Final answer:
To find the value of t that maximizes y = at^2e^(-bt) with a and b positive constants, we need to take the derivative of y with respect to t, set it equal to zero, and solve for t.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the value of t that maximizes y = at2e-bt, we need to find the maximum of the function. We can do this by taking the derivative of y with respect to t, setting it equal to zero, and solving for t.
First, let's find the derivative of y:
y' = 2ate-bt - abt2e-bt
Next, set the derivative equal to zero and solve for t:
2ate-bt - abt2e-bt = 0
2atebt = abt2
2ebt = bt
This equation cannot be solved algebraically, but it can be solved numerically using methods like Newton's method or the bisection method.