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Notes 3-6 Critical Points and Extrema

The document discusses critical points and extrema of functions, including how to identify maxima, minima, and points of inflection using graphs, tables of values, or calculators. It also provides examples of classifying critical points and applying the concepts to model drug dosage and body temperature changes. Maximum and minimum values are important to identify for applications like determining safe drug amounts.

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Noelle Caballera
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195 views

Notes 3-6 Critical Points and Extrema

The document discusses critical points and extrema of functions, including how to identify maxima, minima, and points of inflection using graphs, tables of values, or calculators. It also provides examples of classifying critical points and applying the concepts to model drug dosage and body temperature changes. Maximum and minimum values are important to identify for applications like determining safe drug amounts.

Uploaded by

Noelle Caballera
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Notes 3-6: Critical Points and

Extrema
I. Critical Points
A. Definition and Types of Critical Points
• Critical Points: those points on a graph at which a line
drawn tangent to the curve is horizontal or vertical.
• Polynomial equations have three types of critical
points- maximums, minimum, and points of inflection.

HIGH POINT LOW POINT CHANGE IN CURVATURE


B. Relative vs. Absolute
• The term ‘extrema’ refers to maximums and/or
minimums.
• The general term for maximums or minimums is
‘extremum’.
• Extrema can be relative or absolute.
• An absolute minimum/maximum is the
greatest/least value that a function assumes over
its domain.
• A relative max/min may not be the greatest/least
over its domain, but it is the greatest/least over
some interval in the domain.
• Extrema are always values of the function; they
are the y-coordinates of each max or min.
C. Finding Extrema Given Graph
Locate the extrema for the following graphs. Name and classify
the extrema of the function. Remember, extrema is just max and
min, NOT points of inflection.

Ex. 1: The function has an absolute minimum


at (-6, -6). The absolute minimum is -6.

The function has a relative minimum at


(1, -2) The relative minimum is -2.

The function has a relative maximum


at (-2, 1). The relative maximum is 1.

There is no absolute maximum,


because the graph goes up forever and
ever… and ever.
Ex. 2: Locate the extrema for the following graphs. Name and
classify the extrema of the function.
Relative max at (0, 2). The
relative maximum is 2.

Relative min at (2, -2).


Relative min s -2.

No absolute max or min.


II. Finding Critical Points with Calculator.
• Three methods:
– Use a table of values
– Use the trace function
– Use the 3: minimum and 4: maximum options in
the CALC menu
Ex 1: Use a GC to graph f(x) = 5x3 -10x2 -20x+7
and to determine and classify its extrema.
• Graph using standard viewing window.
• Notice where the x-intercepts are- relative extrema
will be in between these points.
• Adjust the viewing window to get a better view of
the graph.
Now, find the extrema.
• Method 1: Use a table of values. Since it looks
like a relative max is somewhere around -1,
set your table to start there and increase at
increments of 0.1. Do the same thing at 2.

There seems to be a relative max of app. 14.385 at x=-0.7,


and a relative min of -33 at 2.
• Method 2: You can also trace the function to
locate the approximate extrema. Try it.
Method 3: CALC>> 3: minimum or 4:
maximum.
Note: You will be asked to define a left and
right bound. Choose a point to the left, and
then right of the max/min. Then it will
“guess” the max/min.
All three methods are approximations.
III. Given Critical Point, Classify It

Notice for a maximum, y Notice for a minimum y Fo a point of inflection, the


values on both the left and values on both the left and y-value on the left is smaller,
right of the maximum are right of the minimum are the y-value on the right is
smaller than the y-value at larger than the y-value at the larger (or vice versa).
the maximum. For example, minimum. For example, if Therefore, if the point of
if the max occurs where x = the min occurs where x = 2, inflection is at x=2, then
2, f(1.9) and f(2.1) are be f(1.9) and f(2.1) is be large either
smaller than f(2). than f(2). f(1.9) is smaller than f(2) and
f(2.1) is larger than f(2).
Or
f(1.9) is larger than f(2) and
f(2.1) is smaller than f(2).
Chart on p 174
Ex 1:

For each value, test an x-value slightly smaller and slightly larger than
that x-value.
If both are smaller than f(x), then it is a maximum.
If both are larger than f(x), then it is a minimum.
If one is smaller and the other is larger than f(x), then it is an inflection
point.

x f(Smaller x) f(x) f(Larger x) Type of Critical


Point
-1 f(-1.1) = 2.769 smaller f(-1)= 3 f(-0.9) = 2.829 smaller maximum
0 f(-0.1) = 0.009 larger f(0) = 0 f(0.1) = -0.010 smaller inflection point
3 f(2.9) = -187.308 larger f(3) = - f(3.1) = -187.087 larger minimum
189
Ex 2: The function f(x) = 3x4 – 4x3 has critical points at x = 0 and x = 1. Determine
whether each of these critical points is the location of a maximum, minimum, or point
of inflection.

For each value, test an x-value slightly smaller and slightly larger than
that x-value.
If both are smaller than f(x), then it is a maximum.
If both are larger than f(x), then it is a minimum.
If one is smaller and the other is larger than f(x), then it is an inflection
point.

x f(Smaller x) f(x) f(Larger x) Type of Critical


Point
1 f(0.9) = -.9477 larger f(1)= -1 f(1.1) = -.9317 larger minimum
0 f(-0.1) = 0.0043 larger f(0) = 0 f(0.1) = -0.0037 smaller inflection point
IV. Applications
• One hour after x milligrams of a particular
drug are given to a person, the rise in body
temperature T(x), in degrees Fahrenheit, is
𝑥2
give by 𝑇 𝑥 = 𝑥 − . The model has a
9
critical point at x = 4.5.
a. Determine if this is a maximum.
b. Why might this be important to a doctor or
pharmacist?
• One hour after x milligrams of a particular drug are given to a person, the
rise in body temperature T(x), in degrees Fahrenheit, is give by 𝑇 𝑥 =
𝑥2
𝑥− . The model has a critical point at x = 4.5.
9

a. Determine if this is a maximum. Use any method.


• Make a table
This is a maximum. The
• Graphing Calculator
– Look at graph
greatest temperature
– Trace change is caused by 4.5 mg
– Table of the drug.

b. Why might this be important to a doctor or


pharmacist?
Patients should be warned that their body
temperatures could fluctuate by 2.25 degrees F.

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