School of Computing, Information and

Mathematical Sciences

MA102: Mathematics for Science

Week 6: Lecture

TT 1
 Reminder:

• Short Test 1: 16/08/2017(1-2pm)

• SLS (Student Learning Services)

TT 2
 Objectives:
• Find the critical points/numbers of a function

• Find where a function is increasing or

decreasing

• Locate the local extrema (relative maxima or

minima) of a function

• Locate the absolute extrema of a function in a

given interval

TT • Solve Optimization Problems

3
 Key phrases

There is a lot of vocabulary in this lecture. None of it is too

complicated, but it can be confusing at first.

For your reference, here is a list of the key phrases, so that

you can make sure you have covered all the bases
when you study.

• Local maximum/minimum.
• Critical number.
• The first derivative test.
• Absolute maximum/minimum.
• The closed interval method.

TT 4
 Local extrema
The word “extremum" (plural “extrema") simply means
“maximum or minimum." So this lecture is about
locating points that are extremal in one sense or another: the
largest or the smallest in some domain. First,
we consider so-called local extrema.

TT 5
 Definition: A local maximum is a point (𝑐; 𝑓(𝑐) on
the graph of a function 𝑓(𝑥) such that 𝑓 𝑐 ≥ 𝑓 𝑥
for all 𝑥 is some interval around 𝑐.

Similarly, a local minimum is a point (𝑐; 𝑓(𝑐)) such

that 𝑓 𝑐 ≤ 𝑓 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in some interval around 𝑐.

TT 6
 Critical Number:
Let 𝑓 be defined at a number 𝑐. If 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0 or if 𝑓’(𝑐) is not
differentiable (undefined) at 𝑐, then 𝑐 is a critical number of
𝑓.

(Fermat’s Theorem)

If 𝑓 has a relative maximum or relative minimum at 𝑐, then 𝑐

is critical number of 𝑓.

Note: all extrema occur at critical values, but not all critical
values are extrema.

TT 7
 y
𝑓 ′ 𝑥0 = 0 global maximum

Point of non differentiability (sharp corners )

𝑓 ′ 𝑥2 undefined (local maximum)

𝑓 ′ 𝑥3 = 0

𝑓 ′ 𝑥1 = 0 (local minimum)

𝑥0 𝑥1 𝑥2 𝑥3 x

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

Critical points Critical points

𝑥0 , 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , 𝑥3 𝑓′ 𝑎 = 0
𝑓′(𝑎) undefined
TT 8
 Example 1:
Find the critical points of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥.
f ( x)  x 3  3x
f '( x)  0 (Critical numbers (points))
f '( x)  3x 2  3  0
 3( x 2  1)  0
 x2 1  0
 ( x  1)( x  1)  0
x  1  0  x  1 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥

x 1  0  x  1
Then the critical numbers are -1 and 1.

TT 9
Increasing and Decreasing Functions

TT 10
 On what intervals is 𝒇(𝒙) increasing and
decreasing?

1) A function 𝑓 is increasing on an interval if, for any value

of 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 in the interval, 𝑓 𝑥1 < 𝑓 𝑥2 .

𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥2 )

𝑓(𝑥1 )

TT 11
 2) A function f is decreasing on an interval if, for any
value of 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 in the interval, 𝑓 𝑥1 > 𝑓 𝑥2 .

𝑓(𝑥)

𝑓(𝑥1 )
𝑓(𝑥2 )

TT 12
 y
𝑓′ 𝑥 = 0

b
a
x

𝑓′ 𝑥 = 0

Increasing: 𝑥 < 𝑎, 𝑥 > 𝑏, 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 > 0

Decreasing: a < x < b, 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 < 0

TT 13
 Example 2: Upon what intervals is
𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 2 increasing/ decreasing.
Solution:
Step 1: find the critical numbers

dy
 6 x 2  18 x  12  0
dx
 x 2  3x  2  0 (divided by 6)
 ( x  1)( x  2)  0
 x  1, x  2

TT 14
 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
= 12 = −1.5 = 12
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=0 𝑥 = 1.5 𝑥=3

+ 1 - 2 +

increasing decreasing increasing

𝑥<1 1<𝑥<2 𝑥>2

Thus,
Increasing on 𝑥 < 1, 𝑥 > 2 𝑑𝑦
= 6(0)2 − 18 0 + 12 = 12
𝑑𝑥
Decreasing on 1 < 𝑥 < 2

TT 15
 First Derivative Test

If f(x) is increasing to the left of c and decreasing to

the right of c, then at c there is a local/relative
maximum

f '( x)  0 f '( x)  0

TT 16
 If f(x) is decreasing to the left of c and increasing to
the right of c, then at c there is a local/relative
minimum.

f '( x)  0 f '( x)  0

c
Note: local max or min occurs at stationary point

TT 17
 Example 3: Find the relative maximum and
minimum of 𝑦 = 2𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 2.
Solution:
Apply first derivative test

From Example 2:
when
𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 2(1)3 −9(1)2 +12 1 + 2 = 7
This is a local/relative maximum at (1,7)
when
𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 2(2)3 −9 2 2 + 12 2 + 2 = 6
This is a local/relative minimum at (2,6)

TT 18
 8
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 2 = 0

Local maximum (1,7)

7

6
Local minimum (2,6)

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0

TT 19
 ACTIVITY

Find the relative extrema of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 5 − 5𝑥 2 .

TT 20
 Second Derivative Test

Let 𝑓′′(𝑥) exist on an open interval containing a number

c where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0, then
i) If 𝑓′′(𝑐) > 0, f(c) is a relative minimum
ii) If 𝑓′′(𝑐) < 0, f(c) is a relative maximum
iii) If 𝑓′′(𝑐) = 0, test fails

TT 21
 Example 4: Find relative maximum and
minimum of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 − 2.
Solution:
Step 1: Find the critical numbers/points

f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  9 x  2
f '( x)  3x 2  12 x  9  0
 x2  4 x  3  0
 ( x  1)( x  3)  0
critical numbers/points x  1, x  3.

TT 22
 Step 2: Apply second derivative test

f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  9 x  2
f '( x)  3 x 2  12 x  9
f ''( x)  6 x  12
when x  1
f ''(1)  6(1)  12  6  0
Thus, (1, f (1))  (1, 2) is a maximum point
when x  3
f ''(3)  6(3)  12  4  0
Thus, (3, f (3))  (13 - 2) is a maximum point

TT 23
 y

7.5

5
local maximum (1,2)
2.5

x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-2.5
local minimum (3,-2)
-5

-7.5

TT 24
 Higher Derivatives and Concavity of functions

NOTE
Concave upward
 A function is concave upward on
an interval if 𝑓′′(𝑥) > 0 for all x in
that interval.

 A function is concave downward

on an interval if 𝑓′′(𝑥) < 0 for all x
in that interval.
Concave downward

TT 25
  If 𝑓′′(𝑥) changes sign at some 𝑥 = 𝑐,
then at 𝑥 = 𝑐 we have a point of
inflection.

 At the point of inflection either

𝑓′′(𝑥) = 0 or 𝑓′′(𝑥) does not exist

TT 26
 Inflection Points
Inflection points are where the function changes concavity.
Since concave up corresponds to a positive second derivative
and concave down corresponds to a negative second
derivative, then when the function changes from concave up to
concave down (or vise versa) the second derivative must equal
zero at that point. So the second derivative must equal zero to
be an inflection point.

𝑓 ′′ 𝑥 = 0

Example 5: Find the inflection point of

f ( x)  x3  6 x 2  9 x  2
TT 27
 f ( x)  x 3  6 x 2  9 x  2
f '( x)  3 x 2  12 x  9
f ''( x)  6 x  12
 6 x  12  0
 6 x  12  x  2

We can see that if there is an inflection point it has to be at

𝑥 = 2.
How do we know for sure if 𝑥 = 2 is an inflection point?

Pick a number on either side of 𝑥 = 2. Let’s use 𝑥 = 1 and

𝑥 = 3.
At 𝑥 = 1,
𝑓’’(𝑥) = 6(1) − 12 = −6
The function is concave down at 𝑥 = 1.
TT 28
 At 𝑥 = 3,
𝑓’’(𝑥) = 6(3) − 12 = 6
The function is concave up at 𝑥 = 3.

7.5 Inflection point

5
𝑓 ′′ 1 = −6
2.5 Concave up
x
-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-2.5
Concave down 𝑓 ′′ 3 = 6
-5

-7.5

TT 29
 ACTIVITY

Find the relative extrema of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 5 − 5𝑥 3 .

TT 30
 Solution:
Step 1: find the critical numbers/points.

f ( x)  3x 5  5 x 3
f '( x)  15 x 4  15 x 2  0
 15 x 2  x 2  1  0
 15 x 2 ( x  1)( x  1)  0
critical numbers/points x  0, x  1, x  1.

TT 31
 Step 2: Apply second derivative test
f ( x)  3x 5  5 x 3 , f '( x)  15 x 4  15 x 2 , f ''( x)  60 x 3  30 x
when x  0,
f ''(0)  60(0)3  30(0)  0 i.e f ''( x)  0
Thus, (0, f (0))  (0, 0) is a inflection point.

when x  1,
f ''(0)  60(1)3  30(1)  3 i.e f ''( x)  0
Thus, (1, f (1))  (1, 2) is a maximum point.
Inflection point
when x  1, Maximum point 5

f ''(1)  60(1)3  30(1)  30 i.e f ''( x)  0

Thus, (1, f (1))  (1, 2) is a minimum point. 2 1 1 2

5
Minimum point
TT 32
 Applications in Physics

TT 33
 h t

6000

5000

Example 9: 4000

3000

2000

1000

t
10 20 30 40 50

The height (in feet) attained by a rocket t seconds

into flight is given by
1 3
h(t )   t  16t 2  33t  10 0  t  50
3
When is the rocket rising, and when is it descending?

TT 34
 OPTIMISATION
ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUES

Suppose a function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined for all values of 𝑥

between 𝑥 = 𝑎 and 𝑥 = 𝑏. Then the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) might
look like this diagram.

• Three critical points (where

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 0)
Local maximum
• 𝑐1 , 𝑓 𝑐1 , (𝑐3 , 𝑓)) – local
maximum
• 𝑐2 , 𝑓 𝑐2 - local minimum

• The other important points are

the end points
Local minimum

TT End points 35
 Absolute maximum
• From the graph it is
(𝑐1 , 𝑓(𝑐1 ))
clear that 𝒄𝟏 , 𝒇 𝒄𝟏 is
the highest point on the
graph; we call this the
absolute maximum or
global maximum.
(𝑏, 𝑓(𝑏))
• It is clear that (𝒃, 𝒇 𝒃 )
Absolute minimum is the lowest point on
the graph; we call this
the absolute minimum
or global minimum.

TT 36
 For 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) restricted to values when 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏,

• 𝑓 𝑐 is the absolute maximum of 𝑓 𝑥 if 𝑎 ≤ 𝑐 ≤ 𝑏

and 𝑓(𝑐) ≥ 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 with 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏, and

• 𝑓 𝑑 is the absolute minimum of 𝑓 𝑥 if 𝑎 ≤ 𝑑 ≤ 𝑏

and 𝑓(𝑑) ≤ 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 with 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏.

TT 37
 Example 1:
𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 is restricted to values of 𝑥 when 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏.
Absolute maximum is 𝑓 𝑏 Absolute maximum is 𝑓 𝑐1
Absolute minimum is 𝑓(𝑐1 ) Absolute minimum is 𝑓(𝑐2 )

𝑎 𝑐1 𝑏 𝑎 𝑐1 𝑐2 𝑏

Absolute maximum is 𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑓(𝑏)

Absolute minimum is 𝑓(𝑐1 )

• It appears that the important

points to check are the critical
𝑎 𝑐1 𝑏 points and the end points,
provided 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓′(𝑥) are
defined for 𝑎 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏.
TT 38
 To find the absolute maximum or minimum value of a function 𝑓 𝑥
Check

 the end point

 the critical points (where 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 0, 𝑓′(𝑥) is not defined), and

 the point where 𝑓 𝑥 is defined and 𝑓(𝑥) is not.

TT 39
 Example 2: Find the absolute extrema of
𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 5 on the interval [-2, 4].

Since 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 6𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 12 = 6 𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 2 , the critical

points are 𝑥 = −1 and 𝑥 = 2.
x f(x)

f (2)  2(2)3  3(2) 2  12(2)  5  1 -2 1

f (1)  2(1)3  3(1) 2  12(1)  5  12 -1 12

f (2)  2(2)3  3(2) 2  12(2)  5  15 2 -15 (absolute

minimum)
f (4)  2(4)3  3(4) 2  12(4)  5  37 4 37(absolute
maximum)

Absolute maximum is 37 at 𝑥 = 4
Absolute minimum is -15 at 𝑥 = 2 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 5

TT 40
 Example 3: Compute the absolute extrema of
f ( x)  2 x3  15 x 2  36 x on [1,5].

Solution: Obtain critical points:

f '( x)  6 x 2  30 x  36 x f ( x)
f '( x)  0
1 (end value) f (1)  23
6 x  30 x  36  0
2

2 (critical value) f (2)  28

6( x  3)( x  2)  0
3 (critical value) f (3)  27
 x  2,3
5 (end value) f (5)  55

Absolute maximum is 55 at 𝑥 = 5
Absolute minimum is 23 at 𝑥 = 1

TT 41
 Maxima and Minima Word Problems

Example 4: A divided field is to be constructed with 4000

meters of fence as shown below. For what values of 𝑥 and 𝑦
will the area be maximum?

Solution:
Let 𝑥 and 𝑦 be lengths of sides of the rectangle. Then
2𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 4000, 𝑥 = 2000 − 2𝑦
Area 𝐴 𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦 = 2000 − 2𝑦 𝑦 = 2000𝑦 − 2𝑦 2
𝐴′ 𝑦 = 0 ⇒ 2000 − 4𝑦 = 0 ⇒ 𝑦 = 500
Yields the critical point 𝑦 = 500.
Comparing values of 𝐴 𝑦 at 𝑦 = 0, 𝑦 = 500 and 𝑦 = 1000.
𝐴 0 = 0, 𝐴 500 = 500,000, 𝐴 1000 = 0.
The absolute maximum is 500000 at 𝑦 = 500.
TT 42
 ACTIVITY

 It is found from carefully conducted experiments that

the height in meters of a given plant after t years is given
approximately by
𝐻 𝑡 = 4𝑡 1/2 − 2𝑡, 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2
How long, on average, will it take a plant to reach
its maximum height?
What is the maximum height?

 A bus company carries an average of 520 passengers

each day from suburb A to suburb B. The fare is 80 cents.
The company finds that 50 more people will ride the bus
for each 5 cents reduction to the fare. Determine the
fare the bus company should charge in order to
maximise the daily total revenue.
TT 43