Problem

Consider the function $f(x)=\frac{\ln (x)}{x^{2}}$. For this function there are two important numbers $A< B$ which are either critical or outside the domain of $f(x)$ :
\[
\begin{array}{l}
A= \\
B=
\end{array}
\]
For each of the following intervals, tell whether $f^{\prime}(x)$ is positive (type in + ) or negative (type in - ).
$(A, B)$ :
$(B, \infty)$ :
Thus we conclude that $f(x)$ has a local $\square$ at $B$ (type in MAX or MIN).

Answer

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Answer

\(\boxed{A=0, B=e^{1/2}, f'(x)\) is positive in \((A, B)\) and negative in \((B, \infty)\). Thus, \(f(x)\) has a local MAX at \(B\).}

Steps

Step 1 :Consider the function \(f(x)=\frac{\ln (x)}{x^{2}}\).

Step 2 :Find the derivative of the function \(f(x)\), \(f'(x) = -2\ln(x)/x^{3} + x^{-3}\).

Step 3 :Determine the critical points of \(f(x)\) by setting \(f'(x)\) equal to zero or undefined. The critical point is \(x = e^{1/2}\).

Step 4 :Consider the domain of the original function, which is \((0, \infty)\). Therefore, the two important numbers are \(A=0\) and \(B=e^{1/2}\).

Step 5 :Determine the intervals where the derivative is positive or negative. The derivative is positive in the interval \((0, e^{1/2})\) and negative in the interval \((e^{1/2}, \infty)\).

Step 6 :Conclude that the function \(f(x)\) is increasing in the first interval and decreasing in the second interval. Therefore, \(f(x)\) has a local maximum at \(x = e^{1/2}\).

Step 7 :\(\boxed{A=0, B=e^{1/2}, f'(x)\) is positive in \((A, B)\) and negative in \((B, \infty)\). Thus, \(f(x)\) has a local MAX at \(B\).}

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