Dr. Nestler - Math 7 - 4.

1 - Extreme Values of Functions

Definitions. Suppose that - is a number in the domain H of a function 0 .

The number 0 Ð-Ñ is the absolute/global maximum value of 0 on H if 0 ÐBÑ Ÿ 0 Ð-Ñ for all B in H.

The number 0 Ð-Ñ is the absolute/global minimum value of 0 on H if 0 ÐBÑ   0 Ð-Ñ for all B in H.

Extreme Value Theorem. If 0 is a continuous function on a closed interval Ò+ß ,Ó, then 0 has

both an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on Ò+ß ,Ó. That is, there exist

numbers - and . in Ò+ß ,Ó such that 0 Ð-Ñ Ÿ 0 ÐBÑ Ÿ 0 Ð.Ñ for all B in Ò+ß ,Ó.

Definitions. Suppose that - is a number in the domain H of a function 0 .

If there exists an open interval M such that 0 ÐBÑ Ÿ 0 Ð-Ñ for all B in both M and H, then the

number 0 Ð-Ñ is a relative/local maximum value of 0 on H.

If there exists an open interval M such that 0 ÐBÑ   0 Ð-Ñ for all B in both M and H, then the

number 0 Ð-Ñ is a relative/local minimum value of 0 on H.

A maximum or minimum value is also called an extremum of the function. Maximum values are

also called maxima, and minimum values are also called minima. Together these are called

extreme values, or extrema.

Note that an absolute extremum is automatically a relative extremum.

Theorem. If a function 0 has a relative extremum at an interior point - of its domain and 0 is

differentiable at - , then 0 w Ð-Ñ œ !.

Proof:

Definition. A critical point/number of a function 0 is a number - in its domain such that the

derivative 0 w Ð-Ñ is zero or undefined.

Thus the theorem says that extreme values can occur only at critical points in the interior of the

domain, or at endpoints.