Maxima and Minima

Relative Maxima and

Minima
Functions can have "hills and
valleys": places where they reach a
minimum or maximum value.
It may not be the minimum or
maximum for thewhole function,
butrelativelyit is.
We can see where they are,
but how do we define them?

Relative Maximum
Firstwe need to choose an interval:
Then we can say that a relative
maximumis the point where:
The height of the function at "a" is greater than (or
equal to) the height anywhere else in that interval.
Or, more briefly:
f(a) f(x) for all x in the interval
In other words, there is no height greater than f(a).
Note: f(a) should be inside the interval, not at one
end or the other.

Relative Minimum
Likewise, a relativeminimumis:
f(a) f(x) for all x in the interval
The plural of Maximum isMaxima
The plural of Minimum isMinima
Maxima and Minima are collectively
calledExtrema

Absolute Maxima and

Minima
The maximum or minimum over theentire
functionis called an "Absolute" or "Global"
maximum or minimum.
There is only one global maximum (and one
global minimum) but there can be more than one
local maximum or minimum.
Assumingthis function
continues downwards to
left or right:
The Global Maximum is about 3.7
The Global Minimum is Infinity

Solving for Maxima and

Minima
In a smoothly changing function a low point
(aminimum) or high point (amaximum)
are where the functionflattens out:

(But not all flat parts are maxima or

minima, we can also have asaddle point)

Solving for Maxima and

Minima
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?
Usingderivativeswe can find the
slope of that function:
h = 0 + 14 5(2t)
= 14 10t

Solving for Maxima and

Minima

Now find when theslope is zero:

14 10t = 0
10t = 14
t = 14 / 10 =1.4
The slope is zero att = 1.4 seconds

Solving for Maxima and

Minima

And the height at that time is:

h = 3 + 141.4 51.42
h = 3 + 19.6 9.8 =12.8
And so:
The maximum height is12.8 m(at t
= 1.4 s)

How Do We Know it is a Maximum

(or Minimum)?
We saw it on the graph! But otherwise ... derivatives
come to the rescue again.
Take thederivative of the slope(thesecond derivative
of the original function):
The Derivative of 14 10t is10
This means the slope is continually getting smaller (10):
travelling from left to right the slope starts out positive
(the function rises), goes through zero (the flat point),
and then the slope becomes negative (the function falls):
A slope that gets smaller (and goes though 0) means a
maximum.
This is called theSecond Derivative Test

Second Derivative Test

The graph on the previous slide showed the slope
before and after, but in practice we do the testat the
point where the slope is zero:
Second Derivative Test
When a function'sslope is zero at x, and thesecond
derivative at xis:
less than 0, it is a local maximum
greater than 0, it is a local minimum
equal to 0, then the test fails (there may be other
ways of finding out though)
"Second Derivative: less than 0 is a maximum,
greater than 0 is a minimum"

Second Derivative Test

Example: Find the maxima and
minima for:
y = 5x3+ 2x2 3x
The derivative (slope) is:
y = 15x2+ 4x 3
Which isquadraticwith zeros at:
x = 3/5
x = +1/3

Second Derivative Test

Thesecond derivativeisy'' = 30x + 4

At x = 3/5:
y'' = 30(3/5) + 4 = 14
it is less than 0, so 3/5 is a local
maximum
At x = +1/3:
y'' = 30(+1/3) + 4 = +14
it is greater than 0, so +1/3 is a local
minimum

Second Derivative Test

Maxima and Minima

Remember:
A high point is called
amaximum(pluralmaxima).
A low point is called
aminimum(pluralminima).
The general word for maximum or minimum
isextremum(pluralextrema).
We saylocalmaximum (or minimum) when
there may be higher (or lower) points
elsewhere but not nearby.

Sample Problems
1. A page is to contain 24 sq. in. of
print. The margins at top and bottom
are 1.5 in., at the sides 1 in. Find the
most economical dimensions of the
page.

Sample Problems
Solution: Dimensions: 6 in 9 in

Sample Problems
2. A Norman window consists of a
rectangle surmounted by a
semicircle. What shape gives the
most light for the given perimeter?

Sample Problems

Sample Problems
3. Solve Problem above if the
semicircle is stained glass admitting
only half the normal amount of light.

Sample Problems

Sample Problems
4. A cylindrical glass jar has a plastic
top. If the plastic is half as expensive
as glass, per unit area, find the most
economical proportion of the jar.

Sample Problems

Sample Problems
5. A trapezoidal gutter is to be made
from a strip of tin by bending up the
edges. If the cross-section has the
form shown below, what width across
the top gives maximum carrying
capacity?

Sample Problems