Calculus I

Lecture 29. Applications of Derivatives

Extreme values of functions
Definition. Let 𝑓 be a function with domain 𝐷. Then 𝑓 has an absolute maximum value
on 𝐷 at a point 𝑐 if

𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑓 𝑐 for all 𝑥 in 𝐷

and an absolute minimum value on 𝐷 at 𝑐 if

𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 𝑓 𝑐 for all 𝑥 in 𝐷

Maximum and minimum values are called extreme values of the function 𝑓. Absolute
maxima or minima are also referred to as global maxima or minima.
Example 1. 𝑓 𝑥 = cos 𝑥 𝜋 𝜋
on − ,
𝑔 𝑥 = sin 𝑥 2 2
Example 2.

The absolute extrema of the following functions on their domains can be seen in the
table. Notice that a function might not have a maximum or minimum, if the domain is
unbounded or fails to contain an endpoint.

Function rule Domain D Absolute extrema on D

No absolute maximum.
𝑦 = 𝑥2 −∞, ∞
Absolute minimum of 0 at 𝑥 = 0.

Absolute maximum of 4 at 𝑥 = 2.
𝑦 = 𝑥2 0, 2
Absolute minimum of 0 at 𝑥 = 0.

Absolute maximum of 4 at 𝑥 = 2.
𝑦 = 𝑥2 0, 2
No absolute minimum.

𝑦 = 𝑥2 0, 2 No absolute extrema.
Theorem – The extreme value theorem

If 𝑓 is continuous on a closed interval 𝑎, 𝑏 , then 𝑓 attains both an absolute maximum

value 𝑀 and an absolute minimum value 𝑚 in 𝑎, 𝑏 .

That is, there are numbers 𝑥1 and 𝑥2 in 𝑎, 𝑏 with 𝑓 𝑥1 = 𝑚, 𝑓 𝑥2 = 𝑀, and 𝑚 ≤ 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑀

for every other 𝑥 in 𝑎, 𝑏 .
Example 3.

Figure Copyright © Thomas’ Calculus. 2010 Pearson

Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Local (relative) extreme values

Definition. A function 𝑓 has a local maximum value at a point 𝑐 within its domain 𝐷 if
𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑓 𝑐 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝐷 lying in some open interval containing 𝑐.

A function 𝑓 has a local minimum value at a point 𝑐 within its domain 𝐷 if 𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 𝑓 𝑐 for
all 𝑥 ∈ 𝐷 lying in some open interval containing 𝑐.
Local (relative) extreme values
If the domain of 𝑓 is the closed interval 𝑎, 𝑏 , then 𝑓 has a local maximum at the
endpoint 𝑥 = 𝑎, if 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑓 𝑎 for all 𝑥 in some half open interval 𝑎, 𝑎 + 𝛿 , 𝛿 > 0.

Likewise, 𝑓 has a local minimum at an interior point 𝑥 = 𝑐, if 𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 𝑓 𝑐 for all 𝑥 in some

half open interval 𝑐 − 𝛿, 𝑐 + 𝛿 , 𝛿 > 0 and a local maximum at the endpoint 𝑥 = 𝑏, if
𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑓 𝑏 for all 𝑥 in some half open interval 𝑏 − 𝛿, 𝑏 , 𝛿 > 0.

The inequalities are reversed for local minimum values.

Local extrema are also called relative extrema.

Some functions can have infinitely many local extrema, even over a finite interval.
1
One example is the function 𝑓 𝑥 = sin on the interval 0, 1 .
𝑥
Figure Copyright © Thomas’ Calculus. 2010 Pearson
Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley.
Finding extrema

Theorem. The first derivative theorem for local extreme values.

If 𝑓 has a local maximum or minimum value at an interior point 𝑐 of its domain, and if 𝑓′ is
defined at 𝑐, then
𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0.

This theorem says that a function’s first derivative is always zero at an interior point where the function has a
local extreme value and the derivative is defined. Hence the only places where a function 𝑓 can possibly have
an extreme value (local or global) are
❖ interior points where 𝑓′ = 0.
❖ interior points where 𝑓′ is undefined.
❖ endpoints of the domain of 𝑓.
Finding extrema

Critical point.
An interior point of the domain of a function 𝑓 where 𝑓′ is zero or undefined is a critical
point of f.

How to find the absolute extrema of a continuous function f on a finite closed interval

1. Evaluate 𝑓 at all critical points and endpoints.

2. Take the largest and smallest of these values.
Example 4. Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 on −2, 1 .
Example 5. Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 8𝑥 − 𝑥 4 on
−2, 1 .
Example 6. Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2/3 on −2, 3 .
Theorem – Rolle’s theorem

Suppose that 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 is continuous at every point of the closed interval 𝑎, 𝑏 and

differentiable at every point of its interior 𝑎, 𝑏 . If 𝑓 𝑎 = 𝑓 𝑏 , then there is at least one
number 𝑐 in 𝑎, 𝑏 at which 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0.
Rolle’s theorem says that a differentiable curve has at least one horizontal tangent
between any two points where it crosses a horizontal line. It may have just one point
where 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0, or it may have more than one points where 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0.

Figure Copyright © Thomas’ Calculus. 2010

Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson
Addison-Wesley.
Theorem – The mean value theorem

Suppose that 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 is continuous on a closed interval 𝑎, 𝑏 and differentiable on the

interval’s interior 𝑎, 𝑏 . Then there is at least one point 𝑐 in 𝑎, 𝑏 at which

𝑓 𝑏 −𝑓 𝑎
= 𝑓′ 𝑐
𝑏−𝑎
Example 7. Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 . Find the number 𝑐 that satisfies the mean value theorem on
the interval 3, 7 .
Example 8. Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥. Find the number 𝑐 that satisfies the mean value theorem on
the interval 4, 9 .
Some corollaries

Corollary
If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 0 at each point 𝑥 of an open interval 𝑎, 𝑏 , then 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑎, 𝑏 where
𝑐 is a constant.

Corollary
If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 = 𝑔′ 𝑥 at each point 𝑥 of an open interval 𝑎, 𝑏 , then there exists a constant 𝑐
such that 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑔 𝑥 + 𝑐 for all 𝑥 ∈ 𝑎, 𝑏 . That is, 𝑓 − 𝑔 is a constant function on 𝑎, 𝑏 .
Monotonic functions and the first derivative test

Increasing and decreasing functions

A function that is increasing or decreasing on an interval is said to be monotonic on the
interval.

Corollary
Suppose that 𝑓 is continuous on 𝑎, 𝑏 and differentiable on 𝑎, 𝑏 .
If 𝑓′ 𝑥 > 0 at each point 𝑥 ∈ 𝑎, 𝑏 , then 𝑓 is increasing on 𝑎, 𝑏 .
If 𝑓 ′ 𝑥 < 0 at each point 𝑥 ∈ 𝑎, 𝑏 , then 𝑓 is decreasing on 𝑎, 𝑏 .
Example 9. Find the critical points of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 − 5 and identify the intervals on
which 𝑓 is increasing and on which 𝑓 is decreasing.
First derivative test for local extrema

Suppose that 𝑐 is a critical point of a continuous function 𝑓, and that 𝑓 is differentiable at

every point in some interval containing 𝑐 except possibly at 𝑐 itself. Moving across this
interval from left to right,

1. If 𝑓′ changes from negative to positive at 𝑐, then 𝑓 has a local minimum at 𝑐;

2. If 𝑓′ changes from positive to negative at 𝑐, then 𝑓 has a local maximum at 𝑐;
3. If 𝑓′ does not change sign at 𝑐 (that is, 𝑓′ is positive on both sides of 𝑐 or negative on
both sides of 𝑐) then 𝑓 has no local extremum at 𝑐.
Example 10. Find the critical points of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 1/3 𝑥 − 4 and identify the intervals on
which 𝑓 is increasing and decreasing. Find the function’s local and absolute extreme
values.
Concavity and curve sketching

Concavity
The graph of a differentiable function 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 is
(a) concave up on an open interval 𝕀 if 𝑓′ is increasing on 𝕀;
(b) concave down on an open interval 𝕀 if 𝑓′ is decreasing on 𝕀.

The second derivative test for concavity

Let 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥 be twice-differentiable on an interval 𝕀.
1. If 𝑓 ′′ > 0 on 𝕀, the graph of 𝑓 over 𝕀 is concave up.
2. If 𝑓 ′′ < 0 on 𝕀, the graph of 𝑓 over 𝕀 is concave down.
Example 11. The curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 .
Example 12. The curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 .
Points of inflection

A point where the graph of a function has a tangent line and where the concavity changes
is a point of inflection.

At a point of inflection 𝑐, 𝑓 𝑐 , either 𝑓′′ 𝑐 = 0 or 𝑓′′ 𝑐 fails to exist.

Example 13. 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 5/3 .
Example 14. 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 .
Second derivative test for local extrema

Theorem
Suppose that 𝑓′′ is continuous on an open interval that contains 𝑥 = 𝑐.

1. If 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0 and 𝑓′′ 𝑐 < 0, then 𝑓 has a local maximum at 𝑥 = 𝑐.

2. If 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0 and 𝑓 ′′ 𝑐 > 0, then 𝑓 has a local minimum at 𝑥 = 𝑐.
3. If 𝑓′ 𝑐 = 0 and 𝑓 ′′ 𝑐 = 0, then the test fails. At 𝑥 = 𝑐, the function 𝑓 may have a local
maximum, a local minimum, or neither.
Example 14. Sketch the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 10.
Procedure of graphing y=f(x)

1. Identify the domain of 𝑓 and any symmetries the curve may have.
2. Find the derivatives 𝑦′ and 𝑦′′.
3. Find the critical points of 𝑓, if any, and identify the functions behaviour at each one.
4. Find where the curve is increasing and where it is decreasing.
5. Find the points of inflection, if any occur, and determine the concavity of the curve.
6. Identify any asymptotes that may exist.
7. Plot key points, such as the intercepts and the points found in steps 3-5, and skecth the
curve together with any asymptotes that exist.
 𝑥+1 2
Example 15. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 .
1+𝑥
 𝑥2 + 4
Example 16. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = .
2𝑥
Additional examples
Example 17. Find the maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 2 on the
interval 1, 4 .
Example 18. Find the maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = −𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 2 on the
interval 2, 10 .
Example 19. Find the maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 e−𝑥 on the interval 0, 2 .
Example 20. Find the maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 8/5 − 16𝑥 3/5 on the
interval −1, 1 .
Example 21. Find the maximum and minimum values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 8 on the interval
6, 12 .
Example 22. Find the intervals where 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 3 − 9𝑥 2 + 5 is increasing and decreasing.
Then find all the local extrema of this function using first derivative test.
Example 23. Find the intervals where 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4/5 is increasing and decreasing. Then find
all the local extrema of this function using first derivative test.
Example 24. Using the first derivative test, find local extrema of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 12𝑥.
 𝑥4
Example 25. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = − 4𝑥 3 + 16𝑥 2 .
4
Example 26. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 5 𝑥 2/3 .
Example 27. Sketch the graph 𝑓of𝑥 = 𝑥 e𝑥 .
 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 1
Example 28. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 .
𝑥
 𝑥2 − 5
Example 29. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 .
𝑥 −4
 1
Example 30. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 3
.
1+𝑥
 𝑥2 − 2
Example 31. Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 .
𝑥−1