JEE Main & Advanced Mathematics Applications of Derivatives Question Bank Maxima and Minima

  • question_answer
    The sum of two non-zero numbers is 4. The minimum value of the sum of their reciprocals is        [Kurukshetra CEE 1998]

    A)            \[\frac{3}{4}\]

    B)            \[\frac{6}{5}\]

    C)            1

    D)            None of these

    Correct Answer: C

    Solution :

               Let \[x+y=4\] or \[y=4-x\]            \[\frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y}=\frac{x+y}{xy}\]or\[f(x)=\frac{4}{xy}\]\[=\frac{4}{x(4-x)}\]; \[f(x)=\frac{4}{4x-{{x}^{2}}}\]                    Now \[f'(x)=\frac{-4}{{{(4x-{{x}^{2}})}^{2}}}.(4-2x)\]                    Put \[f'(x)=0\], then \[4-2x=0\]                    \[\therefore \] \[x=2\] and \[y=2\]; \[\therefore \min \left( \frac{1}{x}+\frac{1}{y} \right)=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}=1\].


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