1 Extremum Values and Maximum Minimum

Problems
1.1 Increasing and Decreasing Functions

Recall Let f be a function in a domain D. We say that

f is increasing if "x1 < x2 ) f (x1 ) < f (x2 ), for all x1 ; x2 2 D"

f is decreasing if "x1 < x2 ) f (x1 ) > f (x2 ), for all x1 ; x2 2 D"

Theorem Let f be continuous on [a; b] and be di¤erentiable in (a; b). Then,

if f 0 (x) > 0 for all x 2 (a; b), then f (x) is increasing on (a; b)
if f 0 (x) < 0 for all x 2 (a; b), then f (x) is decreasing on (a; b).

Example Let f (x) = x3 3x2 + 4. Find the intervals where f is increasing

and decreasing.
Solution f 0 (x) = 3x2 6x. We set f 0 (x) = 0. Then, 3x2 6x = 3x(x 2) = 0.

x 0 2
0
f + 0 - 0 +
f % & %

So f is increasing in ( 1; 0) [ (2; 1) and f is decreasing in (0; 2).

1.2 Concavity and In‡ection Points

Let f be twice di¤erentiable on an interval I. Then,

00
f is said to be concave up on I if f (x) > 0 for all x 2 I,
00
f is said to be concave down on I if f (x) < 0 for all x 2 I.

Check the following …gure:

1
Example Let f (x) = x3 ; g(x) = x4 and h(x) = x1=3 . Examine the concavity
of the each function.

00
If f (x) = x3 , then f 0 (x) = 3x2 and f (x) = 6x: The only point at which
00
f (x) = 0 or is unde…ned (f 0 is not di¤erentiable) is at x = 0: If x < 0, then
00 00
f (x) < 0 so f is concave down. If x > 0, then f (x) > 0 so f is concave up.
00
If g(x) = x4 , then g 0 (x) = 4x3 and g (x) = 12x2 : The only point at which
00 00
g (x) = 0 or is unde…ned is at x = 0. If x < 0, then g (x) > 0 so g is concave
00
up. If x > 0, then g (x) > 0 so g is also concave up.
1 2=3 00 2 5=3 00
If h(x) = x1=3 , then h0 (x) =
x and h (x) = x . h is not
00
3 900
de…ned if x = 0, but h > 0 for negative numbers and h < 0 for positive
numbers. So h changes concavity at (0; 0):
Remark The points where f changes its concavity character is called the
in‡ection points. In other words, second derivative of the function changes
sign at the in‡ection points.

Example In the following …gure the concavity changes at points b and g.

At points a and h, the graph is concave up on both sides, so the concavity
does not change. At points c and f, the graph is concave down on both sides.
At point e, even though the graph looks strange there, the graph is concave
down on both sides-the concavity does not change.

1.3 Extremum Values

De…nition 1 Let f be a function and let x0 be in the domain of f: We say
that

2
 f has an absolute maximum value f (x0 ) at x0 if f (x0 ) f (x) for all x
in the domain of f:

f has an absolute minimum value f (x0 ) at x0 if f (x0 ) f (x) for all x

in the domain of f:

f has a local (relative) maximum value f (x0 ) at x0 if f (x0 ) f (x) for

all x in some open interval around x0 ;

f has a local (relative) minimum value f (x0 ) at x0 if f (x0 ) f (x) for

all x in some open interval around x0 :

Maximum and minimum values of a function are collectively referred

to as extreme values.

ext

4 :pdf
Fig 1: Local and absolute extremums

Remarks

We will have an absolute maximum (or minimum) at x0 provided f (x0 )

is the largest (or smallest) value that the function will ever take on its
domain. On the other hand, f has a local maximum (or minimum)
value at x0 if f (x0 ) is the largest (or smallest) among the points su¢ -
ciently close to x0 :

An absolute maximum (or minimum) value can be attained at many

points. For example, f (x) = sin x has absolute maximum value 1 at
points x = + n for every integer n:
2
A function need not have any absolute extreme values. For example
f (x) = 1=x becomes arbitrarily large as x approaches 0 from the right,
so has no absolute maximum. It doesn’t have an absolute minimum
either. Even a bounded function may not have an absolute maximum
or minimum value. The function g(x) = x with domain speci…ed to
be the open interval (0; 1) has neither. Of course, if the domain of g

3
 was extended to be the closed interval [0; 1] then g would have both a
maximum value, 1, and a minimum value, 0.

A function can have only one absolute maximum (or minimum) value.
However, a function can have several local maximum (or minimum)
values. (see Fig 1)

Theorem 2 (Existence of extreme values) If the function f is continu-

ous on the bounded closed interval [a; b], then f must have an absolute max-
imum value and an absolute minimum value in [a; b].

Remark 3 If we have a continuous function on an interval [a; b] then we

are guaranteed to have both an absolute maximum and an absolute minimum
for the function somewhere in the interval. But the theorem doesn’t tell us
where they will occur or if they will occur more than once. We have to pay
attention to the conditions of Theorem 2.
1
Example 4 f (x) = 2 doesn’t have any absolute maximum on [ 1; 1] but it
x
has absolute minimum value 1. This is because f is not continuous at x = 0
1
(see Fig. 2) If we changed the interval to ; 1 ; then f has both absolute
2
1
maximum and minimum (see Fig. 3) because f is continuous on ;1 .
2

5 4
y y
4
3
3
2
2
1
1

0
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
x x
1 1 1
Fig. 2:y = on [ 1; 1] Fig. 3: y = on 2
;1
x2 x2

De…nition 5 Let f be a function and let x0 be a real number such that f is

de…ned on an open interval containing x0 : Recall that

4
 0
x0 is a singular point of f if f (x0 ) doesn’t exist.
We say that
x0 is a critical point of f if either
0 0
f (x0 ) = 0 or f (x0 ) doesn’t exist (x0 is a singular point of f ):

The geometric interpretation of what is taking place at a critical point is

that the tangent line is either horizontal, vertical, or does not exist at that
point on the curve.
Example 6 Find all critical points of f (x) = x4 8x2 :
Solution: f is a polynomial and di¤erentiable everywhere. Hence there
are no singular points.
f 0 (x) = 4x3 16x = 4x(x2 4):
f 0 (x) = 0 implies x = 0; x = 2; x = 2 are critical points.

y 120
100

80

60

40

20

-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
x
Fig. 4: y = x4 8x2
x2 + 1
Example 7 Find all critical points of f (x) = :
x2 x 6
Solution: Using quotient rule,
x2 + 14x 1
f 0 (x) = :
(x2 x 6)2
The derivative f 0 (x) doesn’t exist at x = 2 and x = 3: However these
are NOT singular and hence critical points since f is not de…ned at these
points. Recall that in order for a point to be a critical point the function
must actually be de…ned at that point!
p
f 0 (x) = 0 ) x2 + 14x 1 = 0 ) x = 7 5 2
p
The critical points are x = 7 5 2:

5
 8
y
6

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-2 x
-4

-6
x2 + 1
Fig. 5: y =
x2 x 6
p3
Example 8 Find all critical points of f (x) = x2 (2x 1) :

Solution: f (x) = 2x5=3 x2=3 and

10 2=3 2
f 0 (x) = x x 1=3
:
3 3
The derivative f 0 (x) doesn’t exist at x = 0; thus x = 0 is a singular point
and a critical point.
10 2=3 2 2
f 0 (x) = x x 1=3
= x 1=3
(5x 1) = 0 ) x = 1=5
3 3 3
The critical points are x = 1=5 and x = 0:

y 2

-1.4 -1.2 -1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4
x
-2

-4

p
3
Fig. 6: y = x2 (2x 1)

Remark 9 Figures 4,5 and 6 suggest that a function can take its local ex-
tremum values only at critical points or endpoints.

6
Theorem 10 (Locating Extreme Values) If the function f is de…ned on
an interval I and has a local maximum (or local minimum) value at point
x = x0 in I, then x0 must be either a critical point of f or an endpoint of I:

Remark 11 Theorem 10 tells us where to …nd extreme values. Although a

function cannot have extreme values anywhere other than at endpoints and
critical points, it need not have extreme values at such points. For example
the function f (x) = x3 has a critical point at x = 0; but this critical point is
neither a local minimum nor a local maximum. (see Fig.7)

y
20

10

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
x
-10

-20

Fig. 7:y = x3

How to Find Absolute Extreme Values?

If a function f is de…ned on a bounded closed interval, Theorem 2 assures
us that f must have an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum
value. Theorem 10 tells us how to …nd them. We need only to check the
values of f at any critical points and endpoints.

Example 12 Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of the func-
tion f (x) = x4 8x2 on the interval [ 4; 4] :

Solution: Since f is a polynomial, f is continuous on [ 4; 4] : From

Example 6, the critical points of f are x = 0; x = 2; x = 2: We need to
consider only the values of f at critical points x = 0; x = 2; x = 2 and
endpoints x = 4 and x = 4:

f (0) = 0; f ( 2) = f (2) = 16; f ( 4) = f (4) = 128:

The maximum value of f on [ 4; 4] is 128, at the endpoints x = 4
and x = 4 and the minimum value is 16, at the critical points x = 2
and x = 2:(see Fig. 4)
How to Find Local Extreme Values?

7
 Theorem 10 tells us that a function can local extreme values only at
critical points or endpoints. But how can we decide whether a critical value
is a local maximum, local minimum or neither. The answer is in the next
theorem.

Theorem 13 (The First Derivative Test) Suppose that f is continuous

at a critical point x0 , and x0 is not an endpoint of the domain of f: Then,

i) If there exists an open interval (a; b) containing x0 such that f 0 (x) > 0 on
(a; x0 ) and f 0 (x) < 0 on (x0 ; b), then f has a local maximum value at
x0 . (see Fig 8a)

ii) If there exists an open interval (a; b) containing x0 such that f 0 (x) < 0
on (a; x0 ) and f 0 (x) > 0 on (x0 ; b), then f has a local minimum value
at x0 . (see Fig 8b)

iii) If f 0 (x) doesn’t change sign at x0 ; then f has neither a maximum nor a
minimum value at x0 . (see Fig 8c)

Fig 8a: Local max

Fig 8b: Local min

8
 Fig 8c: No max no min

Example 14 Find and classify local extreme values of f (x) = 27x x3 :

Solution:
0
f (x) = 27 3x2 = 3(3 x)(3 + x) = 0 ) x = 3; x = 3:

f doesn’t have singular points. The critical points are 3 and 3:

CP CP
x
-3 3
0
f - 0 + 0 -
f & min % max &
0
f is negative on the left of 3; and positive on the right of 3: By First
0
Derivative Test, x = 3 is a local minimum. f is positive on the left of 3; and
negative on the right of 3: By First Derivative Test, x = 3 is a local minimum.

150
y
100

50

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-50
x

-100

-150

Fig. 9: y = 27x x3

Example 15 Find the local and absolute extreme values of f (x) = x4 4x3 +
5 on the interval [ 1; 4] :

9
 Solution:
0
f (x) = 4x3 12x2 = 4x2 (x 3) = 0 ) x = 0; x = 3:

There is no singular values, so the critical points are 0 and 3:

EP CP CP EP
x
-1 0 3 4
0
f - 0 - 0 +
f abs. max & no min or max & abs. and loc. min %

From the table, x = 0 is not a local extremum and x = 3 is a local

minimum. For the absolute extremum values, we need to check the values at
the critical points and endpoints:

f (0) = 5; f (3) = 22; f ( 1) = 10; f (4) = 5:

The absolute maximum value of f is 10, at x = 1; and the absolute mini-

mum value is 22 at x = 3.

10
y

-1 1 2 3 4
x
-10

-20

Fig 10: f (x) = x4 4x3 + 5 on [ 1; 4]

Example 16 Find the local and absolute extreme values of f (x) = x + sin x
on the interval [0; 4 ] :

Solution:
0
f (x) = 1 + cos x = 0 ) x = (2n + 1) ; n 2 Z:

Thus the critical points are xn = (2n + 1) ; where n is an integer. Only

and 3 are in the interval [ 0; 4 ] :
0
f (x) = 1 + cos x > 0 for x 2 [0; 4 ] ; x 6= ; x 6= 3 :

10
 EP CP CP EP
x
0 3 4
0
f + 0 + 0 +
f abs. min % no min or max % no min or max % abs. max
From the table, f doesn’t have local extremum at the critical points
and 3 . The absolute maximum is 4 ; at x = 4 and the absolute minimum
is 0; at x = 0: (see Fig. 11)

y 15

10

0
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
x
Fig. 11: y = x + sin x
p
3
Example 17 Find the local and absolute extreme values of f (x) = x2 (2x 1)
on the interval [ 1; 1] :

Solution: From Example 8,

10 2 1=3 2 1=3
f 0 (x) = x2=3 x = x (5x 1)
3 3 3
and the critical points are x = 1=5 and x = 0: The values at critical points
and endpoints are

f ( 1) = 3; f (0) = 0; f (1=5) = 0:205 20; f (1) = 1:

EP CP CP EP
x
1 0 1=5 1
0
f + 0 - 0 +
f abs. min % loc. max & loc. min % abs. max
From the table, x = 0 is a local maximum and x = 1=5 is a local minimum.
The absolute maximum value of f is 1, at x = 1; and the absolute minimum
value is 3 at x = 1. (see Fig. 12)

11
 1
y

-1.0 -0.8 -0.6 -0.4 -0.2 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
x
-1

-2

-3
p
3
Fig. 12: y = x2 (2x 1) on [ 1; 1]
0
Theorem 18 (The Second Derivative Test) Suppose that f (x0 ) = 0:
00
i) If f (x0 ) < 0; then x0 is a local maximum of f:
00
ii) If f (x0 ) > 0; then x0 is a local minimum of f:
00
iii) If f (x0 ) = 0; no conclusion can be drawn; f may have a local maximum
at x0 or a local minimum, or it may have an in‡ection point instead.
Remark 19 For many functions the second derivative is more complicated
to calculate than the …rst derivative, so the First Derivative Test is likely to be
of more use in classifying critical points than is the Second Derivative Test.
Also note that the First Derivative Test can classify local extreme values that
occur at singular points as well as at critical points where the …rst derivative
is 0.
Example 20 Find and classify local extreme values of f (x) = xex :
Solution:
0 00
f (x) = ex + xex = (x + 1) ex ; f (x) = ex + (x + 1) ex = (x + 2) ex :
0
We begin by …nding critical points. f doesn’t have singular points. f (x) = 0
implies x = 1 and the only critical point is x = 1: Using Second Derivative
00
Test, f ( 1) = e 1 > 0 implies x = 1 is a local minimum of f: We can also
use First Derivative Test:

CP
x
-1
0
f - 0 +
f & min %
From the table, x = 1 is a local minimum of f: (see Fig 13)

12
 x
-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0
0.0
y
-0.1

-0.2

-0.3

Fig 13: y = xex

4
Example 21 Find and classify local extreme values of f (x) = x + :
x
Solution: We have
0 4 00 8
f (x) = 1 2
; f (x) = 3
x x
0
The derivative f exists except x = 0; but x = 0 is not in the domain of f:
So, x = 0 is not a critical point.
0 4
f (x) = 1 =0)x= 2
x2
00
The critical points are 2 and 2: Using Second Derivative Test, f ( 2) =
00
1 < 0 implies f has local maximum at x = 2 and f (2) = 1 > 0 implies
f has local minimum at x = 2: Similarly, we can use First Derivative Test
(do as an exercise).

10
y

-10 -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8 10
x
-5

-10
4
Fig 14: y = x +
x

13
Example 22 The functions

f (x) = x4 ; g(x) = x4 ; h(x) = x3

satisfy
0 00 0 00 0 00
f (0) = f (0) = 0; g (0) = g (0) = 0; h (0) = h (0) = 0:

However, f has a local minimum (Fig 15), g has a local maximum (Fig 16)
and h has neither a maximum nor a minimum (Fig 17) value at x = 0. This
00
example shows that if f (x0 ) = 0; no conclusion can be drawn in Second
Derivative Test.

y
1.0 x
-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

y
0.5

-0.5

-1.0 -0.5 0.0 0.5 1.0

x -1.0

Fig 15: y = x4 Fig 16: y = x4

1.0
y
0.5

-1.0 -0.5 0.5 1.0

-0.5
x

-1.0

Fig 17: y = x3

Practise Problems
1) Find and classify all local extreme values of the given functions.

i) f (x) = x3 3x 2
x
ii) f (x) =
x2 + 1
p
iii) f (x) = x 2 x2

14
iv) f (x) = x 2 sin x
ln x
v) f (x) =
x
2) Find absolute extreme values of the given functions on given intervals.

i) f (x) = 8x3 + 81x2 42x 8 on [ 8; 2] : (Ans: Absolute Maximum : 1511

at x = 7; Absolute Minimum : -13:3125 at x = 1=4)
x+4
ii) f (x) = on [ 10; 0] : (Ans: Absolute Maximum : 0:5 at x =
2x2
+x+8 p
0; Absolute Minimum : 0:03128 at x = 4 3 2)
2
iii) f (x) = x2 (10 x) 3 on [2; 10:5] : (Ans: Absolute Maximum : 103:613 at
x = 7:5; Absolute Minimum : 0 at x = 10)

1.4 Maximum Minimum Problems

All maximum-minimum problems follow this same procedure:

i) Express the quantity Q to be maximized or minimized as a function of

one or more variables.

ii) If Q depends on n variables, where n > 1, …nd n 1 equations (con-

straints) linking these variables.

iii) Use the constraints to eliminate variables and hence express Q as a

function of only one variable. Determine the interval(s) in which this
variable must lie for the problem to make sense.

iv) Find the required extreme value of the function Q using the techniques
of previous section. Remember to consider any critical points and end-
points.

Example 23 Among all rectangles of given perimeter, show that the square
has the greatest area.

Solution: Suppose that the rectangle has width x and length y:

i) Maximize: Q = area = xy

ii) Constraint: perimeter P is given, so the constraint is 2x + 2y = P:

15
iii) Eliminating y we have y = 12 (P 2x) (You can also eliminate x): Now
Q becomes a function of one variable x :
1 1
Q(x) = xy = x (P 2x) = P x x2 :
2 2
This is the function we will …nd the maximum. Our interval is 0 x
1
2
P because the width can’t be negative or greater than the half of the
perimeter.

iv)
0 1 P
Q (x) = P 2x = 0 ) x = :
2 4
P
The crtical point is x = 4 : At the endpoints x = 0 or x = P we have
Q = 0: So the maximum value comes from the critical point x = P4 :
If x = P4 then y = P4 and we have a square. The maximum area is
2
Q( P4 ) = P16 :

Example 24 We need to enclose a rectangular …eld with a fence. We have

500 feet of fencing material and a building is on one side of the …eld and
so won’t need any fencing. Determine the dimensions of the …eld that will
enclose the largest area.

Solution:

i) Maximize: Q = xy

ii) Constraint: x + 2y = 500 (We are given 500 feet of fencing material)

iii) Eliminating x we have x = 500 2y (You can also eliminate y):Now Q

becomes a function of one variable y :

Q(y) = xy = y (500 2y) = 500y 2y 2 :

Interval: [0; 250] (If there is no length i.e. x = 0; then y = 250: Also the
width can’t be negative i.e. y 0:)

16
iv)
0
Q (y) = 500 4y = 0 ) y = 125:
The crtical point is y = 125: At the endpoints y = 0 or y = 250 we have
Q = 0: So the maximum value comes from the critical point y = 125:
The maximum area is Q(125) = 31250 f t2 :
Example 25 We want to construct a box whose base length is 3 times the
base width. The material used to build the top and bottom cost $10=f t2 and
the material used to build the sides cost $6=f t2 . If the box must have a volume
of 50f t3 determine the dimensions that will minimize the cost to build the
box.
Solution:

i) Minimize: Q = 10 (2lw) + 6 (2wh + 2lh) = 20lw + 12wh + 12lh:

ii) Constraints: l = 3w and 50 = lwh. (base length is 3 times the base width
and the box must have a volume of 50f t3 )
iii) We have l = 3w so 50 = lwh implies 50 = 3w2 h and eliminating (solving)
50
h gives h = : Now we have only one variable w and Q becomes
3w2
200 600 800
Q(w) = 20lw + 12wh + 12lh = 60w2 + + = 60w2 + :
w w w
Interval: w > 0 but there is no upper limit to the width w that will give
a box with volume of 50f t3 : So we don’t have an interval of possible values
but we can still …nd the minimum by using First Derivative Test or Second
Derivative Test.
iv)
0 800 120w3 800
Q (w) = 120w = :
w2 w2
The derivative doesn’t exist at w = 0; but this is not a critical point
since Q(w) is not de…ned at this point. Also w = 0 doesn’t give us a
box.
r
0 3 20
Q (w) = 0 ) 120w3 800 = 0 ) w = = 1:8821
3

17
 The only critical point is w = 1:8821 and we now have to verify that this
is in fact the value that will give the absolute minimum cost.
00 1600
Q (w) = 120 + > 0 for w > 0;
w3
so the graph of Q will be concave up around w = 1:8821 and hence Q takes
its minimum at w = 1:8821 (see Fig 18). The minimum cost is Q (1:8821) =
$637:60 and the dimensions for this minimal cost are
50
w = 1:8821; h = = 4:7050; l = 3w = 5:6463:
3w2

y
2000

1000

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
x
-1000

800
Fig 18: Q(w) = 60w2 + w

Example 26 We want to construct a box with a square base and we only

have 10m2 of material to use in construction of the box. Assuming that all the
material is used in the construction process determine the maximum volume
that the box can have.

Solution:

i) Maximize: Q = lwh:

ii) Constraints: l = w and 10 = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh (the box has a square base
and we have 10m2 of material to use):

18
iii) We have l = w so 10 = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh implies 10 = 2w2 + 4wh
5 w2
and eliminating (solving) h gives h = : Now we have only one
2w
variable w and Q becomes
5 w2 1
Q(w) = lwh = w = 5w w3 :
2 2
iv) r
0 1 2 5
Q (w) = 5 3w = 0 ) w = = 1:2910:
2 3
We can ignore the negative critical point since w > 0:Now, as noted
in the previous example we got a single critical point, 1:2910, and so
this must be the value that gives the maximum volume (see the table
below).
EP CP
w
0 1:2910
0
f + 0 -
f % abs max &

The maximum volume is Q(1:2910) = 2:1517m3 :

Example 27 A manufacturer needs to make a cylindrical can that will hold
1500cm3 liquid. Determine the dimensions of the can that will minimize the
amount of material used in its construction.
Solution:

i) Minimize: Q = surf ace area = 2 r2 + 2 rh

ii) Constraint: volume = r2 h = 1500
1500
iii) Eliminating (solving) h from r2 h = 1500 gives h = : Now we have
r2
only one variable r and Q becomes
3000
Q(r) = 2 r2 + 2 rh = 2 r2 + :
r

19
iv) r
0 3000 4 r3 3000 3 750
Q (r) = 4 r = =0)r= = 6:2035:
r2 r2
The only critical point is r = 6:2035: We have
00 6000
Q (r) = 4 + > 0 for r > 0;
r3
so the graph of Q will be concave up around r = 6:2035 and hence Q
takes its minimum at r = 6:2035: For the minimum material (or surface
area) the dimensions are
1500
r = 6:2035; h = = 12:4070:
r2

Example 28 We have a piece of cardboard that is 14 inches by 10 inches

and we’re going to cut out the corners as shown below and fold up the sides
to form a box, also shown below. Determine the height of the box that will
give a maximum volume.

Solution: Let the height of the box be h: So, the width/length of the
corners being cut out is also h and so the vertical side will have a “new”
height of 10 2h and the horizontal side will have a “new”width of 14 2h
(see Fig 19).

Fig 19: The box after cutting

20
i) Maximize: Q = V olume = h (10 2h) (14 2h) = 140h 48h2 + 4h3 :

ii) Constraint:No constraint, we already have Q as a function of one variable.

iii) No need to eliminate since we have only one variable. The interval is
0 h 5 because the height 10 2h 0 and the width 14 2h 0:

iv)
p
0 2 12 39
Q (x) = 140 96h+12h = 0 ) h = ) h = 1:9183; h = 6:0817:
3
We can ignore the second critical value since the interval is 0 h 5:
So, the only critical value is 1:9183:Finally, since Q is de…ned and
continuous on 0 h 5 all we need to do is plug in the critical points
and endpoints into Q to determine which gives the largest volume.

Q(0) = 0; Q(1:9183) = 120:1644; Q(5) = 0:

So, if we take h = 1:9183 we get a maximum volume.

Example 29 A window is being built and the bottom is a rectangle and the
top is a semicircle. If there is 12 meters of framing materials what must the
dimensions of the window be to let in the most light?

Fig 20: The shape of the window

Solution: Let’s rephrase the question as follows: we want a window in

the shape described above to have a maximum area (and hence let in the
most light) and have a perimeter of 12 m (because we have 12 m of framing
material).
1
i) Maximize: Q = area = 2hr + 2
r2

21
ii) Constraint: perimeter = 2h + 2r + r = 12
1
iii) Eliminating h we have h = 2
(12 2r r) : Now we have only one
variable r and Q becomes
1 2 1 2 1
Q(r) = 2hr + r = (12 2r r) r + r = 12r 2+ r2 :
2 2 2

Interval: h 0 but no upper bound for h:

iv)
0 12
Q (r) = 12 (4 + ) r = 0 ) r = = 1:6803:
4+
00
The only critical value is 1:6803: We have Q (r) = (4 + ) < 0 so
we can see that the maximum area must occur at this point. The
dimensions of the window be to let in the most light are

1
r = 1:6803; h = (12 2r r) = 3:3606:
2
Example 30 Determine the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed
in a circle of radius 4.

Solution: It’s easiest to assume that the circle (and hence the rectangle)
is centered at the origin of a standard xy axis system. Doing this we know
that the equation of the circle will be x2 + y 2 = 16 and that the right upper
corner of the rectangle will have the coordinates (x; y) : This means that the
width of the rectangle will be 2x and the height of the rectangle will be 2y
as shown below

22
i) Maximize: Area of rectangle = Q = (2x) (2y) = 4xy

ii) Constraint: x2 + y 2 = 16 (the right upper corner of the rectangle will be

on the circle)
p
iii) Eliminating y from the constraint we have y = 16 x2 : Since the
point that we’re looking at is in the …rst quadrant we know that y
mustpbe positive and so we can take the “+” part of this. Plugging
y = 16 x2 into Q we can write as a function of one variable:
p
Q(x) = 4xy = 4x 16 x2 :

Interval: 0 x 4 since we are assuming that x is in the …rst quadrant

and must stay inside the circle.

iv)
0 p 2x 64 8x2
Q (x) = 4 16 x2 + 4x p =p :
2 16 x2 16 x2
p
The singular points are x = 2 2 (makes the derivative zero) and x =
4 (singular points). We only want critical points that are in the interval
0p x 4 so that means that we have two critical points to deal with
2 2 and 4: Notice however that the second critical point is also one of the
endpoints of our interval. Now, Q is continuous on [0; 4] and all we need

23
to do is plug in the critical points and endpoints into Q to determine which
gives the largest area.
p
Q(0) = 0; Q(2 2) = 32; Q(4) = 0:
p
So, we can see that we’ll getpthe maximum p area if x = 2 2 and and the
corresponding value of y is y = 16 x2 = 2 2: It looks like the maximum
area will be found if the inscribed rectangle is in fact a square.

Example 31 Find the shortest distance from the point (8; 1) to the curve
y = 1 + x3=2 :

Solution:

y 12
10

0 1 2 3 4 5
x
Fig 21: y = 1 + x3=2

Let P = (x; y) be the closest point on the curve y = 1 + x3=2 to the point
(8; 1) : The distance between P = (x; y) and (8; 1) is
q
D = (8 x)2 + (1 y)2

We want to minimize the distance D: Note that it is the same as minimizing

Q = (8 x)2 + (1 y)2 : The reason avoiding the square root is that taking
the derivative is simpler.

i) Minimize: Q = (8 x)2 + (1 y)2 = D2 :

ii) Constraint: y = 1 + x3=2 (P = (x; y) is a point on the curve y = 1 + x3=2 ).

iii) Eliminating y we have

2
Q(x) = (8 x)2 +(1 y)2 = (8 x)2 + 1 1 x3=2 = x2 16x+64+x3 :

24
 Interval: we don’t have a bounded interval of x: Our interval is in fact the
domain of the function y = 1 + x3=2 ; [0; 1): (see Fig 21) So we are looking
for the absolute minimum of Q(x) on [0; 1):

iv)
0 8
Q (x) = 3x2 + 2x 16 = 0 ) x = 2; x = :
3
8
The critical points are 2 and 3
: Only x = 2 is in our interval.

EP CP
x
0 2
0
f - 0 +
f & abs min %
From the table we see that we have the absolute minimum at x = 2:
The corresponding value of y is y = 1+23=2 = 3: 828 4:The closest point
is P = (2; 3: 828 4) : The shortest distance is
p p
D(2) = Q(2) = 44:

Example 32 Find the shortest distance from the origin to the curve x2 y 4 =
1:

Solution: Let P = (x; y) be the closest point on the curve x2 y 4 = 1 to

the origin. The distance between P = (x; y) and (0; 0) is
p
D = x2 + y 2 :

As we did in the previous example we can minimize Q = D2 = x2 + y 2 :

i) Minimize: Q = D2 = x2 + y 2 :

ii) Constraint: x2 y 4 = 1:

iii) Eliminating x2 from the constraint we have x2 = 1=y 4 and

1
Q(y) = x2 + y 2 = 4
+ y2:
y

Interval: we don’t have a bounded interval of y: In fact y can be any real

number except 0:

25
iv)
0 4 p
6
Q (y) = + 2y = 0 ) y = 2:
y5
p
6
The critical points are y = 2: (Note that y = 0 is not a critical point)

CP
p CP
p
y 6 6 0
2 2
0
f - 0 + - 0 +
f & loc min % 1 & loc min %
p
From the table Q(y) has local minimum at y = 6 2: Note that we included
the point y = 0 not because it is a critical point but because the sign of the
0
derivative Q (y) changes around 0: Note also that

lim Q(y) = lim+ Q(y) = 1, lim Q(y) = 1;

y!0 y!0 y! 1

and that our local minumums are also absolute maximums. (see Fig 22)

y 24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4

-5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
x
1
Fig 22:y = x4
+ x2

The corresponding values of x are

1 2 1 1
x2 = 1=y 4 = p
6
=2 3 )x= 2 3 = p
3
:
24 2
The closest points are
1 p 6 1 p 6 1 p
6 1 p
6
P1 = p
3
; 2 ; P2 = p
3
; 2 ; P3 = p
3
; 2 ; P4 = p
3
; 2
2 2 2 2
: The shortest distance is
p q p p p
6 6 2=3
D( 2) = Q( 2) = 2 + 21=3 = 1: 889 9:

26
Example 33 You are standing at the edge of a slow-moving river which is
one mile wide and wish to return to your campground on the opposite side
of the river. You can swim at 2 km=h and walk at 3 km=h. You must …rst
swim across the river to any point on the opposite bank. From there walk to
the campground, which is one mile from the point directly across the river
from where you start your swim. What route will take the least amount of
time ?

Solution:

Fig 23: The diagram for Example 33

Recall that if travel is at a CONSTANT rate of speed, then

(distance traveled) = (rate of travel)(time elapsed)

or

D = RT
so that time elapsed is
D
T = :
R
We want to minimize the total TIME elapsed:

27
 T = (swim time) + (walk time)
= (swim distance)=(swim rate) + (walk distance)=(walk rate)
p
1 + x2 1 x
= + :
2 3
Taking derivative
p
0 x 1 3x 2 1 + x2
T (x) = p = p
2 1 + x2 3 6 1 + x2
and the critical points are the roots of the equation
0 x 1 p
T (x) = p = 0 ) 3x 2 1 + x2 = 0
2 1 + x2 3
) 9x2 = 4 1 + x2
4
) x2 =
5
2
) x= p 0:89
5
x = p25 are the critical points. Since 0 x 1 (see Fig 23) we ignore
the negative critical point.

EP CP EP
y p2
0 5
1
0
f - 0 +
f & loc min %

We only need to check the critical point x = p2 and endpoints:

5
p
5 2 2
T (0) = = 0:833 33; T ( p ) = 0:706 01; T (1) = = 0:707 11:
6 5 2

The minimum time elapsed is 0:706 01 hour.

Practise Problems
1) Two positive numbers have sum 7. What is the largest possible value
for their product? (Ans: 49=4)
2) Two nonnegative numbers have sum 60. What are the numbers if the
product of one of them and the square of the other is maximal? (Ans: 20
and 40)

28
 3) The sum of two nonnegative numbers is 10. What is the smallest value
of the sum of the cube of one number and the square of the other? (Ans:
71:45)
4) Among all rectangles of given area, show that the square has the least
perimeter.
5) Among all isosceles triangles of given perimeter, show that the equi-
lateral triangle has the greatest area.
6) Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a semi-
circle of radius R if one side of the rectangle lies along the diameter of the
semicircle. (Ans: R2 )
7) A rectangle with sides parallel to the coordinate axes is inscribed in
the ellipse
x2 y 2
+ 2 = 1:
a2 b

Find the largest possible area for this rectangle. (Ans: 2ab)
8) A billboard is to be made with 100 m2 of printed area and with margins
of 2 m at the top and bottom and 4 m on each side. Find the outside
dimensions
p of the billboard p if its total area is to be a minimum. (Ans: width
8 + 10 2 m, height 4 + 5 2 m)
9) What is the length of the shortest line segment having one end on
the p
x-axis, the other
p end on the y-axis, and passing through the point
9; 3 ? (Ans: 8 3)
10) Find the dimensions of the largest right-circular cylinder
q that can be
2R
inscribed in a sphere of radius R. (Ans: height p 3
; radius 23 R)
11) A box with square base and no top has a volume of 4 m3 . Find the
dimensions of the most economical box. (Ans: base 2 m 2 m; height 1 m)
12) We are going to fence in a rectangular …eld. If we look at the …eld
from above the cost of the vertical sides are $10=f t, the cost of the bottom
is $2=f t and the cost of the top is $7=f t. If we have $700 determine the
dimensions of the …eld that will maximize the enclosed area. (Ans: lenght
350
9
, width 35
2
)
2
13) Find the
q point(s) on the curve
q x = 3 2y that are closest to ( 4; 0) :
15 27 15 27
(Ans: 4
; 8
and 4
; 8
)
14) A line through the point (2; 5) forms a right-triangle with the x-axis
and y-axis in the 1st quadrant. Determine the equation of the line that will
minimize the area of this triangle. (Ans: y = 52 x + 10 )

29
References
[1] Adams, R. A. and Essex, C., Calculus: A complete course, 9th Edition,
Pearson Canada, 2018.

[2] Dawkins, P., Paul’s Online Notes, https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/DerivAppsI

[3] Chung, S. K., Understanding Basic Calculus, CreateSpace Independent

Publishing Platform, 2014.

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