Science:Math Exam Resources/Courses/MATH100/December 2010/Question 01 (l)

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MATH100 December 2010

  •  Q1 (a)  •  Q1 (b)  •  Q1 (c)  •  Q1 (d)  •  Q1 (e)  •  Q1 (f)  •  Q1 (g)  •  Q1 (h)  •  Q1 (i)  •  Q1 (j)  •  Q1 (k)  •  Q1 (l)  •  Q1 (m)  •  Q1 (n)  •  Q2 (a)  •  Q2 (b)  •  Q2 (c)  •  Q3  •  Q4 (a)  •  Q4 (b)  •  Q4 (c)  •  Q4 (d)  •  Q4 (e)  •  Q5  •  Q6  •  Q7  •  Q8  •  

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Question 01 (l)
Find the absolute maximum value of $\displaystyle f(x)=e^{x}(\sin x-\cos x)$ on the interval $[{\tfrac {\pi }{2}},2\pi ]$

Make sure you understand the problem fully: What is the question asking you to do? Are there specific conditions or constraints that you should take note of? How will you know if your answer is correct from your work only? Can you rephrase the question in your own words in a way that makes sense to you?

If you are stuck, check the hints below. Read the first one and consider it for a while. Does it give you a new idea on how to approach the problem? If so, try it! If after a while you are still stuck, go for the next hint.

Hint 1
Maximum values can only occur at the endpoints or critical points. Try all these values and see which is biggest.

Hint 2
To take the derivative, use the product rule.

Checking a solution serves two purposes: helping you if, after having used all the hints, you still are stuck on the problem; or if you have solved the problem and would like to check your work. If you are stuck on a problem: Read the solution slowly and as soon as you feel you could finish the problem on your own, hide it and work on the problem. Come back later to the solution if you are stuck or if you want to check your work. If you want to check your work: Don't only focus on the answer, problems are mostly marked for the work you do, make sure you understand all the steps that were required to complete the problem and see if you made mistakes or forgot some aspects. Your goal is to check that your mental process was correct, not only the result.

Solution

We first take the derivative to see that $\displaystyle f'(x)=e^{x}(\sin x-\cos x)+e^{x}(\cos x+\sin x)=2e^{x}\sin x$ Setting this to zero, we see that the function is zero whenever $\displaystyle \sin x=0$ (the exponential function is always bigger than 0) and on our interval $[{\tfrac {\pi }{2}},2\pi ]$, this occurs at $\displaystyle \pi$ and at $\displaystyle 2\pi$. Checking the endpoints and values at the critical points, we have $\displaystyle f({\tfrac {\pi }{2}})=e^{\tfrac {\pi }{2}}(\sin({\tfrac {\pi }{2}})-\cos({\tfrac {\pi }{2}}))=e^{\tfrac {\pi }{2}}$ $\displaystyle f(\pi )=e^{\pi }(\sin(\pi )-\cos(\pi ))=e^{\pi }$ $\displaystyle f(2\pi )=e^{2\pi }(\sin(2\pi )-\cos(2\pi ))=-e^{2\pi }$ Hence, our function obtains its absolute maximum at $\displaystyle \pi$ and the value is $\displaystyle e^{\pi }$.

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