Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bmath Maxima Minima
Bmath Maxima Minima
Bmath Maxima Minima
Point of inflexion
Minimum turning point
𝒅𝒚
When = 𝟎 (i.e. the gradient is zero) you have a stationary point.
𝒅𝒙
In short: find the 1st differential, put it equal to zero and solve.
Examples:
Find the stationary point on the curve 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟖𝒙 − 𝟕:
𝑑𝑦
Step 1: Differentiate to give: = 6𝑥 − 18
𝑑𝑥
Step 3: Solve: 6𝑥 = 18
𝑥=3
Solve: 𝑦 = −34
𝑑𝑦
Step 1: Differentiate to give: = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12
𝑑𝑥
We now know that there are 2 stationary points: one at 𝑥 = −6 and one at 𝑥 = 2.
1
Next find the corresponding 𝑦 values, using the equation, 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 5
3
1
When 𝑥 = −6: 𝑦 = 3 (−6)3 + 2(−6)2 − 12(−6) + 5 𝑦 = 77
1 25
When 𝑥 = 2: 𝑦 = 3 (2)3 + 2(2)2 − 12(2) + 5 𝑦= − 3
𝟐𝟓
So the 2 stationary points are at (−𝟔, 𝟕𝟕) and (𝟐, − )
𝟑
In the above examples we have found out where the stationary points are but we don’t
know what type they are (i.e. maximum, minimum or point of inflexion). We now need to
go a step further (and differentiate again) to find the type.
After finding where the stationary point is, find the 2nd differential and if:
𝑑2 𝑦
>0 then you have a minimum (positive is minimum).
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑2 𝑦
<0 then you have a maximum (negative is maximum).
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑2 𝑦
=0 then it could be maximum, minimum or point of inflexion.
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑3 𝑦
If ≠0 then it is a point of inflexion.
𝑑𝑥 3
Step 3: Solve: 2𝑥 = 4
𝑥=2
Substitute 𝑥 = 2: 𝑦 = 22 − 4(2) + 2
Solve: 𝑦 = −2
Use 2nd differential to find what type the Stationary point is:
𝑑2 𝑦
=2 This is positive (>0) so the turning point must be a minimum.
𝑑𝑥 2
This looks a bit different from the 1st example as there is an 𝑥 in the 2nd differential. We
now need to substitute each value of 𝑥 in, separately, to find out what type of stationary
point each one is.
Substitute 𝑥 = 0: 𝑦 = (0)3
Solve: 𝑦= 0
Use 2nd differential to find what type the Stationary point is:
𝑑2 𝑦
= 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑2 𝑦
When 𝑥 = 0: =0 so could be a max, min or point of inflexion.
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑3 𝑦
=6
𝑑𝑥 3