4.

1 Extreme Values of Functions

Definition
Let f be a function with domain D. Then f has an absolute maximum (or global
maximum) value on D at point c ∈ D if

and an absolute minimum (or global minimum) value on D at b ∈ D if

Example 1
Consider y = x2 on the following domains. When does y have an absolute minimum
or absolute maximum?

(a) D = (−∞, ∞)

(b) D = [0, 2]

(c) D = (0, 2]

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 (d) D = (0, 2)

Note:

Extreme Value Theorem

If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b], then f attains:

(1)

(2)

Thus, there exist x1 , x2 ∈ [a, b] with

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Definition
A function f has a local maximum value at an interior point c of its domain if

A function f has a local minimum value at an interior point c of its domain if

If c is an endpoint of the domain, we can extend the definition to include half-open

intervals.

Example 2
Consider
− 52 x + 5 0 ≤ x < 2

f (x) =
x−2 2<x≤3
Find all extrema.

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Finding Extrema

THEOREM 2 - 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 0 is defined at c, then

Sketch of proof
To prove that f 0 (c) is zero at a local extremum, we show first that f 0 (c) cannot be
positive and second that f 0 (c) cannot be negative. The only number that is neither
positive nor negative is zero, so that is what f 0 (c) must be.

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This says extreme values (both local and global) can only occur at the following
places

1. interior points where

2. interior points where

3. endpoints

Defn. Critical Point (C.P.)

An interior point of the domain of a function f where

is called a critical point of f .

Note:

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How to Find the Absolute Extrema of a Continuous Function f on a
Closed Interval [a, b]
1. Find all C.P.

2. Evaluate f at each C.P. and also at the endpoints x = a and x = b.

3. Absolute Minimum =

Absolute Maximum =

Example 3
1
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of f (x) = − on the interval
x2
[0.5, 2].

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Example 4
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of f (x) = xe−x on the interval
[−1, 1].

Example 5
Find the critical points of y = x2 ln x.