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Lecture-4-Maxima-Minima-and-Critical-Points 2

The document explains the concepts of maxima and minima in functions, detailing how to identify critical points where the function's slope is zero. It provides examples of functions, their critical points, and methods for finding maximum and minimum values through differentiation. Additionally, it includes applications of these concepts in real-world scenarios, such as maximizing volume and area.

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26 views4 pages

Lecture-4-Maxima-Minima-and-Critical-Points 2

The document explains the concepts of maxima and minima in functions, detailing how to identify critical points where the function's slope is zero. It provides examples of functions, their critical points, and methods for finding maximum and minimum values through differentiation. Additionally, it includes applications of these concepts in real-world scenarios, such as maximizing volume and area.

Uploaded by

kathalinaxyz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Maxima and Minima: Critical Points

A function y = f(x) is said to be an increasing function of x if its value increases as x increases.


Similarly, it is a decreasing function of x if y decreases as x increases.

From the figure above, the function is increasing from A to B, decreasing from B to D and
increasing from D to F.

At points B, D and E where the slope is zero, the function f(x) is said to be stationary.

At point B, where the function changes from increasing to decreasing is called a maximum point
and the function is to have a relative maximum value at B. At point D where the function
changes from decreasing to increasing, is called a minimum point and the function is said to
have a relative minimum value at D.

For the function, y = x3 – 3x – 5.

Chart Title
0
-2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-7

-8
y' = 3x2 -3 = 3(x + 1)(x – 1)
When x = 1, y = ─ 7; when x = ─ 1, y = ─ 3.

(─1, ─3) (1, ─7)


y' x y' x
+ ─2 ─ 0
0 ─1 0 1
─ 0 + 2
Maximum Minimum

When y’ is zero or undefined, the value of x are called the critical value and the point on the
curve is called a critical point. The points B, D and E in the first figure are critical points.

A point E where the slope changes from + to 0 to + or ─ to 0 to ─ is called the point of inflection
with the horizontal tangent.

16
For the function y = x2 +
x
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5

2
2(x−2)(x +2 x +4 )
y' =
x2

Critical point is 2. When x = 2, y = 12. y' also does not exist at x = 0 therefore, x = 0 is also a
critical value but the curve is not defined at x = hence there is no corresponding critical point.

y' x
─ <2
0 2
+ >2

The point (2, 12) is the minimum point.


Exercises:
1. y=x 2−4 x−1 ans. (2, ─5) min
2. y=x 3−9 x 2 +15 x−5 ans. (1, 2) max, (5, ─30) min
3. y=2 x 3−x 2 +3 x−1 ans. None
4. y=x 5−5 x 3−20 x−2 ans. (2, ─50) min, (─2, 46) max
3 65
5. y=7 +3 x−2 x
2
ans. ( , ¿ max
4 8
6. 3
y=x −3 x +4
2
ans. (0, 4) max, (2, 0) min
7. y=(x +1)¿ ans. (−1 32
,
3 27 )max, (1, 0) min
8. Find a and b so that the curve y=x 3 +a x 2 +b will have a critical point at (2, 5)
' 2
y =3 x + 2 ax
f ( 2 )=3 ¿
a=−3
3
5=2 −3 ¿
b=9

Applications of Maxima and Minima


1. Express the quantity to be maximized or minimized in terms of a single variable
2. Differentiate the function determined in step 1 and set the derivative to zero
3. Determine the values of the variable in step and determine by inspection whether they
maximize or minimize.

Example 1: find two numbers whose sum is 10 and the sum of whose squares is a minimum
x=first number
10−x ¿ second number

1. y=x 2 +¿
2. y ' =4 x−20=0
3. x=5 gives a minimum since y =4>
Therefore, the numbers are 5 and 5

Example 2. A box is to be made of a piece of cardboard 4 in. square by cutting equal squares
out of the corners and turning up the sides. Find the volume of the largest box that can be made
this way.
1. V =x ¿
dV 2
2. =16−32 x +12 x =4 ( 2−x )( 2−3 x )=0
dx
2
3. x=2 ,
3
2
V = 0 when x = 0 and x = 2. Therefore, the maximum volume is between 0 and 2. So x =
3
gives the maximum volume.
V max =
2
3[ ( )]
4−2
2
3
2
¿
128
27

Example 3. Find the altitude of the cylinder of maximum volume which can be inscribed in a
right circular cone of radius r and height h

Let x be the radius and y the height of the right circular cylinder.
2
V =π x y
But the relationship between x and r and y and h must be established first.
Using similar triangles:
x h− y h
= ; Simplifying, y= (r −x)
r h r
2
πh x ( r−x ) πh
1. V = = ( r x 2−x 3 )
r r
dV 2
2. =2 rx−3 x =x (2 r −3 x ) =0
dx
2 h
(2
3. x= r ; y= r − r = = h
3 r 3 )
hr 1
3r 3

Example 4. What is the largest rectangular area that can be enclosed by 800 meters of fencing?
P = 2(x + y); 800 = 2x + 2y; y = 400 – x
1. A=xy=x ( 400−x ) =800 x−x 2
dA
2. =400−2 x=0
dx
3. x=200
Therefore, the largest area is (200m)(200m)= 40,000 m2

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