SH1657

Applications of Differentiation

I. Critical Points
Definition 1.1
For a function defined on a set ! of real numbers and a number " ∈ !,
(i) (") is the absolute maximum of on ! if (") ≥ (%) for all % ∈ ! and
(ii) (") is the absolute minimum of on ! if (") ≤ (%) for all % ∈ !.
An absolute maximum or an absolute minimum is referred to as an absolute extremum.
(The plural form of extremum is extrema)

Theorem 1.1 (Extreme Value Theorem or EVT)

A continuous function defined on a closed and bounded interval [', *] attains both an
absolute maximum and an absolute minimum on that interval.

Definition 1.2
Let be a function defined on a set of real numbers !,
(i) (") is a local maximum of if (") ≥ (%) for all % in some open interval
containing ".
(ii) (") is a local minimum of if (") ≤ (%) for all % in some open interval
containing ".
In this case, we call (") a local extremum of .

Definition 1.3
+ (")
A number " in the domain of a function is called a critical number of if = 0 or
+ (")
is undefined.

Theorem 1.2
Suppose that is continuous on the closed interval [', *]. Then each absolute extremum
of must occur at an endpoint (' or *) or at a critical number.

Proof:
By EVT, will attain its maximum and minimum values on [', *] since is continuous.
Let (") be an absolute extremum. If " is not an extremum, i.e., " ≠ ' and " ≠ *, then "
must be in the open interval (', *). In this case, (") is a local extremum, hence "
must be a critical number.
∎

09 Handout 1 *Property of STI

Page 1 of 2
 SH1657

II. First and Second Derivative Tests

Definition 2.1
Suppose ′′ exists on an interval 1.
(i) is concave downward on 1 if ++ (%) < 0.
(ii) is concave upward on 1 if ++ (%) > 0.

Second Derivative Test

+ (")
Suppose ′′ is continuous on the interval (', *) and = 0 for some " ∈ (', *), that is,
" is a critical number of , then
(i) (") is local maximum if ++ (") < 0
(ii) (") is local minimum if ++ (") > 0

Definition 2.2
A function is increasing on an interval 1 if for every %2 , %3 ∈ 1 with %2 < %3 , (%2 ) ≤
(%3 ), i.e. (%) gets larger as % gets larger.
A function is decreasing on an interval 1 if for every %2 , %3 ∈ 1 with %2 < %3 , (%2 ) ≥
(%3 ), i.e. (%) gets larger as % gets larger.

Theorem 2.1
Suppose is differentiable on an interval containing 1.
(i) is increasing on 1 if + (%) > 0 for all % ∈ 1.
(ii) is decreasing on 1 if + (%) < 0 for all % ∈ 1.

First Derivative Test

Suppose is continuous on the interval [', *] and " ∈ (', *) is a critical number.
(i) If + (%) > 0 for all % ∈ (', ") and + (%) < 0 for a all % ∈ (", *), then " is a local
maximum.
(ii) If + (%) < 0 for all % ∈ (', ") and + (%) > 0 for a all % ∈ (", *), then " is a local
minimum.
(iii) If + (%) has the same sign on (', ") and (", *), then " is not a local extremum.

References:
Minton, R. & Smith, R. (2016). Basic Calculus. McGraw Hill Education.
Coburn, J. (2016). Pre-Calculus. McGraw Hill Education.

09 Handout 1 *Property of STI

Page 2 of 2