CHAPTER 4

DIFFERENTIATION 1:
IDENTIFYING LOCAL MAX/MIN’S
AND
ANY POINT OF INFLECTION

Maths SL
 Learning objectives
1) What is a stationary point and what are their 3 different categories?
2) What is the confusion in maths with the word maximum or minimum?
3) Know and apply the first derivative test to categorise a local max/minimum
4) Apply this knowledge to sketching graphs manually
5) Check 4 with a Ti-84.
6) Be able to categorise and identify Point of Inflection (POI)
7) Know and apply the second derivative test to categorise a POI.
8) Recognise the similarities between 3) and 7)
9) N.B do not use sketch row in your table for 7)
10) Efficiency: Utilising the GDC to immediately calculate values in the tables of 3) & 7)
 N.B Misconception.
There is a global maximum and minimum
(biggest or smallest output value for the entire
This is function)
also
Point Of And
Inflexion
(POI) Local maximum or minimum
There are (biggest or smallest output value for a certain
2 types region of the entire function.)

In textbooks/questions global or local is often

This is also known as a stationary POI dropped and you have to deduce which they are
The other type is a non-stationary POI. referring to. For calculus questions it’s normally
More on this later! the local maximum or minimum.
Gradients around localised minimums
Gradients around localised maximums
 F’(x) test for local max or min
It is normally best to do step 2
2 stages to the test in a first derivative ‘sketch’ box…..here
Only the sign are some made up values
1) Gradient is 0.
At appropriate x value, of f’(X) is important
Defined as the not the number. x
gradient is 0 -ve means decreasing
+ve means increasing
-2 0 0.7
Represented in ‘sketch’

sketch
2) Sign change of first derivative
Chose a value just to the
Left of ……… Sketch shows this is a local min
And a value just to the right
Of ……………
x
Calculate these:
6.3 0 -1.1

sketch
There is a local max/min if there is
a sign change
Sketch shows this is a local max
 f’(1)=9
x -1 0 1
f’(-1)=3
-3 0 9

sketch

x -3 -2 -1
So f’(0)=0 and f’(-2)=0
CO-ORDINATES: 9 0 -3

sketch
 We’re almost able to sketch the curve we know :
Min at (0,1) and max (-2,5)

Now Calculate y intercept, this is where x=0

So the curve goes through

this point

Now you can sketch the curve…

Steps on next slides
So we know that there are 2 stationary points from our previous analysis and the
localized minimum is also the y-intercept…
stationary
 2nd, Calc, Zero
X intercept Calcualtion..
 Now Each time check that the rest of
your sketch os correct using GDC

Check local min and max by using

2nd, calc then 3 or 4.

So for minimum…….

So

(-0.0000006021, 1)

Essentially

(0,1) which is what we had

Same routine but now for max

Precisely what we had 

N.B. You can only use sketch row
when using the first derivative
analysis….as this relates to GRADIENT

The next technique uses the second

derivative f’’(x), this does not tell us about
the gradient so a SKETCH ROW must NOT be
included.
Remember determine their
nature or categorise them
means decide whether the
stationary point is a local max
/min ….
(or even later we’llshow you
how to decide if it’s a POI)

Solutions next page.

Please check your sketches using
your TI-84.
Recall from previous lessons what a point of
inflexion is….kinda merging of two halves of
quadratics. 2 types

Non- stationary POI

Stationary POI
 Even books get it wrong…

Identify all points

of inflexion…..
A
C Answer:
B,C (non-stationary) & Q
(Stationary)
B Identify all local max/min
Answer:
D R (local minimum) & P (local
maximum)
Identify the global max/min
Answer:
Identify the Stationary points R (global minimum as y value
is smaller than D’s) & P (global
R,Q and P maximum as y value larger
(all have a gradient equal to zero)
 Test for Point of Inflexion (POI)
EXCEPT MUST use the 2nd
derivative i.e
F’’(x) test for POI
It is very similar to: 1) Second derivative is 0.

F’(x) test for local max or min

“ necessary but not sufficient proof”
Always write this at this stage…it
1) First derivative (gradient) is 0 impresses examiners
2) Sign change of second derivative

2) Sign change of first derivative

-1.6 0 3.6

4.1 0 -18

Use sketch box to help you. Sign change means a POI exists, no change no POI
Important :

• Do not use a sketch row when using the

second derivative table

• The ‘sketch’ feature only works when relating

to gradient..i.e first derivative.
 a) Determine if there are any points of Inflection on the curve

b) If there is a POI, calculate it’s co-ordinates

a) First stage of identifying POI So at x=2 there is necessary but not

sufficient proof that there is a POI.
Subbing x=1 into
2nd derivative gives
an answer of -6
Stage 2: Sign change

1 2 3

-6 0 6

Yes there is a sign change so there

Is a POI at x=2
b) Co-ordinates of POI.

There is a POI at
Can we use our GDC to help
us with these tests, and
produce these boxes for us?
DAMN Straight!
Let’s answer the last question again but our Ti’s will now do the grunt work.
Using TI-84 to fill in boxes fast
We are going to enter the following We get the derivatives by using
things: The n-derive function.

Y1- original equation Nderive( function, wrt , value sub into derivative)
Y2- first derivative
Y3- second derivative
S0…..click “Math”
Scroll to nderive, enter

Remember we need to enter the following

Nderive( function, wrt , value sub into derivative)

Instead of re-writing the function it would be

Great if we could say whatever is in Y1
 We’re interested in Y1
Vars

Scroll right to Y-Vars, Function So we managed to say look at Y1….

 Nderive( function, wrt , value sub into derivative)

We want to dfferentiate with respect to X, and we

want to put lots of different X values into the first
derivative (not just one) so we press X

So make sure your Y2 line looks like this Now we will do the enitre same procedure
For Y3 which will give us the second
Derivative……….but remember inside the
Nderive bracket you will enter Y2 as you are
Differentiating the first derivative Y2, in
order to generate the second derivative
Click table and you will see…..

X an Y1 give the co-ordinates on the curve

Y2 gives the gradient at the

Appropriate x value..

So at (2,-13) the gradient is

-11

We calculated previously that the curve went through (-2,13)

Now if you scroll across one you will see Y3…..

Y3 are Second derivative values for the appropriate x values

Can you see the GDC reproduces

these values
Solutions

Full worked solution to Ex 4H-Q6F see sperate PDF 

Summary to date
• Local Min/max use f’(x)
• POI use f’’(x)

• Both have similar 2 stage test

 Local Max/Min ALL POI

Use: Use:
First Derivative Second Derivative

2 Stage test:
a) Set derivative=0
b) Look for sign change 2 Stage test:
a) Set 2nd derivative=0
b) Look for sign change
 Learning objectives….are they
fulfilled?
1) What is a stationary point and what are their 3 different categories?
2) What is the confusion in maths with the word maximum or minimum?
3) Know and apply the first derivative test to categorise a local max/minimum
4) Apply this knowledge to sketching graphs manually
5) Check 4 with a Ti-84.
6) Be able to categorise and identify Point of Inflection (POI)
7) Know and apply the second derivative test to categorise a POI.
8) Recognise the similarities between 3) and 7)
9) N.B do not use sketch row in your table for 7)
10) Efficiency: Utilising the GDC to immediately calculate values in the tables of 3) & 7)