Finding maximum and minimum of a

function
Stationary points
There are 3 types of stationary
points:
maximum
• maximum points,
• minimum points, and
point of
• points of inflection inflection

minimum
Maximum points
Looking at the graph we can see that:
• The gradient is positive before a
maximum point, zero at a maximum
point, and negative after a maximum
point.
• The value of is decreasing so that the
rate of change of with respect to is
negative
• i.e. is negative
Minimum points
The graph shows:
• Negative gradient just before a
minimum point, zero at the minimum
point, and positive just after a minimum
point
• The value of is increasing so that the
rate of change of with
• respect to is positive i.e. is positive
Points of inflection
• Located at the point where and

• Two such points are shown in

sketches. They are called points
of inflection
Note: is also zero at some
minimum or maximum points.
Definitions
• Let be a function in domain D, • An extreme value can occur at in the
then interval [𝑐,𝑑] at end points 𝑥 = 𝑐 and 𝑥
=𝑑
• is the maximum of the function if
for all values of x in the domain D. • A point in where

• is the minimum of the function if • A point in where does not exist (see
for all values of x in the domain D Figure 2)
Example 1
Find the minimum and maximum value of in the interval
Solution

• exists everywhere in
• So the critical points are

Therefore, the minimum value of occurs at=1, and

The maximum value occurs at = 5
Figure 3 Maximum and minimum values of f ( x)  x 2  2 x  5 over interval [0,5].
Example 2
Find the maximum and minimum of in the interval
Solution

• on
• So the critical values are and
Substituting
f(0) =0
f(5) =10
Definitions
• The point(s) where the second derivative of a function becomes zero is
a way to know whether the critical point found in the first derivative
test is a local minimum or maximum.
• Let be a function in the interval and .
• is a local maximum of the function if .
• is a local minimum of the function if .

• If , then the second derivative does not offer any insight into the local
maxima or minima.
Example 3
Remember Example 2 where we found at for in the interval . Is a
local maxima or minima of the function?
Solution

at

So, the is the local minimum

 1. Sketching Curves
Find the stationary point(s):
dy
 Find an expression for and put it equal to 0, then solve the resulting equation to find the x
dx
co-ordinate(s) of the stationary point(s).
d2 y
 Find 2 and substitute each value of x to find the kind of stationary point(s).
dx
(+ suggests a minimum, – a maximum, 0 could be either or a point of inflection)
 Use the curve’s equation to find the y co-ordinate(s) of the stationary point(s).

Find the point(s) where the curve meets the axes:

 Substitute x = 0 in the curve’s equation to find the y co-ordinate of the point where the curve
meets the y axis.
 Substitute y = 0 in the curve’s equation. If possible, solve the equation to find the
x co-ordinate(s) of the point(s) where the curve meets the x axis.

Sketch the curve, then use a graphic calculator to check.

Example 4 • When
Sketch • When
Find • so
At stationary points • Curve crosses at and
This gives so
From (1) suggesting a
maximum

Substituting into gives

so is the maximum point
Example 5 • From (1)
To Sketch • Which is positive when and Negative
Solution when .
Substituting the values of x into

• At stationary points , gives and

• This means , gives
• Factorizing gives (0,2) is a minimum point and
• With solutions (2,6) is a maximum point
• When ,
• When y=0,
• Note:
Solving such cubic equations is
difficult and not necessary as it is
possible to sketch the curve using
just the stationary points and the
fact that it crosses the y axis at (0,
2)
Try the following

1. Sketch
2. Determine maximum, minimum point and turning point and hence
sketch the graph of
Exercise
a) For each of the curves whose equations are given below:
i. find each stationary point and what type it is; (i.e. tell whether it is a maximum or
minimum)
ii. find the co-ordinates of the point(s) where the curve meets the x and y
axes;
iii. sketch the curve;
iv. check by sketching the curve on your graphic calculator.

1. y = x2 – 4x 2. y = x2 – 6x + 5 3. y = x2 + 2x – 8

4. y = 16 – x2 5. y = 6x – x2 6. y = 1 – x – 2x2

7. y = x3 – 3x2 8. y = 16 – x4 9. y = x3 – 3x

10. y = x3 + 1
b) For each of the curves whose equations are given below:

i. find each stationary point and what type it is;

ii. find the co-ordinates of the point where the curve meets the y axis;
iii. sketch the curve;
iv. check by sketching the curve on your graphic calculator.

11. y = x3 + 3x2 – 9x + 6 12. y = 2x3 – 3x2 – 12x + 4

13. y = x3 – 3x – 5 14. y = 60x + 3x2 – 4x3

15. y = x4 – 2x2 + 3 16. y = 3 + 4x – x4