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Summary: Max-Min To nd minimum and maximum values of a function y (x) dy Solve = 0 to nd points x where slope = zero dx Test each x for a possible minimum or maximum dy = 3x2 12 Example y (x) = x3 12x dx dy The slope is = 0 at x = 2 and x = 2 dx At those points y (2) = 8 24 = 16 and y (2) = 8 + 24 = 16

d = 2 is a minimum Look at dx

dy dx

= 2nd derivative

d2 y = derivative of 3x2 12. 2nd derivative is 6x. 2 dx d2 y dy > 0 increases slope goes from down to up at x 2 dx dx The bending is upwards and this x is a minimum d2 y dy <0 decreases slope goes from up to down at x 2 dx dx The bending is downwards and x is a maximum

dy = cos x sin x dx The slope is zero when cos x = sin x at x = 45 degrees = radians 4 2 2 That point x has y = sin + cos = + = 2 4 4 2 2 d2 y The second derivative is 2 = sin x cos x dx At x = this is < 0 y is bending down x is a maximum 4 Find the maximum of y (x) = sin x + cos x

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d2 y d2 y > 0 the curve bends up and < 0 the curve bends down dx2 dx2 d2 y Bending changes at a point of inection where 2 = 0 dx Which x gives minimum of y = (x 1)2 + (x 2)2 + (x 6)2 ? You can write y = (x2 2x + 1) + (x2 4x + 4) + (x2 12x + 36) dy The slope is = 2x 2 + 2x 4 + 2x 12 = 0 at minimum dx Then 6x = 18 and x = 3 This is the average of 1, 2, 6 Key step for max/min word problems is to choose meaning for x

Practice Questions dy 1. Which x gives the minimum of y (x) = x2 + 2x ? Solve = 0. dx d2 y 2. Find 2 for y (x) = x2 + 2x. dx This is > 0 so parabola bends up. dy 3. Find the maximum height of y (x) = 2 + 6x x2 . Solve = 0. dx d2 y 4. Find 2 to show that this parabola bends down. dx dy = 0 at x = 1, 0, 1. 5. For y (x) = x4 2x2 show that dx Find y (1), y (0), y (1). 6. Now dy d2 y = 4x3 4x. What is the second derivative 2 ? dx dx

dy d2 y 7. At a minimum point explain why = 0 and 2 > 0. dx dx 2 d y < 0 changes to bending up 8. Bending down dx2 2 d y d2 y > 0 =0 at a point of : At this point dx2 dx2 Does y = x2 have such a point? Does y = sin x have such a point? 9. Suppose x + X = 12. What is the maximum of x times X ? This question asks for the maximum of y = x(12 x) = 12x x2 . dy Find where the slope = 12 2x is zero. What is x times X ? dx

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Resource: Highlights of Calculus

Gilbert Strang

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