Finding Maximum and Minimum of A Function
Finding Maximum and Minimum of A Function
function
Stationary points
There are 3 types of stationary
points:
maximum
• maximum points,
• minimum points, and
point of
• points of inflection inflection
minimum
Maximum points Minimum points
• is the minimum of the function if • A point in where does not exist (see
for all values of x in the domain D Figure 2)
Example 1
Find the minimum and maximum value of in the interval
Solution
• exists everywhere in
• So the critical points are
• on
• So the critical values are and
Substituting
f(0) =0
f(5) =10
Definitions
• The point(s) where the second derivative of a function becomes zero is
a way to know whether the critical point found in the first derivative
test is a local minimum or maximum.
• Let be a function in the interval and .
• is a local maximum of the function if .
• is a local minimum of the function if .
• If , then the second derivative does not offer any insight into the local
maxima or minima.
Example 3
Remember Example 2 where we found at for in the interval . Is a
local maxima or minima of the function?
Solution
at
1. Sketch
2. Determine maximum, minimum point and turning point and hence
sketch the graph of
Exercise
a) For each of the curves whose equations are given below:
i. find each stationary point and what type it is; (i.e. tell whether it is a maximum or
minimum)
ii. find the co-ordinates of the point(s) where the curve meets the x and y
axes;
iii. sketch the curve;
iv. check by sketching the curve on your graphic calculator.
1. y = x2 – 4x 2. y = x2 – 6x + 5 3. y = x2 + 2x – 8
4. y = 16 – x2 5. y = 6x – x2 6. y = 1 – x – 2x2
7. y = x3 – 3x2 8. y = 16 – x4 9. y = x3 – 3x
10. y = x3 + 1
b) For each of the curves whose equations are given below: