APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENTIATION (1)

Maximum and Minimum Values

In Definition 2 (and elsewhere), if we say that something is true near C, we mean

that it is true on some open interval containing.

Min value= 0, No Max. value No Min. value, No Max. Value Min. value= -27, Max. value= 37
 (2)

Figures 1,2 and 3 show that a function need not possess extreme values if either
hypothesis (continuity or closed interval or bounded interval) is omitted from the
Extreme Value Theorem.

FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3

The function f has minimum
value f(2)=0, but no maximum
value in closed and bounded
interval [0,2]
* Continuity is missing
here
The continuous function g
has no minimum or maximum
value in open and bounded
interval (0,2)
* Closeness of interval is
missing here
The continuous function h has
minimum value h(0)=0, but
no maximum value in closed
but unbounded interval [0,+∞)
* Boundedness of interval is
missing here
 (3)
Notice from Figure below that each local extremum seems to occur either
• At a point where the tangent line is horizontal [i.e., where 𝑓 ′ (c) = 0],

• At a point where the tangent line is vertical or at a corner [where 𝑓 ′ (c) is

undefined].

That is C is a critical point.

f (x) = 9 − 𝑥 2 has maximum f (x) =|x| has minimum value

value at x = 0 and 𝑓 ′ (0) = 0 at x = 0 and 𝑓 ′ (0) does not exist

Fermat’s Theorem
 (4)

Notice That
The converse of Fermat’s Theorem is not true in general
(5)