All Flashcards
How do you find critical points of a function?
- Find the derivative . 2. Set and solve for . 3. Find where is undefined. 4. The solutions are critical points.
How do you find the absolute maximum and minimum of a continuous function on a closed interval?
- Find all critical points in the interval. 2. Evaluate the function at the critical points and endpoints. 3. The largest value is the absolute maximum, and the smallest value is the absolute minimum.
How do you determine if a critical point is a local maximum or minimum using the first derivative test?
- Find the critical point . 2. Check the sign of to the left and right of . 3. If changes from positive to negative at , then is a local maximum. 4. If changes from negative to positive at , then is a local minimum.
How do you determine if a critical point is a local maximum or minimum using the second derivative test?
- Find the critical point . 2. Find the second derivative . 3. Evaluate . 4. If , then is a local minimum. 5. If , then is a local maximum. 6. If , the test is inconclusive.
How do you apply the Extreme Value Theorem to find the absolute extrema?
- Verify that the function is continuous on the closed interval. 2. Find all critical points within the interval. 3. Evaluate the function at the critical points and the endpoints of the interval. 4. The largest and smallest values are the absolute maximum and minimum, respectively.
How to find the critical points from a graph of ?
- Identify points where (x-intercepts). 2. Identify points where is undefined (e.g., vertical asymptotes, holes). 3. These x-values are the critical points of .
How do you find global extrema from a graph of on a closed interval?
- Visually inspect the graph. 2. Identify the highest point (absolute maximum) and the lowest point (absolute minimum) on the given interval. 3. Note the corresponding x and y values.
How do you determine if a critical point is an inflection point?
- Find the second derivative . 2. Determine where or is undefined. 3. Check if changes sign at these points. If it does, it's an inflection point.
How do you determine if a function satisfies the conditions for Extreme Value Theorem?
- Check if the function is continuous. 2. Check if the interval is closed (i.e., includes its endpoints). If both conditions are met, the EVT applies.
How do you solve for absolute extrema?
- Find the derivative and critical points. 2. Evaluate the function at critical points and endpoints. 3. Compare values to find absolute max/min.
Define the Extreme Value Theorem.
If a function is continuous on a closed interval , then has both a maximum and a minimum value on that interval.
What are global extrema?
The absolute maximum and minimum values of a function over its entire domain.
What are local extrema?
Maximum or minimum values of a function within a specific region or interval of its domain.
Define a critical point.
A value in the domain of a function where or is undefined.
What does 'continuous' mean in the context of the Extreme Value Theorem?
The function has no breaks, jumps, or undefined points within the specified interval.
What is the domain of a function?
The set of all possible input values (x-values) for which the function is defined.
What is a closed interval?
An interval that includes its endpoints, denoted as .
Define differentiability.
A function is differentiable at a point if its derivative exists at that point.
What is the derivative of a function?
The instantaneous rate of change of a function with respect to its variable.
What is the range of a function?
The set of all possible output values (y-values) of the function.
Explain the significance of the Extreme Value Theorem.
Guarantees the existence of absolute max and min values for continuous functions on closed intervals, providing a basis for optimization problems.
How do critical points relate to finding extrema?
Critical points are potential locations for local maxima and minima; they must be examined to determine if they are indeed extrema.
Why is continuity important for the Extreme Value Theorem?
Discontinuities can lead to functions without a maximum or minimum value on a closed interval, violating the theorem's conditions.
Explain the difference between local and global extrema.
Local extrema are maximum or minimum values within a specific interval, while global extrema are the absolute maximum and minimum values over the entire domain.
Why are critical points important?
Critical points are the possible locations where a function can have a local maximum or minimum. They are found where the derivative is zero or undefined.
Can a critical point not be an extrema?
Yes, a critical point can be a point where the derivative is zero, but the function does not change direction (e.g., an inflection point with a horizontal tangent).
What is the importance of checking endpoints when finding global extrema on a closed interval?
The global maximum or minimum can occur at an endpoint, even if the derivative is not zero or undefined there.
What is the relationship between the first derivative and extrema?
The first derivative test helps identify local extrema. If the derivative changes sign at a critical point, it indicates a local max or min.
How does the second derivative relate to extrema?
The second derivative test can determine if a critical point is a local maximum or minimum. A positive second derivative indicates a local minimum, and a negative second derivative indicates a local maximum.
What is the difference between a local and absolute extrema?
Local extrema are the minimum or maximum in a specific interval while absolute extrema are the absolute minimum or maximum value of the function.