Dep.
of Petroleum Mathematics II
Increasing and Decreasing functions
Def: A function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is celled increasing on the interval [a, b], if 𝑓(𝑥1 ) < 𝑓(𝑥2 ),
whenever 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 in [a, b]. and it is called decreasing on [a, b] if 𝑓(𝑥1 ) > 𝑓(𝑥2 )
whenever 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 r in [a, b].
Example1: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥
The function is increasing, because for each 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 , then 𝑓(𝑥1 ) < 𝑓(𝑥2 )
Example2: 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 2𝑥
The function is decreasing, because for each 𝑥1 < 𝑥2 , then 𝑓(𝑥1 ) > 𝑓(𝑥2 )
Example3: 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 1
The function is increasing on[0, ∞], and the function is decreasing on [−∞, 0 ]
❖ Maximum and Minimum Points:
Def: A function 𝑓 has a local maximum at a point c, if 𝑓(𝑐) ≥ 𝑓(𝑥), where x is near to c,
similarly 𝑓 has a local minimum at c, if 𝑓(𝑐) ≤ 𝑓(𝑥), where x is near to c.
Fermat’s theorem: If the function 𝑓 has a local maximum or a local minimum at a point
c and 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) exists, then 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 0.
Def: A critical point of a function 𝑓 is a point c in the domain of 𝑓 such that either
𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 0, or 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) does not exists.
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Dep. of Petroleum Mathematics II
Notes:
1. If the function 𝑓 has a local maximum or a local minimum at a point c, then c is a
critical point of function 𝑓.
2. Suppose that the point c is a critical point of a continuous function 𝑓:
a) If 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) changes sign from positive to negative, then 𝑓 has a local maximum at
a point c.
b) If 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) changes sign from negative to positive, then 𝑓 has a local minimum at
a point c.
c) If 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) does not changes sign, then 𝑓 has no a local maximum or minimum at
a point c.
3. To find the absolute maximum value and absolute minimum value of a
continuous function 𝑓 on the interval [a, b]:
a) Find the values of a critical point, local maximum and local minimum of the
function 𝑓 in the interval [a, b].
b) Find the values of the function 𝑓 at the end points of the interval [a, b]
{𝑓(𝑎) and 𝑓(𝑏)}
c) The absolute maximum value= 𝑚𝑎𝑥{𝑓(𝑎), 𝑓(𝑏), 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑥. }
And absolute minimum value = 𝑚𝑖𝑛{𝑓(𝑎), 𝑓(𝑏), 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛. }
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Dep. of Petroleum Mathematics II
Example: Find the critical points, local maximum, local minimum, absolute maximum
and absolute minimum for the function
𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 1 on [−2, 3]
Solution:
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 12𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 24𝑥 = 0 ÷ 12
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 0 ⟹ 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2) = 0
𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 0 ⟹ 𝑥 = 0 , 𝑥 = 2, 𝑥 = −1
The critical points are −1, 0 and 2
𝑓(0) = 3(0)4 − 4(0)3 − 12(0)2 − 1 = −1 ⟹ (0, −1)
𝑓(−1) = 3(−1)4 − 4(−1)3 − 12(−1)2 − 1 = −6 ⟹ (−1, −6)
𝑓(2) = 3(2)4 − 4(2)3 − 12(2)2 − 1 = −33 ⟹ (2, −33)
∴ (−1, −6) and (2, −33) are local minimum
(0, −1) is local maximum
𝑓(−2) = 3(−2)4 − 4(−2)3 − 12(−2)2 − 1 = 31
𝑓(3) = 3(3)4 − 4(3)3 − 12(3)2 − 1 = 26
∴ Absolute maximum = max. {𝑓(−2), 𝑓(3), 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑎𝑥. }
= max. {31, 26, −1} = 31
∴ Absolute minimum = min. {𝑓(−2), 𝑓(3), 𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑖𝑛. }
= min. {31, 26, −6, −33} = −33
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Dep. of Petroleum Mathematics II
❖ Mean value theorem
Let 𝑓 be a continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏 ] and differentiable on (𝑎, 𝑏 ), then there exists 𝑐 ∈
𝑓(𝑏)−𝑓(𝑎)
(𝑎, 𝑏) such that 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) =
𝑏−𝑎
For example 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 𝑜𝑛 [0, 1]
Solution:
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 + 1 ⟹ 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 3𝑐 2 + 1
𝑓(0) = (0)3 + 0 = 0
𝑓(1) = (1)3 + 1 = 2
𝑓(1) − 𝑓(0) 2−0
𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = ⟹ 3𝑐 2 + 1 = ⟹ 3𝑐 2 + 1 = 2 ⟹ 3𝑐 2 = 1
1−0 1−0
1 1 1
𝑐2 = ⟹ 𝑐 = ±√ 𝑐 = +√ ∈ [0, 1]
3 3 3
1. Find the critical points, local maximum and local minimum of
a) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 (2𝑥 − 1)
1
b) 𝑓(𝑥) = sin 2𝑥
2
