NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

1-4 Study Guide and Intervention

Extrema and Average Rates of Change
Increasing and Decreasing Behavior Functions can increase, decrease, or remain constant over a given interval. The
points at which a function changes its increasing or decreasing behavior are called critical points. A critical point can be a
relative minimum, absolute minimum, relative maximum, or absolute maximum. The general term for minimum or
maximum is extremum or extrema.

Example: Estimate to the nearest 0.5 unit and classify the extrema for the
graph of f(x). Support the answers numerically.
Analyze Graphically
It appears that f(x) has a relative maximum of 0 at x = –1.5, a relative minimum of
–3.5 at x = –0.5, a relative maximum of –2.5 at x = 0.5, and a relative minimum of
–6 at x = 1.5. It also appears that lim 𝑓(𝑥) = –∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞, so there
𝑥 → −∞ 𝑥→∞
appears to be no absolute extrema.

Support Numerically
Choose x-values in half-unit intervals on either side of the estimated x-value for each extremum, as well as one very small
and one very large value for x.

x –100 –2 –1.5 –1 –0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 100

f(x) –1×10 10 –7 –0.09 –2 –3.5 –3 –2.47 –4 –5.91 1 1×1010

Because f(–1.5) > f(–2) and f(–1.5) > f(–1), there is a relative maximum in the interval (–2, –1) near –1.5.
Because f(–0.5) < f(–1) and f(–0.5) < f(0), there is a relative minimum in the interval (–1, 0) near –0.5.
Because f(0.5) > f(0) and f(0.5) > f(1), there is a relative maximum in the interval (0, 1) near 0.5.
Because f(1.5) < f(1) and f(1.5) < f(2), there is a relative minimum in the interval (1, 2) near 1.5.
f(–100) < f(–1.5) and f(100) > f(1.5), which supports the conjecture that f has no absolute extrema.

Exercises
Use a graphing calculator to approximate to the nearest hundredth the relative or absolute extrema of each
function. State the x-value(s) where they occur.

1. f(x) = 2𝑥 6 + 2𝑥 4 – 9𝑥 2 2. f(x) = 𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 2
abs. min. of –5.03 at x = –0.97 and rel. min. of 0 at x = 0;
at x = 0.97; rel. max. of 0 at x = 0 rel. max. of 108 at x = –6

Chapter 1 21 Glencoe Precalculus

NAME _____________________________________________ DATE ____________________________ PERIOD _____________

1-4 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Extrema and Average Rates of Change
Average Rate of Change The average rate of change between any two points on the graph of f is the slope of the line
through those points. The line through any two points on a curve is called a secant line. The average rate of change on the
interval [𝑥1 , 𝑥2 ] is the slope of the secant line, 𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑐 .

𝑓(𝑥2) − 𝑓(𝑥1)
𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Example: Find the average rate of change of f(x) = 0.𝟓𝒙𝟑 + 2x on each interval.
a. [–3, –1]
𝑓(𝑥2) − 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓(−1) − 𝑓(−3)
= Substitute –3 for 𝑥1 and –1 for 𝑥2 .
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 −1 − (−3)

[0.5(−1)3 + 2(−1)] − [0.5(−3)3 + 2(−3)]

= Evaluate f(–1) and f(–3).
−1 − (−3)
–2.5 − (−19.5) 17
= −1 − (−3)
or 2
Simplify.

b. [–1, 1]
𝑓(𝑥2) − 𝑓(𝑥1 ) 𝑓(1) − 𝑓(−1)
= Substitute –1 for 𝑥1 and 1 for 𝑥2 .
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 1 − (−1)
2.5 − (−2.5) 5
= 1− (−1)
or 2 Evaluate and simplify.

Exercises
Find the average rate of change of each function on the given interval.

1. f(x) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 – x – 1; [–3, –2] 2. f(x) = 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 3 – x – 1; [–1, 0]

–28 0

3. f(x) = 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 – 7x – 4; [–3, –1] 4. f(x) = 𝑥 3 + 5𝑥 2 – 7x – 4; [1, 3]

–14 26

5. f(x) = 𝑥 4 + 8x – 3; [–4, 0] 6. f(x) = –𝑥 4 + 8x – 3; [0, 1]

–56 7

Chapter 1 22 Glencoe Precalculus