GDC skills: Casio fx-CG50

Chapter 12/ Example 8

Local maximum and minimum points

1
Consider the curve y = x+ , x ≠0.
x
dy
a Find an expression for .
dx
b Plot the curve on a GDC.
c Find the co-ordinates of any local maximum or minimum points.
d Find the gradient of two points, close to but on either side of the minimum point.
e Explain why this shows that the point found is a local minimum.

Press p 5 Y to display the equation entry screen.

1
Type x  and press l to enter the equation as Y1.
x

Press u DRAW to display the graph screen

1
The GDC now displays the curve Y1  x  .
x

The default axes are 6.3  x  6.3 and 3.1  y  3.1 .

1
To find the local maximum of the curve Y1  x 
x

Press y G-Solv w MAX.

Press l to display the coordinates.
Press d to leave G-Solv mode and u DRAW to display the
graph screen again.

The GDC displays the local maximum point at 1, 2 .

© Oxford University Press 2019 1

 GDC skills: Casio fx-CG50

Chapter 12/ Example 8

Local maximum and minimum points

1
To find the local minimum of the curve Y1  x 
x

Press y G-Solv e MIN.

Press l to display the coordinates.
Press d to leave G-Solv mode and u DRAW to display the
graph screen again.

The GDC displays the local minimum point at 1,2 .

Press d then press L p SET UP.

Scroll down to Derivative with N and use q to set this to
‘On’. Press d to return to the equation entry screen and u
DRAW to return to the graph.

To find the gradient either side of the minimum point press q

Trace.

Using $ and ! choose a point to the left of 1,2 .

dy
e.g. when x  0.9 ,  0.234 .
dx

Moving to the right of 1,2 find the gradient at a second

point.
dy
e.g. when x  1.1 ,  0.174 .
dx

Therefore the gradient has changed sign from negative to

positive and it must be a local minimum point.

© Oxford University Press 2019 2