Exercise 175Calculus › Single-variable calculus › Differentiation › Optimisation and curve sketchingL1Added 4 Nov 2026
Complete study of (ln x)/x
#curve sketching#asymptotes#inflection point#logarithm
Statement
Study on : limits, asymptotes, variations, convexity, graph. Deduce that for all .
Hint
. For the second derivative, differentiate the quotient again.
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Solution
Limits. As : , , so : the line is a vertical asymptote. As : (growth comparison), so is a horizontal asymptote. The only zero is .
Variations. for and for : increasing on , decreasing on . Maximum .
Convexity. : concave on , convex on , inflection point at , where .
The inequality. , i.e. for (equality at ). It is the tangent line of at .
Remark. with forces . For positive integers, the only pair with is , as (indeed ). (For negative integers, is not equivalent to , since is not defined there.)