- #1
gummz
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Homework Statement
f(x) = 1/(1+|x|) + 1/(1+|x-a|), a>0
I am to show that the maximum value of this function is (2+a)/(1+a).
Homework Equations
None in particular. Derivatives for 1/x and the chain rule for f(g(x)).
The Attempt at a Solution
I have parted this function according to 0 <= x, 0 <= x <= a, a <= x, and differentiated and confirmed via Wolfram Alpha.
The first derivative has no root for 0 <= x and a <= x, and for 0 <= x <= a I get the value x = a/2, which yields f(a/2) = 0, which is obviously a minimum and not a maximum.