Maxima and Minima of Functions

Local Maximum and Minimum

Functions can have "hills and valleys": places where they reach a minimum or maximum value.

It may not be the minimum or maximum for the whole function, but locally it is.

Local Max and Min

We can see where they are,
but how do we define them?

Local Maximum

First we need to choose an interval:

Local Max in Interval

Then we can say that a local maximum is the point where:

The height of the function at "a" is greater than (or equal to) the height anywhere else in that interval.

Or, more briefly:

f(a) ≥ f(x) for all x in the interval

In other words, there is no height greater than f(a).

Note: "a" should be inside the interval, not at one end or the other.

Local Minimum

Likewise, a local minimum is:

f(a) ≤ f(x) for all x in the interval

The plural of Maximum is Maxima

The plural of Minimum is Minima

Maxima and Minima are collectively called Extrema

Global (or Absolute) Maximum and Minimum

The maximum or minimum over the entire function is called an "Absolute" or "Global" maximum or minimum.

Global Maximum

Assuming this function continues downwards to left or right:

Calculus

Calculus can be used to find the exact maximum and minimum using derivatives.

 

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