 \Rightarrow-x < 1 \Rightarrow x>-1 \end{array}$ Thus $\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x})$ increases in $(-\infty,-1)$ and decreases in $(-1, \infty)$

Asked in: MHT CET 2020 (19 Oct Shift 1)

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