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Calculus1 17 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

Find the inflection point of the function: f(x) = xe^-2x

OpenStudy (anonymous):

\[f''(x)= -4e ^{-2x}(1-1x)\] I got this by finding the second derivative. So I know the inflection points are where f(x)=0 and f(1) should be one of these points, but in the book they give the answer as \[(1, e ^{-2})\]

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Can someone explain where the e^-2 comes from.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

@SolomonZelman

OpenStudy (freckles):

assuming you found the correct second derivative you find when f'' equals 0 which is when 1-x=0 x=1 plug in 1 into f f(1)=1*e^(-2*1)

OpenStudy (freckles):

the original function tells you where x occurs the derivative functions tell you the slope at x the derivative of the derivative function tells you the concavity at x

OpenStudy (freckles):

we want to know where we have an inflection point

OpenStudy (freckles):

you found the x at which it occurs

OpenStudy (freckles):

but to find where that x occurs (as in finding the corresponding y value) you need to use the original function

OpenStudy (anonymous):

Ahhh @freckles thats right. Thanks :)

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