4.1.

Maximum and Minimum Values

1. Denition (maximum, minimum, local maximum, and local minimum) Assume that x = c is in the domain of a function f (x). We say f (c) is a maximum(also called as an absolute maximum or a global maximum) if f (c) f (x) for all x values in the domain. We say f (c) is minimum(also called as an absolute minimum or a global minimum) if f (c) f (x) for all x values in the domain. We say f (c) is a local maximum(relative maximum) if c is not an endpoint of the domain and f (c) is a maximum in a small neighborhood of c. We say f (c) is a local minimum(relative minimum) if c is not an endpoint of the domain and f (c) is a minimum in a small neighborhood of c.

2. Example Find any maxima, minima, local maxima, and local minima of the function whose graph is shown : (a) f (x) is dened on the domain [0, 6] (b) f (x) is dened on the domain [1, 7]

Answers : (a) Maximum does not exist, minimum 2, local minimum 2, and local maximum does not exist. (b) Max 6, minimum does not exist, local maximum 6 and 2, and local minimum 0.

3. Theorem (Extreme value theorem) A continuous function on a closed interval [a, b] has always global maximum and global minimum.

Notice that a discontinuous function or a function whose domain is an open interval may fail to have extrema.

4. Denition (critical number) x = c is called a critical number of the function y = f (x) if c is in the domain of the function and either f ( xo ) = 0 or the derivative does not exist when x = xo . (Various cases of critical numbers)

Note that if f (xo ) is a local max/min, then xo is a critical value. The following theorem states this. However, be warned that not all critical numbers are local maximum or minimum. For example, (0, 0) is a critical point of the function f (x) = x3 because f (0) = 0, but obviously (0, 0) is not a local maximum or minimum.

5. Theorem (Fermats theorem for critical numbers) If a function f (x) has a local maximum or local minimum at x = xo and f (xo ) exists, then f (xo ) = 0.
Proof : Suppose that f (xo ) is a local maximum. Then f (xo ) f (x) for all x in a small neighborhood of xo . Therefore

h0+

lim

f (xo + h) f (xo ) 0 h f (xo + h) f (xo ) 0 h

because

f (xo + h) f (xo ) and h > 0

h0

lim

because

f (xo + h) f (xo ) and h < 0

Because f (xo ) exists, above two limits should give the same value. Hence f (xo ) = 0. If f (xo ) is a local minimum, let g (x) = f (x) so that g (xo ) is a local maximum of g (x). By the previous proof, g (xo ) = f (xo ) = 0, and therefore, f (xo ) = 0, again.

6. Example Find critical numbers of the function : (a) f (x) = x3 + 3x2 24x (b) g (x) = |x 1| + 3 (c) h(x) = 3 4 x2
Answers : (a) x = 4, 2 (b) x = 1 (c) x = 0, 2

7, Property (Closed interval method) A continuous function y = f (x) on a closed interval [a, b] always has the global maximum and minimum among critical points and end-points 8. Example Find the maximum and minimum values of f on the given interval : (a) f (x) = x3 3x + 1, I = [0, 3] (b) g (x) = x2 4 , I = [4, 4] x2 + 4 (c) T () = 2 cos + sin2 , I = [0, 2 ]
Answers : (a) Max f (3) = 19, min f (1) = 1 (b) Max g (4) = f (4) = 0.6, min g (0) = 1 (c) Max T (0) = T (2 ) = 2, min T ( ) = 2

9. Example (# 64 in textbook p212) An object with weight W is dragged along a horizontal plane by a force acting along a rope attached to the object. If the rope makes an angle with the plane, then the magnitude of the force is F = W sin + cos

where is a positive constant between 0 and 1 called the coefcient of friction and where 0 /2. Show that F is minimized when tan = .
(Answer) We look for the minimum of F ( ) while 0 /2. For this, we rst look for critical numbers of F . W ( cos sin ) ( sin + cos )2

F ( ) =

and F = 0 when the numerator W ( cos sin ) = 0. If we denote the critical number of the function by c, sin c = tan c cos c

cos c sin c = 0 That is, the critical number is c = tan1 (). Notice F (0) F (/2) F (c) = = W = W W = sin c + cos c
sin c cos c

; cos c = sin c

; =

sin c W cos c . W

sin c W = = = sin c W sin c 2 c + cos2 c sin sin c + cos c cos c sin c Since 0 1, F (0) is smaller than F (/2). Also since 0 cos c 1, sin c W W . That is, F (c) F (0) F (/2). F is the cos c smallest when = c and for this , = tan .