Lesson 61 — Maxima and Minima
Critical points, Fermat's Theorem, first and second derivative tests, and the absolute extrema algorithm on closed intervals.
Used in: Year 2 High School · Japanese Math II/III Equiv. · German Analysis/Kurvendiskussion Equiv.
Rigorous notation, full derivation, hypotheses
Definitions, Theorems, and Algorithms
Local and Absolute Extrema
"If f has a local maximum or minimum at c, then c is a critical point of f." — Active Calculus §3.1
First Derivative Test
Second Derivative Test
"When the second derivative test is inconclusive, we resort to the first derivative test." — OpenStax Calculus Vol. 1, §4.5
Extreme Value Theorem (Weierstrass)
Algorithm for Absolute Extrema on [a, b]
Local extrema occur at critical points (where ). Absolute extrema can be local extrema or the endpoints and .
Solved Examples
Exercise list
30 exercises · 7 with worked solution (25%)
- Ex. 61.1
Find the critical point of and classify it using the second derivative test.
- Ex. 61.2Answer key
Classify the critical points of .
- Ex. 61.3Answer key
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.4Answer key
Classify all critical points of .
- Ex. 61.5
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.6
Find and classify the critical points of .
- Ex. 61.7
Analyze the critical points of .
- Ex. 61.8
Classify the critical point of .
- Ex. 61.9
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.10
Determine the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.11
Determine the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.12
Determine the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.13Answer key
If and , then the point is:
- Ex. 61.14
Which statement about Fermat's Theorem is correct?
- Ex. 61.15
If and , what is the correct conclusion?
- Ex. 61.16
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.17Answer key
Find the local extremum of .
- Ex. 61.18Answer key
Classify the local extrema of .
- Ex. 61.19
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.20
Find the extremum of (Gaussian curve).
- Ex. 61.21
Find the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.22
Determine the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.23
A company sells a product with demand units when the price is reais. What price maximizes total revenue?
- Ex. 61.24Answer key
A factory has cost (reais) and revenue producing units. How many units maximize profit?
- Ex. 61.25
A model rocket is launched vertically, and its height (in meters) is . Determine the maximum height reached.
- Ex. 61.26
Find the local minimum of for .
- Ex. 61.27
Determine the absolute extrema of on .
- Ex. 61.28
Prove Fermat's Theorem: if has a local maximum at and is differentiable at , then .
- Ex. 61.29
Show that has a critical point at , but this point is not a local extremum.
- Ex. 61.30
Show that has a unique critical point and that this is the function's global minimum.
Sources
- Boelkins, Matt. Active Calculus 2.0. Grand Valley State University, 2022. CC-BY-NC-SA. activecalculus.org/single/sec-3-1-tests.html
- OpenStax. Calculus Volume 1. Strang, Herman et al., 2023. CC-BY-NC-SA. openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-1/pages/4-3-maxima-and-minima
- Hartman, G. et al. APEX Calculus. Virginia Military Institute, 2023. CC-BY-NC. apexcalculus.com