Maxima and Minima of a function over a given interval:

Let f (x) is a continues function over the interval, [a,b], then there exists a c where
f (c) ≤ f (x), for all x ∈ [a, b]. Then f (c) is the minimum value of the function.
Let f (x) is a continues function over the interval, [a,b], then there exists a c where
f (c) ≥ f (x), for all x ∈ [a, b]. Then f (c) is the maximum value of the function.

In[11]:= Plot[Sin[x], {x, - π, π}, GridLines → Automatic]

1.0

0.5

Out[11]=
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3

-0.5

-1.0

how can we find Max/Min value of a function without graphs?

1- we will take the derivative of the given function.
2- we will set the derivative equal to zero, to find out the critical numbers.
(Critical Numbers: critical numbers are x - values where the derivative of the function is 0. critical num-
bers are the candidates for function’s max or min value)
3- put the values of critical numbers and the end points of the interval in the function to find max or min
value.
example:
Find the maximum and minimum value of f (x) = sin(x) where x ∈ [-π, π]?
sol:
we will find its derivative.
f ' (x) = cos(x)
put f ' (x) = 0
f ' (x) = cos(x) = 0
cos(x) = 0
we will find all values of x where cos(x)=0 in the given interval.
-π π
let x = 2
, 2 (critical numbers)
-π π
then cos 2  = 0, cos 2  = 0
now we will put these x-values in the function to get max or min value of the function.
2

-π
f (x) = sin(x) = sin 2
 = -1
π π
f  2  = sin 2  = 1
f (-π) = sin(-π) = 0
f (π) = sin(π) = 0
π
so 1 is the maximum value and it occurs at 2
-π
and -1 is the minimum value and it occurs at 2
example:
Find the Max/Min value of f (x) = x2 - 2 x, where x ∈ (0, 4)?
sol:
x=1
f(1)=1-2=-1
-1 is minima when x=1
Relative minima and maxima.
Absolute minima and maxima.
we calculate them as we calculate relative max or min.
example:
2
Find the absolute max or min of the function f (x) = 2 x - 3 x 3 where x ∈ [-1, 3]?
Critical points are those points where the derivative is either 0 or ∞ (undefined).
sol:
-1 -1
2 2 1
f ' (x) = 2 - 3 × 3
x 3 =2-2x 3 =2- 1 =2 1- 1

x3 x3
f ' (x) = 0
1
2 1- 1 =0
x3
1

x 3 -1
1 =0
x3
1 1
x3 - 1 = 0 x3
x=1
1
1
x 3 -1
x3 = 0
=∞
therefore we have x = 1 and x = ∞ as critical points.