11. At \( x = 2 \), which of the following is true of the function \( f \) defined by \( f(x) = x^2 e^{-x} \)?






Answer is: option1

\( f \) has a relative maximum.

Solution:

Using the Product Rule

\( f(x) = x^2 e^{-x} \)

Let \( u = x^2 \) and \( v = e^{-x} \), then:

\( u' = 2x, \quad v' = -e^{-x} \)

Applying the product rule:

\[ f'(x) = u'v + uv' \]

\[ f'(x) = (2x e^{-x}) + (x^2 (-e^{-x})) \]

\[ = 2x e^{-x} - x^2 e^{-x} \]

\[ = e^{-x} (2x - x^2) \]

Setting \( f'(x) = 0 \):

\[ e^{-x} (2x - x^2) = 0 \]

Since \( e^{-x} \neq 0 \) for all \( x \), we solve:

\[ 2x - x^2 = 0 \]

\[ x (2 - x) = 0 \]

Thus, \( x = 0 \) or \( x = 2 \).

Checking \( x = 2 \) for maximum or minimum:

  1. Pick \( x = 1 \):

    \[ f'(1) = e^{-1} (2(1) - 1^2) = e^{-1} (2 - 1) = e^{-1} > 0 \]

    \( f \) is increasing before \( x = 2 \).

  2. Pick \( x = 3 \):

    \[ f'(3) = e^{-3} (2(3) - 3^2) = e^{-3} (6 - 9) = e^{-3} (-3) < 0 \]

    \( f \) is decreasing after \( x = 2 \).

Since \( f'(x) \) changes from positive to negative at \( x = 2 \), \( f(x) \) has a relative maximum at \( x = 2 \).

\( f \) has a relative maximum.

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