Question #fc572

1 Answer
May 2, 2017

There are two critical points, at x = 0x=0 and x= -2x=2.

Explanation:

Since the derivative is already given, all we must do is solve the equation

e^x(x^2 + 2x) = 0ex(x2+2x)=0

Step 1: solving e^x = 0ex=0

This has no solution, because if you take the natural logarithm of both sides, you get

ln(e^x) = ln0ln(ex)=ln0

And ln(0)ln(0) has no real value.

Step 2: solving x^2 + 2x = 0x2+2x=0

We have:

x(x + 2) = 0x(x+2)=0

x = 0 or -2x=0or2

These are our two critical numbers.

Hopefully this helps!