The equation of a curve is y=ln⁡xxy = \frac{\ln x}{x}.

  1. (a)

    Find the coordinates of the stationary point of this curve. Leave your answer in terms of ee.

  2. (b)

    Determine the nature of the stationary point.

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Worked solution

2(a)

1. Differentiate the function using the quotient rule

Let u=ln⁡xu = \ln x and v=xv = x.
dudx=1x\frac{du}{dx} = \frac{1}{x} and dvdx=1\frac{dv}{dx} = 1.
dydx=vdudx−udvdxv2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{v \frac{du}{dx} - u \frac{dv}{dx}}{v^2}
dydx=x(1x)−(ln⁡x)(1)x2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{x(\frac{1}{x}) - (\ln x)(1)}{x^2}
dydx=1−ln⁡xx2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1 - \ln x}{x^2}

2. Set the derivative to zero to find the x-coordinate of the stationary point

For stationary points, dydx=0\frac{dy}{dx} = 0.
1−ln⁡xx2=0\frac{1 - \ln x}{x^2} = 0
1−ln⁡x=01 - \ln x = 0
ln⁡x=1\ln x = 1
x=ex = \text{e}

3. Find the corresponding y-coordinate

When x=ex = \text{e},
y=ln⁡eey = \frac{\ln \text{e}}{\text{e}}
y=1ey = \frac{1}{\text{e}}
The coordinates are (e,1e)(\text{e}, \frac{1}{\text{e}}).

Answer

(e,1e)(\text{e}, \frac{1}{\text{e}})

2(b)

1. Find the first derivative of the curve (from part a)

From part (a), dydx=1−ln⁡xx2\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{1 - \ln x}{x^2}.

2. Find the second derivative using the quotient rule

d2ydx2=x2(−1x)−(1−ln⁡x)(2x)(x2)2\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = \frac{x^2 \left(-\frac{1}{x}\right) - (1 - \ln x)(2x)}{(x^2)^2}
=−x−2x+2xln⁡xx4= \frac{-x - 2x + 2x\ln x}{x^4}
=x(2ln⁡x−3)x4= \frac{x(2\ln x - 3)}{x^4}
=2ln⁡x−3x3= \frac{2\ln x - 3}{x^3}

3. Evaluate the second derivative at the stationary point to determine its nature

At x=ex = e,
d2ydx2=2ln⁡e−3e3=2(1)−3e3=−1e3\frac{d^2y}{dx^2} = \frac{2\ln e - 3}{e^3} = \frac{2(1) - 3}{e^3} = -\frac{1}{e^3}
Since −1e3<0-\frac{1}{e^3} < 0, the stationary point is a maximum.

Answer

Maximum point

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