The functions $f(x)=x e^{-x}, \forall(x \in R)$ attains a maximum value at $x$ is equal to

The functions $f(x)=x e^{-x}, \forall(x \in R)$ attains a maximum value at $x$ is equal to
  1. $1$
  2. $2$
  3. $\frac{1}{e}$
  4. $3$

Solution

We have, $f(x)=x e^{-x}$ $ f^{\prime}(x)=-x e^{-x}+e^{-x} $ For maximum or minimum, put $f^{\prime}(x)=0$ $ \begin{aligned} & \Rightarrow \quad-x e^{-x}+e^{-x}=0 \Rightarrow x=1 \\ & f^{\prime \prime}(x)=x e^{-x}-e^{-x}-e^{-x}=(x-2) e^{-x} \\ & f^{\prime \prime}(1)=(1-2) e^{-1}=-\mathrm{ve} \end{aligned} $ $f(x)$ is maximum at $x=1$

Asked in: AP EAMCET 2002

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