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Exercise 2.4 · Q64

Q.Test whether the following function is increasing or decreasing: f(x)=x−1x, x∈R, x≠0f(x) = x - \dfrac1x,\ x \in \mathbb{R},\ x \ne 0.

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✓ Free question

f′(x)=1+1x2f'(x)=1+\dfrac{1}{x^2}.

Since 1x2>0\dfrac{1}{x^2}>0 for every x≠0x\ne0, f′(x)=1+1x2>0f'(x)=1+\dfrac{1}{x^2}>0 for all xx in the domain.

Hence ff is strictly increasing on each of the intervals (−∞,0)(-\infty,0) and (0,∞)(0,\infty) that make up its domain.

✓Final answer

ff is (strictly) increasing throughout its domain

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