Chapter Four

Application of the derivative

4.1. Local and Absolute Extrema of a Continuous Function

The function f has an absolute maximum on the set S if there is at least one point c in S such
that

The number f(c) is called the absolute maximum value of f on S.

We say f has an absolute minimum on the set S if there is at least one point c in S such that

The number f(c) is called the absolute maximum value of f on S.

Let f be a real value function defined on a set S of real numbers. We say the function f has a
local maximum at a point c in S if there is an open interval I containing c such that

A local maximum/minimum is sometimes called a relative maximum and minimum.

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Instructor: Yohannes D.
 Example:

Example:
Let f(x) = −x2 + 4x − 3. Find the maximum value of f(x) on the interval [0, 4]. First note that
f′(x) = −2x+4 = 0 when x = 2, and f(2) = 1. Next observe that f′(x) is defined for all x, so there
are no other critical values. Finally, f(0) = −3 and f(4) = −3.

The largest value of f(x) on the interval [0, 4] is f(2) = 1.

Example:

 A high point of the graph is where f(x) changes from increasing to decreasing.
 A low point on a graph is where f(x) changes from decreasing to increasing

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 Example:

Let f be a function which is conintuous on a closed interval [a, b] and differentiable of

the open interval (a, b).
If f′(x) > 0 for every x in (a, b), then f(x) is increasing on [a, b].
If f′(x) < 0 for every x in (a, b), then f(x) is decreasing on [a, b].
If f′(x) = 0 for every x in (a, b), then f(x) is constant on [a, b].

Example: Determine the interval where f is increase and decrease.

y = f(x) = x3 − 6x2 + 9x + 5
y′ = f′(x) = 3x2 − 12x + 9
= 3(x2 − 4x + 3)
= 3(x − 1)(x − 3)
f′(x) = 3(x − 1)(x − 3)
To determine the sign of f′(x) use the following chart

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 Example: Determine the interval where f is increase and decrease.

4.2. Roll's Theorem

Let a < b. If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval
(a, b) and f(a) = f(b), then there is a c in (a, b) with f’(c) = 0.
That is, under these hypotheses, f has a horizontal tangent somewhere between a and b.

or

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This result implies that if f is continuous on [a, b] and f (a) = f (b) then there always exists at
least one critical number c in (a, b). Such that f’(c) = 0.

4.3. The Mean Value Theorem

Let a < b. If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and differentiable on the open interval
(a, b), then there is a c in (a, b) with

The Mean Value Theorem says that under appropriate smoothness conditions the slope of the
curve at some point between a and b is the same as the slope of the line joining (a, f(a)) to (b,
f(b)). The figure below shows two such points, each labeled c.

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 .
Example:

Example:
We illustrate The Mean Value Theorem by considering f(x) = x3 on the interval [1, 3]. f is a
polynomial and so continuous everywhere. For any x we see that f0(x) = 3x2. So f is continuous
on [1, 3] and differentiable on (1, 3). So the Mean Value theorem applies to f and [1, 3].

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4.4. Monotonic Functions
In this section we will use the derivative to tell us if the graph is increasing, deceasing, or constant.
If a function is monotonic on an interval, then the function is increasing or decreasing on that
interval.
Increasing: as x increases, y increases
Decreasing: as x increases, y decreases
Constant: as x increases, y does not change.

Increasing/Decreasing Test (IDT): Let f be a function defined on [a,b].

(i) If f ‘(x) > 0 for all x (a,b), then f is increasing on [a,b].
(ii) If f ‘(x) < 0 for all x (a,b), then f is decreasing on [a,b].

Exircise : Let f (x) = 4x4 – 8x2. Find the intervals on which f is …

(a) … increasing.
(b) … decreasing

4.5. Curve Sketching

Now, you are ready to develop a procedure for curve sketching. To sketch the graph of a given
function, we need to know where the graph crosses the x-axis, the y-axis, its turning points, and
intervals in which the graph rises and falls.

Example: Sketch the graph of f (x) = x4 – 4x3 .

Solution:
a f (x) = x4 – 4x3 is a polynomial function and hence it is defined for all real numbers.

b y-intercept: it is the value of f at x = 0

Thus y-intercept = f (0) = 0
Hence the graph crosses the y -axis at (0, 0)

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Exercise: Sketch the graph of f(x) =

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