(AOD- III) Maxima and Minima

Lecture - 1

Sunil Kumar Gupta (SKG)

Maths Faculty
 Local Maxima

A function f (x) is said to have a Local maxima at x = a,

if f(a) is greater than every other value assumed by
f(x) in the immediate neighborhood of x = a symbolically
y

x=ag

(Where h is the very small positive number)

o x
a-h a a+h
 Local Minima

A function f (x) is said to have a local minima at x = b, if f(b) is smaller

than every other value assumed by f(x) in the immediate neighborhood
of x = b , symbolically
y
x = b , gives local minima if

(Where h is the very small positive number)

o x
a-h a a+h
Global Maxima / Minima
 Maxima / Minima at a point

y y

o x o x
a a

Function is not continuous and not differentiable but have local

maxima at x = a
 Maxima / Minima at a point

o x
a

Here at x = a the function is increasing , but does not have any local
maxima or minima
 Maxima / Minima at a point

y y

o x o x
a a
 Extreme point( Stationary points)
and critical points

Extreme Point : A point x = a is an extreme point of a function f(x) if f¢(a) = 0,

provided f ¢(a) exists.

Critical Point : Points where f¢(x) = 0 or not defined, called critical points.
y

o x
Note :
 The maximum and minimum points are also known as extreme points.
 A function may have more than one maximum and minimum points.
 If a continuous function has only one maximum (minimum) point, then at
this point function has its greatest (least) value.
 Monotonic functions do not have extreme points.
 Tests for local maxima /minima
(when f(x) is derivable)

First order derivative test

Note :
(i) Point of Maxima :
A point where the sign of f ¢(x) changes from + ve to – ve
(ii) Point of Minima :
A point where the sign of f ¢(x) changes from – ve to + ve.

(iii) Maxima and minima occur alternately. For example if x = – 1, 0, 2, 3 are

extreme points of a continuous function and if x = 0 is a maximum point
then
If there is no change in the sign of dy/dx on two sides of a point, then such a
point is not an extreme point but such point is called point of inflection
Point of inflection

Point of inflection is the point curvature of graph changes.

Conclusion of First order derivative test
Q. Let f(x)=
investigate the function at x = 0 for maxima/ minima
Q. If = , then find the point of maxima/minima
Q. If = x + 2cosx , then find the point of maxima/minima in (0, p]
Q. If = (x – 2)6 (x – 3)5, then find point of maxima and minima.
Q. Find point of maxima/minima for function f(x) = x25(1 – x)75