APPLICATIONS OF

DERIVATIVES
Maxima and minima
Maxima and minima
The maxima and minima (the respective plurals
of maximum and minimum) of a function, known
collectively as extrema (the plural of extremum), are
the largest and smallest value of the function, either
within a given range (the local or relative extrema), or
on the entire domain (the global or absolute extrema).
Maxima and minima
To an engineer – The maximum and the minimum values of a
function can be used to determine its boundaries in real-life. For
example, if you can find a suitable function for the speed of a
train; then determining the maximum possible speed of the train
can help you choose the materials that would be strong enough
to withstand the pressure due to such high speeds, and can be
used to manufacture the brakes and the rails etc. for the train to
run smoothly.
Maxima and minima
There are two types of maxima and minima

1) Absolute (Global) maxima and minima

2) Local (Relative )maxima and minima.

Relative Maxima & Minima
Relative Maxima & Minima

For a point to be a relative extrema

we must be able to look at function
values on both sides of 𝑥 = 𝑐 to
see if it really is a maximum or
minimum at that point. This means
that relative extrema do not occur
at the end points of a domain. They
can only occur interior to the
domain.
Absolute Maxima & Minima
Critical point:

A critical point (extreme value) for f is any point c in the

domain of f at which 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) =0 or f is not differentiable at
c. the critical point where 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) =0 are called stationary
points.
EXTREME VALUES OCCUR ONLY AT CRITICAL
POINTS AND ENDPOINTS
 Local Extreme Values Theorem

If a function f has a local maximum value or a local

minimum value at an interior point c of its domain, and if
f ’ exists at c, then f ’(c)=0

In local extreme value, the tangent line is

parallel to x axis and the slope is zero, since
we know that derivatives are the slope of the
tangent line so derivative is equal to zero.
Extreme Value Theorem:
If f is continuous on a closed interval [a,b], then f has both a
maximum value and a minimum value on the interval.

Maximum & minimum Maximum at interior point, Maximum & minimum

at interior points minimum at endpoint at endpoints

Note that an extreme value

can be taken on more than once.
EX: Identify the absolute extrema and relative extrema for
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟐 on [-1, 2]

Relative and absolute minimum:

x=0 absolute maximum: x=2

Note that 𝑥 = −1 is not a relative

maximum since it is at the end
point of the interval.
This function doesn’t have any
relative maximums.
Test for maxima/minima
Let us now consider the various tests by which we can separate the critical points into points of
local maxima or minima.
1) 1st derivative test
➢If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 changes sign from negative to positive while passing through x=a from left to
right then x=a is a point of local minima.
➢If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 changes sign from positive to negative while passing through x=a from left to
right then x=a is a point of local maxima.
➢If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 does not changes its sign about x=a then x=a is neither a point of maxima nor
minima (point of inflection).
1st derivative test
Test for maxima/minima
2) 2nd derivative test
If f(x) is continuous function in the neighborhood of x=0 such that 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 =0 and 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎) exists
then we can predict maxima or minima at x=0 by examining the sign of 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎).
➢If 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎) > 0 then 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a point of local minima.
➢If 𝑓 ′′ (𝑎) < 0 then 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a point of local maxima.
➢If 𝑓 ′′ 𝑎 = 0 then 2nd derivative test does not gives us conclusive results.
Example
Find the relative extreme value of the function by using 1st derivative test.
𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 8𝑥 3 + 22𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 + 1
1) 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4𝑥 3 − 24𝑥 2 + 44𝑥 − 24
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4(𝑥 3 − 6𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 − 6) --------(A)
By synthetic division

1 1 -6 11 -6

1 -5 6

1 -5 6 0

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4 𝑥 − 1 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6

𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 4(𝑥 − 1)(x − 2)(x − 3)

Example
2) For critical points
𝑓 ′ 𝑥 =0, 4(𝑥 − 1)(x − 2)(x − 3)=0
⟹ 𝑥 = 1, 2,3
3)Find interval
𝑥<1
1<𝑥<2
2<𝑥<3
𝑥>3
Put interval in 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 → (A)
Example
Find the maxima and minima (relative extreme values) of f(x)=x3+x2. (2nd derivative test)
First, we find f '(x). Using the rules of differentiation, we find f '(x)=3x2+2x.
Now let's set f '(x)=0: 3x2+2x=0
x(3x+2)=0 (factorising)
x=0 or x=-2/3
Substitute these values back in so that we can find our 'y-coordinates': f(0)=(0)3+(0)2=0
f(-2/3)=(-2/3)3+(-2/3)2=4/27
Hence our stationary points are (0,0) and (-2/3,4/27).
Finally, we use our test: f ''(x)=6x+2
f ''(0)=2 (substituting x=0)
f ''(-2/3)=-2 (substituting x=-2/3)
2>0, so (0,0) is a local minimum of f(x).
-2<0, so (-2/3,4/27) is a local maximum of f(x).
Examples
Locate the points of relative extrema (Local maxima and
local minima) of each of the following curves.
1) 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 3 − 15𝑥 2 + 36𝑥 + 10
2) 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 5
3) 𝑓 𝑥 = 12𝑥 5 − 45𝑥 4 + 40𝑥 3 + 6
4) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 1 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 − 3
5) 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥𝑐𝑜𝑠2𝑥
Concavity

Concave Up Concave Down

Inflection Points

Notice that an inflection point is not where a graph changes from an increasing to a decreasing
slope, but where the graph changes its concavity.
Intercepts