4.

1 Extreme Values of
Function
Calculus
Extreme Values of a function are created when the function changes from
increasing to decreasing or from decreasing to increasing

Extreme value


increasing decreasin
g decreasin increasing
g


Extreme value

Extreme value

Extreme value Extreme value

inc
de
c inc de inc de de
c c c
Extreme value
Extreme value
 Classifications of Extreme Values
Absolute Minimum – the smallest function value in the domain
Absolute Maximum – the largest function value in the domain
Local Minimum – the smallest function value in an open interval in the domain
Local Maximum – the largest function value in an open interval in the domain
Absolute Maximum

Local
Maximum

Local
Minimum
Absolute Minimum
Absolute
Minimum

Local
Maximum
Absolute Maximum
Local Local Local
Maximum Maximum Maximum

Local
Local Local Minimum
Minimum Minimum Local
Minimum
Definitions:

c Absolute Minimum at
c

c
Absolute Maximum at
c

a c b
Local Minimum at
c

a c b
Local Maximum at
c
 The number f(c) is called the
maximum value of f on D
f(c)

c d

f(d)

The number f(d) is called the

maximum value of f on D

The maximum and minimum values of are

called the extreme values of f.
Example1:
Example2:
Example3:
 The Extreme Value Theorem (Max-Min Existence Theorem)
If a function is continuous on a closed interval, [a, b], then the function
will contain both an absolute maximum value and an absolute
minimum value.

a c b

Absolute maximum value: f(a)

Absolute minimum value: f(c)
 The Extreme Value Theorem (Max-Min Existence Theorem)
If a function is continuous on a closed interval, [a, b], then the
function will contain both an absolute maximum value and an
absolute minimum value.

a c d b

Absolute maximum value: f(c)

Absolute minimum value:
f(d)
 The Extreme Value Theorem (Max-Min Existence Theorem)
If a function is continuous on a closed interval, [a, b], then the function
will contain both an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum
value.
F is not continuous at c.
Theorem does not
apply.

a c d b

Absolute maximum value: none

Absolute minimum value:
f(d)
 The Extreme Value Theorem (Max-Min Existence Theorem)
If a function is continuous on a closed interval, [a, b], then the function
will contain both an absolute maximum value and an absolute
minimum value.

F is not continuous at c.
Theorem does not
apply.

a c d b

Absolute maximum value: f(c)

Absolute minimum value:
f(d)
Fermat’s Theorem is named
after Pierre Fermat (1601–
1665), a French lawyer who
took up mathematics as a
hobby. Despite his amateur
status, Fermat was one of the
two inventors of analytic
geometry (Descartes was the
other). His methods for finding
tangents to curves and
maximum and minimum
values (before the invention
of limits and derivatives) made
him a forerunner of Newton in
the creation of differential
calculus.
Sec
The3.11 HYPERBOLIC
following FUNCTIONS
examples caution us against reading
too much into Fermat’s Theorem. We can’t expect to
locate extreme values simply by setting f’(x) = 0
and solving for x.

Exampe5: f ( x)  x3 Exampe6: f ( x)  x

WARNING Examples 5 and 6 show that we must be careful when using

Fermat’s Theorem. Example 5 demonstrates that even when f’(c)=0 there need
not be a maximum or minimum at . (In other words, the converse of Fermat’s
Theorem is false in general.) Furthermore, there may be an extreme value even
when f’(c)=0 does not exist (as in Example 6).
 Finding Maximums and Minimums Analytically:

1 Find the derivative of the function, and determine where the

derivative is zero or undefined. These are the critical points.

2 Find the value of the function at each critical point.

3 Find values or slopes for points between the critical points to

determine if the critical points are maximums or minimums.

4 For closed intervals, check the end points as well.


A
F081
F083
F091
In terms of critical numbers, Fermat’s Theorem can be rephrased
as follows (compare Definition 6 with Theorem 4):
F092
F091
F081
F081
F092
F081
F083
F083
Which table best describes the graph?

a b c d

Table Table Table

A B C

a 27 a -30 a -22
b 0 b 5 b 0
c 0 c 0 c 0
d -5 d -7 d -9