Question

Due to uncertainty in the markets, the value of a certain investment behaved erratically. It
was determined that its balance (in thousands of dollars) at time t months since the beginning
of 2020 was given by the function:
B(t) = e^4-t + t + 13
(a) Find the intervals of increase and decrease of this balance function and determine its
relative extrema (i.e. relative maxima and minima).
(b) Explain in your own words why each of the relative extrema obtained above are actually
absolute extrema.
(c) Find the greatest and least values of the investment between January 1 and May 31, 2020.
(d) Determine the intervals of upward and downward concavity of the balance function and
interpret your findings in practical terms.

Answer 1