Maximum and Minimum

Function Values
Definition of a Relative Maximum Value
The function f has a relative maximum value at the number c if
there exists an open interval containing c, on which f is defined such
that f(c) > f(x) for all x in this interval.
a c b
x
a c b
x
Definition of a Relative Minimum Value
The function f has a relative minimum value at the number c if
there exists an open interval containing c, on which f is defined such
that f(c) s f(x) for all x in this interval.
a c b
x
a c b
x
Theorem: If f(x) exists for all values of x in the open interval (a, b), and if f
has a relative extremum at c, where a < c < b, and if f(c) exists, then
f(c) = 0.
Illustration:
Consider the function
f(x) = 2x
2
+ 4x 5.
The function is a parabola
opening downward with vertex
at (1, -3). The function is
maximum there. Let c = 1.
Then, from the above
theorem, f (1) = 0.
Relative extremum:
If a function f has either a relative maximum or a relative
minimum value at c, then f has a relative extremum at c.
Critical Number
Definition of a Critical Number
If c is a number in the domain of the function f, and if either f (c) = 0 or
f (c) does not exist, then c is a critical number of f.
The critical number of
f(x) = 2x
2
+ 4x 5 is 1 since
f (1) = 0.
The critical number of
f(x) = x
2/3
is 0 since f (0) does
not exist.
Examples: Find the critical numbers. (Exercises on p.218)
1. f(x) = x
4
+ 4x
3
2x
2
12x.
Solution: Since, f(x) is a polynomial function and f (x) is also a polynomial, we
find c only when f (c) = 0.
So, we find c for which f (c) = 0.
f (x) = 4x
3
+ 12x
2
4x 12 = 0,
x
3
+ 3x
2
x 3 = 0.
Solving for x by factoring by grouping or by synthetic division,
(x + 3)(x 1)(x + 1) = 0,
x = -3, 1, and -1. (critical numbers)
2. f(t) = (t
2
4)
2/3
Solution: The derivative is f (t) =
( )
1/3
2
2 1/3
2 4t
t 4 2t 0
3
3(t 4)

= =

Solving for t by cross multiplication,

4t = 0. So, t = 0 (C.N. where f (c) = 0).
Next, we find c where f (c) does not exist. Since f (t) does not exist when t = 2
and -2, and 2 and -2 are in the domain of f,
then 2 and -2 are critical numbers. So, the C.Ns are 0, 2, and -2

3. f(x) =
2
x 2x 5
x 1
+ +

Solution: We find the derivative,

f (x) =
2 2
2 2
(x 1)(2x 2) (x 2x 5)(1) x 2x 7
(x 1) (x 1)
+ + +
=

We find c where f (c) = 0. So, x
2
2x - 7 = 0.
So,
x = (critical numbers)
1 2
Note that, f (x) does not exist when x = 1, but 1 is not in the domain of f.
Therefore, 1 is not a critical number.
Solution: We find c for which f (c) = 0. So,
f (x) = 2cos 2x 2sin 2x = 0.
tan 2x = 1,
2x = t/4

x = . In general, x = , where n is an integer.
8
t
n
8 2
t t
+
4. f(x) = sin 2x + cos 2x
Absolute Maximum and Absolute Minimum Values on an Interval
(Refer to your book on pages 213-214)
Extreme Value Theorem: If a function f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b],
then f has an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on [a, b].
Absolute extremum either absolute maximum or absolute minimum.
The absolute extremum can be determined by the following procedure:
1. Find the critical number of the function on (a, b).
2. Find the values of f(a), f(c), and f(b). (You may construct a table)
3. The largest of the values in step 2 is the absolute maximum value and the
smallest is the absolute minimum value.
x f(x)
a f(a) - abs. max. value
c f(c) - abs. min. value
b f(b)
a c b
Examples: (Exercises on p. 219)
1. f(x) = 4 3x ; (-1, 2]
Solution:
First, find the critical number. We get f (x) = -3. So, no critical number.
Next, we find the function value f(2).
x f(x)
2 -2 - abs. min.
Sketch:
We see that -2 is the
absolute minimum value.
There is no absolute
maximum since the interval
is open at -1 and there is
no critical number.
2. f(x) = x
2
2x + 4; (-, +)
Solution:
Observe that f is defined on the open interval (-, +). So the only function value
that can be obtained is from the critical number c.
We find the critical number,
f (x) = 2x 2 = 0. So, x = 1 is the critical number.
If x = 1, y = 1
2
-2(1) + 4 = 3. Since f is a parabola opening upward then 3 must be
the absolute minimum value. Also, we see that the vertex is at the point (1, 3).
x f(x)
1 3 - abs. min.
3. G(x) = -3sin x ;
3
0,
4
t
|
|

.
Solution:
Finding the critical number,
G (x) = -3cos x = 0,
x = t/2, C.N.
Since G is always differentiable, there is no critical number c where G (c) dne.
x G(x)
0 0 - abs. max. value
t/2 -3 - abs. min. value
4. ;[3, 5]
2
if x 5
f (x)
x 5
2 if x 5

Solution:
No critical number for which f (x) = 0.
But 5 is a critical number since f (5) dne. Since f(x) = 2 when x = 5, then 2 must
be an absolute extremum.
x f(x)
3 -1
5 2 - abs max value
Applications Involving an Absolute Extremum on a Closed Interval
Examples: (pp. 226 227)
1. Find the number in the interval [-1, 1] such that the difference of the number
and its square is a) a maximum, and b) a minimum.
Solution:
Let x be the number. We want to maximize or minimize x minus its
square. Let D be the difference of x and its square.
D = x x
2
.
So, D(x) = 1 2x = 0.
Thus, x = (critical number)
x D
-1 -2 abs. min value
1/4 abs. max value
1 0
2. Suppose that the weight is to be held10 ft below a horizontal line AB
by a wire in a shape of a Y. If the points A and B are 8 ft apart. What is
the shortest length of the wire that can be used?
Let x be the length of the line segment
CD.
We would like to minimize the total length
L of the wire.
So, L =
AC BC CW + +
L = ; [0,10]
2 2
16 16 10 x x x + + + +
B
A
C
W
8
10-x
x
4
B
C
D
x
2
2 16 10 x x = + +
L (x) =
2
2
1 0
16
x
x
=
+
2
2 2
2
2 16
4 16
3 16
4 4 3
3
3
x x
x x
x
x or
= +
= +
=
=
Solving for the critical
number,
x L(x)
0 18
- abs.
min
10
4 3
3
4 29 21.54 ft =
10 4 3 16.93ft + =
3. An island is at point A, 4 km offshore from the nearest point B on a straight
beach. A woman on the island wishes to go to a point C, 6 km down the beach
from B. She Can go by a rowboat at 5 km/hr to a point P between B and C and
then walk at 8 km/hr along a straight path from P to C. Find the route from A to C
that she can travel in the least time.
Solution: Let x be the distance from B to P.
We would like to find the distance
AP + PC where the travel time is
minimum.
B
A
P
C
4 km
x
6 - x
Let T be the total time travelled by the woman. So,
T = T
AP
+ T
PC
.
Since, time = distance/speed,

; [0, 6]

2
x 16 6 x
T
5 8
+
= +
Since, T is to be minimized,

2
x 1
T'(x) 0
8
5 x 16
= =
+
Solving for x,

km
2
8x 5 x 16 0,
20 20 39
x
39 39
+ =
= =
x T
0 31/20 hr


1.37 hr least time
6 1.44 hr
20 39
39
Thus, the distance that the woman can travel is

2
2
20 20
x 16 6 x 16 6
39 39
7.92km
| |
+ + = + +
|
\ .
=
4. Find the dimensions of the right-circular cylinder of greatest lateral surface area
that can be inscribed in a sphere with a radius of 6 in.
r
h
6 in
Solution:
Find r and h of the cylinder with greatest lateral
surface area.
Lateral surface area of the cylinder is
A = 2trh.
By Pythagorean theorem,
12
2
= (2r)
2
+ h
2
.
So, 144 = 4r
2
+ h
2
.
Solving for h,
2 2
h 144 4r 2 36 r = =
So, A = ; [0, 6]
2
4 r 36 r t
Since A is to be max.,
A(r) =
2
2
2r
(4 r) (4 ) 36 r 0
2 36 r

t + t =

2 2
r 36 r 0,
r 3 2in
+ =
=
h
2r
12
If r = , then h = 3 2in 6 2in
r h A
0 6 in 0
72 in
2
6 in 0 0
3 2in 6 2in
So,
A =
2
2 rh 2 (3 2)(6 2) 72in t = t =
Thus, the dimensions are

r = and h = 3 2in 6 2in
Assign number 2:
Page 227,
numbers 25, 27, and 31