Find the exact interval in which the function f(x)=ln(pi+x)/ln(e+x) is increasing and decreasing.

Maribel Vang

Maribel Vang

Answered question

2022-10-17

Interval of monotonicity of the function f ( x ) = ln ( π + x ) ln ( e + x ) .
Find the exact interval in which the function f ( x ) = ln ( π + x ) ln ( e + x ) is increasing and decreasing.
My try: The domain of the function is ( e , )
The derivative is: f ( x ) = ( e + x ) ln ( e + x ) ( π + x ) ln ( π + x ) ( π + x ) ( e + x ) ln 2 ( e + x ) .
Since due to the domain we have e + x > 0 , π + x > 0 and trivially ln 2 ( e + x ) > 0.
Now it is sufficient to check the nature of numerator above.
Let p = e + x , q = π + x.
The numerator is in the form p ln ( p ) q ln ( q ) where p < q , x.
Now we know that the function h ( x ) = x ln x is increasing in [ 1 e , ) .
Case 1. If 1 e p < q we have:
h ( p ) < h ( q ) p ln p q ln q < 0
Thus f ( x ) < 0 , x [ 1 e e , ) = [ 2.35 , )
So f(x) must be decreasing in the above interval. But i compared f(-2) and f(-1) It is the other way round, that is f ( 2 ) < f ( 1 )
Now what i did is i used graphing calculator to check the graph. Yes it is decreasing, but there is a vertical asymptote. How to identify the equation of vertical asymptote?
Also the graph is decreasing in [ 2.541 , ) which is not matching with my answer above.

Answer & Explanation

Kenley Rasmussen

Kenley Rasmussen

Beginner2022-10-18Added 13 answers

Step 1
The domain consists of those x for which π + x > 0 , e + x > 0 and ln ( e + x ) 0. That gives the set ( e , 1 e ) ( 1 e , ). Furthermore, lim x ( 1 e ) f ( x ) = and lim x ( 1 e ) + f ( x ) = so there's a vertical asymptote x = 1 e. Next, the problem involves determining the sign of g ( x ) = ( e + x ) ln ( e + x ) ( π + x ) ln ( π + x )  .
Step 2
I don't think the answer here can be given in closed form. What you can do is show that g is strictly decreasing (by checking the derivative) and since lim x ( e ) + g ( x ) = ( π e ) ln ( π e ) > 0 and g ( 2 ) = ( e 2 ) ln ( e 2 ) ( π 2 ) ln ( π 2 ) < 0, g has a unique zero α ( e , 2 ). Thus, g ( x ) > 0 for x ( e , α ) and g ( x ) < 0 for ( α , ). This implies that f is increasing in ( e , α ] and decreasing in [ α , 1 e ) and ( 1 e , ).
Note, however, that f is not decreasing in [ α , 1 e ) ( 1 e , ). This is due to the vertical asymptote x = 1 e. So finding that asymptote was important.

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