LEARNING MODULE

Subject Code: MATH 5 Differential Calculus

Module Code: 6.0
Lesson Code: 6.2.1
Time Frame: 30 Minutes

TARGET T.A: 1 minute ATA:

By the end of this learning module, the students should be able:

 Compare and contrast relative extrema and absolute extrema of functions.

 Compute the critical numbers of a function.
 Find the absolute extrema of functions using the closed interval method.

HOOK TA: 2 minutes ATA:

Another important application of the derivative of a function is to determine on which part of an

interval where the function is defined attains its highest point and where the function attains its lowest point.
It is also interesting to note the values of x where the turning points of the graph occur (that is, where
function changes its behavior from increasing to decreasing or vice versa) and where the functions has sharp
turns and discontinuities.

Consider the graph of the function f below, defined on the interval [-3, 3]. The graph attains its
highest point on
the interval at x = 3
and its lowest point
on the interval at
some value of x
between -3 and -2.
However, it is also
interesting to note
some other points,
such as turning
points of the graph,
where its behavior
changes, such as
the one at x = 2, and
the one between 0
and 1.

Figure 1

Math 5 | Page 1 of 8
 TA: 27 minutes ATA:

We now define the absolute (or global) maximum and absolute (or global) minimum values of a
function on a given interval.

Definition: Absolute Maximum Value

Let a function f be defined on an interval I containing a number c. We say that f(c) is
the absolute maximum value of f on I if 𝑓(𝑐) ≥ 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 in I.

Definition: Absolute Minimum Value

Let a function f be defined on an interval I containing a number c. We say that f(c) is
the absolute minimum value of f on I if 𝑓(𝑐) ≤ 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 in I.

The maximum and minimum values of a function are collectively known as extreme values or
extrema of a function. Other points of the graph that exhibit the same behavior locally (maximum or
minimum for values near the point) are called relative (or local) extrema. We define them formally below:

Definition: Relative Maximum Value

Let c be a number on the domain of a function f. We say that f has a relative
maximum value at c if there is an open interval containing c for which f is defined such
that 𝑓(𝑐) ≥ 𝑓(𝑥) for all 𝑥 in the interval.

Definition: Relative Minimum Value

Let c be a number on the domain of a function f. We say that f has a relative
minimum value at c if there is an open interval containing c for which f is defined such
that 𝑓(𝑐) ≤ 𝑓(𝑥). for all 𝑥 in the interval.

Math 5 | Page 2 of 8
 Consider the graph of f below defined for all real numbers. Assume the graph does not change
behavior for parts not
visible in the figure. Note
that the graph has no
absolute maximum and
no absolute minimum.
However, on the interval
(-5, 5), the graph has a
maximum at x = 0 (Point
A). Likewise, on the
interval (5, 10), the graph
has a minimum at x = 8
(Point B). These are what
we are referring to as
relative maximum and
relative minimum,
respectively.

Figure 2

Note that the tangent line at A is the vertical line x = 0. Hence, f ’(0) does not exist. The tangent line at B,
however, is the horizontal line y = -12. Thus f ‘(8) = 0.

We can see from the example above that at the points c where f has a relative extremum, either f ’(c) = 0
or does not exist. This is stated in the following theorem.

Theorem 1 (Fermat’s Theorem)

If a function 𝑓 is defined on some open interval (𝑎, 𝑏) containing a number c, and if
𝑓 has a relative extremum at 𝑐 and if 𝑓′(𝑥) exists, then 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0.

However, the converse of this theorem is not necessarily true, as can be seen in the following figure.

Here, f ‘(0) does not exist since the graph has a

vertical tangent line at x = 0. Also, f ‘(10) = 0
since the tangent line is horizontal at x = 10.
However, it is clear that they are both not
relative extrema.

Figure 3

Math 5 | Page 3 of 8
This leads us to an important term related to the derivatives of functions.

Definition: Critical Number

A number 𝑐 on the domain of the function 𝑓 is called a critical number of 𝑓 if
′ (𝑐)
𝑓 = 0 or 𝑓′(𝑐) does not exists.
NOTE:
Critical numbers are the possible x-values where relative extrema of a function
can occur.

EXAMPLE 1.

Determine the critical numbers of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥.

SOLUTION:
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
𝑓′(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 + 12𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 12 OBSERVE that there is no value of 𝑐 such
𝑓′(𝑥) = 4𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 12𝑥 2 − 12 that 𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.
𝑓′(𝑥) = 4𝑥(𝑥 2 − 1) + 12(𝑥 2 − 1)
𝑓′(𝑥) = (𝑥 2 − 1)(4𝑥 + 12)
𝑓′(𝑥) = 4(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3)

Determine the values of c where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0.

4(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 3) = 0

(𝑥 − 1) = 0; (𝑥 + 1) = 0; (𝑥 + 3) = 0
𝑥 = 1; 𝑥 = −1; 𝑥 = −3
𝑥 = 1; 𝑥 = −1;
Therefore, the critical numbers of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 4 + 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 are -3, -1, and 1.

EXAMPLE 2.
4 1
Determine the critical numbers of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 3

SOLUTION:
4 1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 3 4(𝑥+1)
1 2
4 4 OBSERVE that the expression will be
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3 𝑥 3 + 3 𝑥 −3 2
3𝑥 ⁄3
1 2
4
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3 (𝑥 3 + 𝑥 −3 ) equal to zero if the numerator is equal to zero and
2 the expression will be undefined if the denominator
4
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3 𝑥 − 3 (𝑥 + 1) is equal to zero.
4(𝑥+1)
𝑓′(𝑥) = 2
3𝑥 3

Math 5 | Page 4 of 8
  Determine the critical numbers where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0.

4(𝑥 + 1) = 0
(𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = −1

 Determine the critical points where 𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.

2
3𝑥 3 = 0
2
𝑥3 = 0

𝑥=0

Therefore, the critical numbers of the function are -1 and 0.

Now, one of the main applications of the derivative in solving real world problems is finding the absolute
maximum or minimum value of a function over an interval. If the function is continuous on a closed
interval, there is a theorem which guarantees the existence of absolute extrema, and it is stated below.

Theorem 2 (Extreme Value Theorem)

If a function 𝑓 is continuous on the closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏], then f has an absolute
maximum and an absolute minimum on the interval [𝑎, 𝑏].

This theorem, however, does not say where the absolute extrema occur. It is worth noting though that the
absolute extrema must occur at either the endpoints or at the relative extrema. Since relative extrema only
occurs at the critical numbers, then we only need to compare the function values at the critical numbers
and at the endpoints to find the absolute extrema.

The Closed Interval Method

To find the absolute extrema of a continuous function f on a closed interval [a, b]:
1. Find the values of f at the critical numbers of f on (a, b).
2. Find the values of f at the endpoints a and b.
3. The largest of the values from Steps 1 and 2 is the absolute maximum value; the
smallest of these values is the absolute minimum value.

Math 5 | Page 5 of 8
EXAMPLE 3.
Determine the absolute extremum values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 − 1 where 𝑥 ∈ [−2,3].

SOLUTION:

STEP 1: Determine the critical points of the function 𝑓(𝑥) where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0 or 𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 − 1
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 6 OBSERVE that there is no value of 𝑐 such that 𝑓′(𝑐)
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3(𝑥 2 − 2) does not exist.

 Determine the critical points where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0. Then evaluate 𝑓(𝑐).

3(𝑥 2 − 2) = 0 𝑓(√2) = −4√2 − 1 ≈ −6.656

𝑥2 − 2 = 0 𝑓(−√2) = 4√2 − 1 ≈ 4.656
𝑥2 = 2
𝑥 = ±√2

STEP 2. Determine the function values at the endpoints -2 and 3.

𝑓(−2) = 3
𝑓(3) = 8

STEP 3. Compare the computed function values.

Largest is 𝑓(3) = 8 → absolute maximum value

Smallest is 𝑓(√2) = −4√2 − 1 ≈ −6.656 → absolute minimum value

EXAMPLE 4.

Determine the absolute extremum values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 2𝑥 + cos 2𝑥 where 𝑥 ∈
[0, 𝜋].

SOLUTION:

STEP 1: Determine the critical numbers c of the function 𝑓(𝑥), that is, the values of c where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0 or
𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.
𝑓(𝑥) = sin 2𝑥 + cos 2𝑥
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 2cos 2𝑥 −2 sin 2𝑥
𝑓′(𝑥) = 2(cos 2𝑥 − sin 2𝑥)

OBSERVE that there is no value of 𝑐 such that 𝑓′(𝑐)

does not exist.

 Determine the critical numbers where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0.

2(cos 2𝑥 − sin 2𝑥) = 0

Math 5 | Page 6 of 8
 cos 2𝑥 − sin 2𝑥 = 0
cos 2𝑥 = sin 2𝑥
sin 2𝑥
cos 2𝑥
=1
tan 2𝑥 = 1
𝜋
NOTE that this equation is only TRUE if the angle of the tangent function is equal to 45𝑜 or 4
5𝜋
and 225𝑜 or 4
this means that,

𝜋 5𝜋 𝜋
2𝑥 = 2𝑥 = 𝑓 ( ) = √2
4 4 8

𝜋 5𝜋 5𝜋
𝑥= 𝑥= 𝑓 ( ) = −√2
8 8 8

STEP 2. Determine the function values at the endpoints 0 and π.

𝑓(0) = 1 𝑓(𝜋) = 1

STEP 3. Compare the computed function values.

𝜋
Largest is 𝑓 ( 8 ) = √2 → absolute maximum value
5𝜋
Smallest is 𝑓 ( 8 ) = −√2 → absolute minimum value

EXAMPLE 5.

Determine the absolute extrema of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)2/3 on the interval [−6, 3].

SOLUTION:

STEP 1: Determine the critical numbers of the function 𝑓(𝑥), that is, the values of c where 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0 or
𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 2)2/3
2
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3 (𝑥 − 2)−1/3
2
𝑓′(𝑥) = 3(𝑥−2)1/3

OBSERVE that there is no value of 𝑐 such that 𝑓′(𝑐) = 0 and

𝑓 ′ (𝑐) does not exist when the denominator is equal to zero.

 Determine the critical numbers c where 𝑓′(𝑐) does not exist.

3(𝑥 − 2)1/3 = 0
(𝑥 − 2)1/3 = 0

Math 5 | Page 7 of 8
 𝑥−2=0
𝑥=2 𝑓(2) = 0

STEP 2. Determine the function values at the endpoints -6 and 3.

𝑓(−6) = 4 𝑓(3) = 1

STEP 3. Compare the computed function values.

Largest is 𝑓(−6) = 4 → absolute maximum value

Smallest is 𝑓(2) = 0 → absolute minimum value

REFERENCES:

Stewart, J. (2016). Calculus: Early Transcendentals. International Metric Version. 8th ed. Cengage
Learning. Singapore

Leithold, L. (1996). The Calculus 7of a Single Variable. 6th edition c 1990

Prepared by: ROMIL P. ALBISO Reviewed by: JULIUS O. ALBINA

Position: Special Science Teacher III Position: Special Science Teacher IV
Campus: PSHS-CVisc Campus: PSHS-CvisC

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