MATH 1170 Section 4.

2 Worksheet

NAME

Maximum and Minimum Values

Being able to find maximum and minimum values of a function are important for what we call optimization
problems.
Optimization problems are problems in which we want to find the find the optimal (or best) way of doing
something.
For example:
What is the maximum acceleration of a vehicle?
What shape should we cut our materials to minimize manufacturing costs?
At what angle should blood vessels branch so as to minimize the energy expended by the heart
in pumping blood?

So our goal for this section will be to become comfortable with finding maximum and minimum values.

Definition
Let c be a number in the domain D of a function f , then f (c) is the

absolute (global) maximum value of f on D if f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x ∈ D

absolute (global) minimum value of f on D if f (c) ≤ f (x) for all x ∈ D
local maximum value of f if f (c) ≥ f (x) when x is in some open interval containing c
local minimum value of f if f (c) ≤ f (x) when x is in some open interval containing c

We often refer to minimums and maximums of f as extreme values of f .

Note that each absolute maximum is also a local maximum and each absolute minimum is also
a local minimum, but not vice versa.

We don’t need any fancy calculus to find the extreme values of many functions.
For instance...

(1) Consider f (x) = cos x.

Sketch a graph of f (x).

Describe the extreme value(s) of f .

1
(2) Consider g(x) = −x2 .
Sketch a graph of g(x).

Describe the extreme value(s) of g.

However, locating these extreme values is more difficult for other functions and, hence, we will need a few
tools.

Theorems
1. The Extreme Value Theorem
We have noticed that not every function has an absolute maximum and an absolute minimum on their
entire domain. However, the following theorem explains that, if we look at a specified closed interval on
a continuous function f , then f will have both an absolute maximum and an absolute minimum on that
interval.

Extreme Value Theorem

If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b], then f attains an absolute value f (c) and an
absolute minimum value f (d) at some numbers c and d in [a,b].

Let’s break down the meaning of this theorem...

(I) The first thing to notice when addressing a new theorem is to identify the assumptions.
These assumptions are hypotheses that are taken for granted. They are often a list of criteria that
come after an ‘if’ and before a ‘then’. In this case, these assumptions are more formally called the
antecedent.
What are the assumptions of the Extreme Value Theorem?

(II) The next thing to do it to identify the consequence.

The consequence is often the list of criteria that come after the ‘then’. In this case, these consequences
are more formally called the consequent.
What is the consequence of the Extreme Value Theorem?

2
(III) Now, examine some examples.
Here, I will have you try to come up with your own examples.
In the space provided, sketch 3 distinct a continuous function on a closed intervals (on different
axes).
Label their absolute maximums and absolute minimums.

While the Extreme Value Theorem is fairly intuitive, it’s proof is fairly complicated so we will not go
through it here. However, you do have the background knowledge to be able to work through it if you like.
(Hence, I will attach a proof of it to Blackboard under contents if you are so inclined to peruse it.)
The Extreme Value Theorem becomes helpful when we want to find extreme values on a particular closed
interval.

Essentially, the EVT implies that,

if you want to look for extreme values on a closed interval [a, b],
it would be good to look at two points in particular.

Which two points would these be?

Do not be mislead, the endpoints of our interval will not always be extreme values, but they are usually
good places to check.
Can you come up with an example of a continuous function on a closed interval whose endpoints are not
extreme values?

This means we will need other results to help us locate extreme values. We will now examine another one
of these useful theorem for identifying extreme values.

3
2. Fermat’s Theorem

Fermat’s Theorem

If f has a local maximum or minimum at c, and if f 0 (c) exists, then f 0 (c) = 0.

(I) What are the assumptions of Fermat’s Theorem?

(II) What is the consequence of Fermat’s Theorem?

Caution! It is important to note that Fermat’s Theorem does not say that if f 0 (c) = 0 then
x = c is an extreme value. Only that all extreme values, c, have f 0 (c) = 0.

We call these values that Fermat’s Theorem picks out critical values.

Definition

A critical number of a function is a number c in the domain of f such that either f 0 (c) = 0
or f 0 (c) does not exist.

From Fermat’s Theorem this means that

if f has a local maximum or minimum at c , then c is a critical number of f .

We will now examine some examples of how to use these theorems to find extreme values before proving
Fermat’s Theorem.

Examples
Let’s begin by examining the examples from the first page...

(1) Verify that f 0 (c) = 0 where c is one of the extreme values that you found in the two examples on page
1.

a. f (x) = cos x

4
 b. g(x) = −x2

(2) Find the absolute minimum and absolute maximum values for each function on the following interval.

a. h(x) = x − ln x, [1/2, 2]

b. g(x) = 2 cos x + sin 2x, [0, π/2]

√
c. f (t) = t 4 − t2 , [−1, 2]

5
The Proof of Fermat’s Theorem
Now, we will work through a proof of Fermat’s Theorem.
Recall that Fermat’s Theorem states:
If f has a local maximum or minimum at c, and if f 0 (c) exists, then f 0 (c) = 0.

In order to prove this theorem (and most any theorem), we will want to start by
assuming the assumptions and work through a series of steps until our result is the consequence.

Clearly label the assumptions and consequence of Fermat’s Theorem in the following proof.
proof of Fermat’s Theorem: Suppose that f has a local maximum at c and that f 0 (c) exists.
Then, by the definition of local maximum, this means

This implies that if h is sufficiently close to 0 with h being positive or negative, then

f (c) ≥ f (c + h)

and, solving so 0, we see, 0 ≥ .

• Case 1: Assume h > 0. Then we can divide both sides of the inequality by h and we get

0≥ .
Taking the limits as h approaches 0 from the right on both sides of the inequality

(using Theorem 2.3.2), we get .

Since f 0 (c) exists, we know

f (c + h) − f (c)
f 0 (c) = = lim
h→0+ h
f (c + h) − f (c)
Since lim ≤ 0, .
h→0+ h

• Case 2: Assume h < 0. Then when we divide both sides of f (c + h) − f (c) ≤ 0, by h, we get

.
So by taking the limits as h approaches 0 from the left on both sides of the inequality and recalling
the definition of the derivative, we get

f (c + h) − f (c)
f 0 (c) = = lim ≥0
h→0− h

Now, from cases 1 and 2, we have shown that and . This means that = 0.
Notice that the case of f having a minimum at c follows a similar pattern of proof and hence, our result
is established.