ABSOLUTE EXTREMA 2.

if f has a relative minimum at Xo, then f has an

 A function f is said to have an absolute maximum
value on an interval I at Xo if f(xo)≥f(x) for all x𝜖I.
 A function f is said to have an absolute minimum
value on an interval I at Xo if f(Xo)≤f(x) for all x𝜖I.
 If f has either an absolute maximum or absolute
minimum value on I at Xo, then we say f has an
absolute extremum on I at Xo.
I. Absolute Extrema of Functions on Closed and Bounded
Intervals
Theorem (Extreme Value Theorem)
- If f is continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏], then f has both an
absolute maximum and an absolute minimum on
[𝑎, 𝑏].
Remark:
- If you replace [a,b] by one of the following
intervals
(𝑎, 𝑏), [𝑎, 𝑏), (𝑎, 𝑏], (𝑎, 1), (−∞, 𝑏), [𝑎, 1), (−∞, 𝑏]
, then the conclusion of EVT does not follow.
- If f is continuous on [𝑎, 𝑏], then the abs. max./min.
of f on the interval [𝑎, 𝑏] may occur at
 𝑥=𝑎
 𝑥=𝑏
 some 𝑥 in (𝑎, 𝑏) such that 𝑓’(𝑥) = 0 or
𝑓’(𝑥) is undefined.
Theorem: If f has an absolute extremum on (𝑎, 𝑏) at 𝑥 =
𝑐, then c is a critical number of f.
absolute minimum at Xo.
Note: Second Derivative Test
III. Other cases: Using Limits
Suppose we wish to determine if f has an abs max/min
on (−∞, ∞).
 If f is cont. on (−∞, ∞) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞,
𝑥=±∞
then f has no abs. max but has an abs. min.
Furthermore, the absolute minimum point will
be the lowest relative minimum point.
 If f is cont. on (−∞, ∞) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞,
𝑥=±∞
then f has no abs. min but has an abs. max.
Furthermore, the absolute maximum point will
be the highest relative maximum point.
 If f is cont. on (−∞, ∞) and lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥=±∞
±∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∓ ∞, then f has no abs. min nor an abs.
max.
Similar observations can be done to find the relative
extrema of f on an interval (𝑎, ∞) or on (−∞, 𝑏).

STEPS:
To find the absolute extrema of f on [𝑎, 𝑏]:
1. find critical numbers of f on (𝑎, 𝑏), say c1, . . . ,cm
2. evaluate f at each critical number and at the
endpoints a, b
3. compare f (c1), . . . , f (cm), 𝑓 (𝑎) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 (𝑏)
4. the number that gives the highest (lowest) value
of f gives the absolute maximum (minimum).
Note: Always check if the function is continuous on I.
Institute

II. Absolute Extrema of Functions with One Relative

Extremum

Theorem: Suppose the function f is continuous on an

interval I containing Xo and Xo is the only number in I for
which f has a relative extremum.
1. if f has a relative maximum at Xo, then f has an
absolute maximum at Xo.
OPTIMIZATION
- Problem of maximizing or minimizing a given
quantity subject to physical constraints. (all
cases)
Steps:
1. Read the problem carefully. If possible, draw a
diagram of the problem corresponding to a
general situation.
2. Identify quantities that are known and that are
unknown. Assign variables of unknown
quantities.
3. Identify the quantity q to be maximized and
minimized.
4. Formulate an equation relating q with the other
unknown quantities. Express q in terms of a
single variable x using the information of the
problem.
5. Use the physical conditions of the problem to
place constraints on x.
6. Solve the problem by computing the absolute
extrema of q. Make sure to give the exact
answer. In paragraph form as much as possible.
LOCAL LINEAR APPROXIMATION & DIFFERENTIALS
Let the function y=f(x) be differentiable at x.
1. The differential dx of the independent variable x
denotes an arbitrary increment of x.
2. The differential dy of the dependent variable y is
associated with x is given by dy=f’(x)dx.
Remarks:
a. The tangent line 𝐿(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑋𝑜) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑋𝑜)(𝑋 −
𝑋𝑜) is called the local linear approximation of
𝑓(𝑥)𝑎𝑡 𝑋𝑜
b. The local linear approximation is the “best”
linear approximation of f near Xo.
c. If 𝑑𝑥 = ∆𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜, then 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜 + 𝑑𝑥.
Since 𝑓(𝑥) ≈ 𝑓(𝑥𝑜) + 𝑓 ′ (𝑥𝑜), we have
𝒇(𝒙𝒐 + 𝒅𝒙) ≈ 𝒇(𝒙𝒐)(𝒙 − 𝒙𝒐)𝒅𝒙
d. 𝑑𝑥 = ∆𝑥 ≈ 0 ≫ ∆𝑦 ≈ 𝑑𝑦
e. 𝑑𝑦 is easier to compute than ∆𝑦
Therefore, 𝑑𝑦 is used to approximate ∆𝑦 when
𝑑𝑥 ≈ 0.
f. If 𝑑𝑥 ≠ 0, then
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦 = 𝑓 ′ (𝑥)𝑑𝑥 ≫ = 𝑓′(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
g. The symbol may be interpreted as:
𝑑𝑥
- The derivative of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) with respect
to 𝑥.
- The quotient of the differential of 𝑦 by
the differential of 𝑥.

RATES OF CHANGE
In general, given y = f (x), we can measure how fast y
changes with respect to changes in x.

Definition:
Suppose f is a function and y = f (x). Then, the average
rate of y with respect to x on [xo, x] is
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥𝑜) ∆𝑓
=
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ∆𝑥

Suppose f is a function and y = f (x).

The instantaneous rate of change of y with respect to x at
x=xo is
𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥𝑜) ∆𝑓
lim = lim = 𝑓′(𝑥𝑜)
𝑥→𝑥𝑜 𝑥 − 𝑥𝑜 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥

This gives us a new interpretation for the derivative.

Aside from giving the slope of a tangent line, it gives an
instantaneous rate of change.
 1. If 𝑣(𝑡) > 0, then the particle is moving in the
Remarks: positive direction of s (usually to the right or
o Graphically, the average rate of change of 𝑦 with upward) at time t.
respect to 𝑥 on [𝑥𝑜, 𝑥] is the slope of the secant 2. If 𝑣(𝑡) < 0, then the particle is moving in the
line passing through 𝑃(𝑥𝑜, 𝑓 (𝑥𝑜)) and negative direction of s (usually to the left or
𝑄(𝑥, 𝑓 (𝑥)). downward) at time t.
o The derivative of f at 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜, 𝑓’(𝑥𝑜) can be 3. If 𝑣(𝑡) = 0, either the particle is not moving or
interpreted as the instantaneous rate of change is changing direction at time t.
of 𝑦 with respect at 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜. That is, 𝑓’(𝑥𝑜) Remarks:
is the rate of change of 𝑦 per unit change in 𝑥 at 1. If 𝑎(𝑡) > 0, then the velocity of the particle is
the instant when 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑜. increasing at time t. In addition,
o Let y be a function of x. o if 𝑣(𝑡) > 0 then the speed of the particle is
𝑑𝑦
o If > 0 on an interval I, then y increases increasing at time t (speeding up).
𝑑𝑥
as x increases, and y decreases as x o if 𝑣(𝑡) < 0 then the speed of the particle is
decreases. decreasing at time t (slowing down).
𝑑𝑦 2. If 𝑎(𝑡) < 0, then the velocity of the particle is
o If < 0 on an interval I, then y
𝑑𝑥 decreasing at time t. In addition,
decreases as x increases, and y increases o if 𝑣(𝑡) > 0 then the speed of the particle is
as x decreases. decreasing at time t.
𝑑𝑦
o If 𝑑𝑥 = 0 on an interval I, then y does not o if 𝑣(𝑡) < 0 then the speed of the particle is
change with respect to x. increasing at time t.
3. If 𝑎(𝑡) = 0, then the velocity of the particle is
RECTILINEAR MOTION constant. (This does not mean that the particle is
Suppose a particle is moving along a straight line, which NOT moving!)
we shall refer to as the s-axis. That is, the particle is
Suppose the position of the particle at time t is given by o speeding up when 𝑣(𝑡) and 𝑎(𝑡) have the same
the function s(t), called the position function of the sign
particle. o slowing down when 𝑣(𝑡) and 𝑎(𝑡) are opposite in
The average velocity of the particle on [to, t] is sign
𝑠(𝑡) − 𝑠(𝑡𝑜) ∆𝑠
𝑉𝑎𝑣𝑒 = = . RELATED RATES
𝑡 − 𝑡𝑜 ∆𝑡
1. Define all variables that depend on time.
Let s(t) be the position function id a particle moving 2. State all given information about the problem.
along s-axis. Whenever applicable, draw a diagram
1. The instantaneous velocity of the particle at representing the information in the problem.
time t is 3. State what you are asked to find.
∆𝑠 𝑑𝑠 4. Write an equation relating all variables defined.
𝑣(𝑡) = lim = = 𝑠 ′ (𝑡).
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡 5. Differentiate both sides of the equation with
2. The instantaneous speed of the particle at time t respect to t and solve for the rate you are asked
is |𝑣(𝑡)|. to find.
3. The instantaneous acceleration of the particle at
time t is
∆𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑑2 𝑠
𝑎(𝑡) = lim = = 𝑣 ′ (𝑡) 𝑜𝑟 𝑎(𝑡) = 2
∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡
= 𝑠′′(𝑡)
Remarks:
Let s(t) be the position function of a particle moving
along the s-axis. The signs of 𝑣(𝑡) and 𝑎(𝑡) give us
information about the motion of the particle.