Extrema

In mathematics, the maximum and minimum (plural:

maxima and minima) of a function, known collectively
as extrema (singular: extremum), are the largest and
smallest value that the function takes at a point either
within a given neighborhood
(local or relativeextremum) or on the function
domain in its entirety (global or absolute extremum)..
 Extrema

1. The plural of Minimum is Minima

2. The plural of Maximum is Maxima
3 Together they are called Extrema
.
.

But not all flat parts are maxima or minima, we can

also have a saddle point
Definition :
Let f be defined on an interval I containing c
1. f (c) is the minimum of f on I if f (c)  f ( x) for all x in I
2. f (c) is the maximum of f on I if f (c)  f ( x) for all x in I

The minimum and maximum of a function an interval are

extreme values, or extrema, of the function on the interval .
The minimum and maximum of a function an interval are are
also called the absulute minimum and absolute maximum, of the
function on the interval , respectively.
Critical point :
Critical point of function f is the point where the derivative of
the function is either 0 or undefined .ie
f / (c ) = 0 or f / (c) undefined. Where c is a critical
number of f

Theorem : Relative extrema occur only at a critical point

Finding critical point :
1. Find f / ( x)
2. Equate f / ( x) = 0
3. Caculate x
1. Verify that the function is continuous on the
interval [a,b].
2. Find all critical points of f(x) that are in the
interval [a,b]. This makes sense if you think
about it. Since we are only interested in what the
function is doing in this interval we don’t care
about critical points that fall outside the interva
3. Evaluate the function at the critical points found
in step 1 and the end points.
3. Identify the absolute extrema.
Problems :
Find the extrema of the function in the closed interval
Function interval
1. f ( x) = 3 x 4 − 4 x 3 − 1, 2
2. f ( x) = 2(3 − x) − 1, 2
3. f (t ) = 2t 3
+ 3t 2
− 12t + 4 − 4, 2

Similar problems on 170

Problems :

Example: A ball is thrown in the air. Its height at any time t is

given by:
h = 3 + 14t − 5t2
What is its maximum height?
 Power
43(171) :The formula for the power output P of battery is
P = VI − RI 2

Where V is the electromotive force in volts, Ris the

resistance in ohms, and I is the current in amperes. Find the
current that corresponds to a maximum value of P in a battery
for which V = 12 volts and R = 0.5 ohm ( Assume that a 15
amp fuse bounds the output in the interval 0  I  15
 Inventory cost
44(171) : A retailer has determined that the cost Cfor the
ordering and storing x units of product is
300000
C = 2x + , 1  x  300
x
The delivery truck can bring at most 300 units per order. Find the
order size that will minimize cost
 Profit
A liquid form of antibiotic manufactured by a
pharmaceutical firm is sold in bulk at a price of$200
per unit.
If the total production cost (in dollars) for x units is
C ( x) = 500,000 + 80 x + 0.003x 2
and if the production capacity of the firm is at most
30,000 units in a specified time, how many units of antibiotic
must be manufactured and sold in that time to maximize the
profit?
Solution: Since the total revenue for selling x units is
R( x) = 200 x the profit P(x) on x units will be
P( x) = R( x) − C ( x) = 200 x − (500,000 + 80 x + 0.003x 2 )
Since the production capacity is at most 30,000 units so x must
lie in the interval 0, 30000