Applications of derivatives

Lecturer
Rahila Batool
Applications of derivatives:
The derivatives are used to
• Find extreme value of function
• To determine and analyze the shapes of graphs
• To find where function is numerically zero.
Extreme value of a function:
Absolute Maximum

Def:

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
Extreme value of a function:
Absolute Minimum

Def:

Let f be a function with domain D. Then an absolute minimum value

on D at point c
if
f(x) ≥ f(c) for all x in D.
Steps to find extreme maximum and
minimum value:
• Step 1:
𝑑𝑦
find derivative of that function 𝑑𝑥

• Step 2
𝑑𝑦
Put 𝑑𝑥 =0

We obtain the value x=c , that value is called critical point.

Steps to find extreme maximum and
minimum value:
• Step 3:
𝑑 2𝑦
find again derivative of that function 𝑑𝑥2 then put x=c
𝑑2𝑦
If 𝑑𝑥2 x=c > 0 then its absolute minimum
𝑑2𝑦
If 𝑑𝑥2 x=c < 0 then its absolute maximum
𝑑2𝑦
If 𝑑𝑥2 x=c = 0 then no absolute maximum/minimum
Example:
Find the maximum and minimum value from the function
y=x3-3x on the interval 0≤x≤2
Step 1:
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑥 = 3x2 -3

Step 2:
𝑑𝑦
Put 𝑑𝑥 =0
Example (continued ):
3x2 -3=0
3(x2 -1)=0
3(x-1)(x+1)=0
x=-1 or x=1
x=-1 ‘ll be ignored because this value is not included in interval
which is 0≤x≤2 so,
Critical point is 1
Example (continued ):
Put x=0,1,2
1 is critical point while 0,2 are end points.
f(0)= 03-3(0)
=0
f(1)= 13-3(1)
=-2 this is the least value at x=1
f(2)= 23-3(2)
=2 this is the greatest value at x=2
Example (continued ):

So,
Absolute maximum=2 at x=2
Absolute minimum =-2 at x=1
Local maxima:

A local maximum point on a function is a point (x,y) on the graph of the

function whose y coordinate is larger than all other y coordinates on
the graph at points "close to'' (x,y). More precisely, (x,f(x)) is a local
maximum if there is an interval (a,b) with a<x<b and f(x)≥f(z) for every z
in (a,b)
Local minimum :

Similarly, (x,y) is a local minimum point if it has locally the smallest y

coordinate. Again being more precise:
(x,f(x)) is a local minimum if there is an interval (a,b) with a<x<b and
f(x)≤f(z) for every z in (a,b).
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ABS MAXIMUM, ABS MIN.
VS LOCAL MAXIMUM AND LOCAL MINIMUM
Practice questios: