22-Relative Extrema VU

Lecture # 22

Relative Extrema
• Relative Maxima
• Relative Minima
• Critical Points
• First Derivative test
• Second Derivative test
• Graphs of Polynomials
• Graphs of Rational functions

Relative Maxima

Most of the graphs we have seen have ups and downs, much like Hills and valleys on earth.
The Ups or the Hills are called relative Maxima.
The downs or the Valleys are called relative Minima
The reason we use the word relative is that just like a given Hill in a mountain range need not
necessarily be the Highest point in the range. Similarly a given maxima in a graph need not be the
maximum possible value in the graph.
Same goes for the relative minima.
In general, we may say that a given Hill is the highest one in some area. Look at relative maxima in a
given interval.
Again, same is true for valleys and relative minima.
So when we talk about relative maxima and relative minima, we talk about them in the context of
some interval.

Definition 4.3.1

Definition 4.3.2
A function is said to have a relative minimum at x 0 if f(x 0 ) ≤ f(x) for all x in
some open interval containing x 0.

Definition 4.3.3

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Example
Here is a graph of a function f. This has a relative maximum in the interval (a, b) because from the
graph its obvious that
f ( x0 ) ≥ f ( x)

Critical Points
It so happens that relative extrema can be viewed as transition points that separate the regions where
a graph of a function is increasing from those where a graph is decreasing.

Here is a figure. This shows that relative extrema of a function occur at points where f has a
horizontal tangent, or where the function is not differentiable.
Horizontal tangent means derivative = 0.
Non-differentiable means corners.

Theorem 4.3.4

Definition 4.3.5

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So theorem 4.3.4 can be read as now with this new terminology As “The relative extrema of a
function, if any, occur at critical points.”
Example
a) x0 here is a critical and stationary point as tangent line has slope 0
f) x0 here is a critical point and it has minimum value at that point but the tangent line is
not defined at that point.
g) x0 is a critical point but not stationary as derivative does not exist

Here are the figures of the situations.

First Derivative test and Second Derivative test

Note that in (g) of the last figure, x o was a critical point, but there was not relative extrema there!
This can happen.
So how do we know at which critical point a relative extrema occurs or not?
Here is a theorem for that.

In short: “ The relative extrema, if any, on an open interval where a function f is continuous and not
constant occurs at those critical points where f / changes sign”

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Example
Locate the relative extrema of
5 2
f (=
x) 3 x 3 − 15 x 3
2 1 1
− − 5
f '( x) = 5 x 3 − 10 x 3 = 5 x 3 ( x − 2) = 1
( x − 2)
3
x
Note that there are two critical points, namely x = 0 and x = 2 Because at x = 2, the derivative f / =
0, and at x = 0, the derivative does not exists.
Now we need to know where there is a relative extrema by checking for the changing sign of f / at
the 2 critical points.
We use theorem 4.3.6 and draw a number line test

We see that there is relative maximum at 0

We see that there is relative minimum at 2

There is another test for finding extrema easier than

the first derivative test.

Theorem 4.3.7

EXAMPLE
Locate the relative extrema of f ( x=
) x4 − 2x2
f / ( x) = 4 x3 − 4 x = 4 x( x − 1)( x + 1)
f / /=
( x) 12 x 2 − 4
Setting f / ( x) = 0 gives stationary points x = 0 and x = ±1
Also,
f / / (0) =−4 < 0
f / / (1)= 8 > 0
f / / (−1) = 8 > 0
There is a relative maximum at x = 0, and relative minima at x = 1 and x = -1

Graphs of Polynomials

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In applied sciences and engineering, it is required many times to understand the behavior of a
function.
Graphs are a good way to understand function behavior. But many times it is hard to graph the
function.
So it is often necessary to understand the behavior in terms of maxima and minima and concavity
etc.
We will look at how the stuff from the last lecture helps us in graphing polynomial and rational
functions
In applied sciences and engineering, it is required many times to understand the behavior of a
function.
Graphs are a good way to understand function behavior. But many times it is hard to graph the
function.
So it is often necessary to understand the behavior in terms of maxima and minima and concavity
etc.
We will look at how the stuff from the last lecture helps us in graphing polynomial and rational
functions

Example
Sketch the graph of P ( x) = y =x 3 − 3 x + 2
dy
= 3 x 2 − 3= 3( x − 1)( x + 1) −2 0
dx
−1 4
d2y
= 6x 0 2
dx 2
1 0
You find the stationary points, inflection points. 2 4

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Above figure Shows the intervals of increase/decrease and of concavity Y intercept at (0,2) Inflection
point is at x = 0

Graph of Rational Functions

Rational function, remember, is a function defined by the ratio of two polynomials
P( x)
R( x) =
Q( x)

Its obvious that if Q(x) = 0, then R(x) has discontinuity at those values of x where
Q(x) = 0

Consider the following graph of

x
f ( x) =
x−2

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Vertical asymptotes occur where the denominator is 0

Example
Find horizontal and vertical asymptotes of
x2 + 2x
f ( x) =
x2 −1

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