MODULE 4

Calculus 1
Critical Points:
MAXIMA and MINIMA

Objectives of the Module

At the end of this module, the

students should be able to

 Determine the critical

points.

 Use the Second Derivative

Test to determine whether a
critical point is a maximum
or a minimum point

 Sketch the curve using the

knowledge of critical points
 PRE-TEST

Fill up the following table

Given Function 𝒚′ 𝒙 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝒚′ = 𝟎

5
𝑦=−
6

𝑦 = 9𝑥 − 10

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 8

𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 + 20

𝑦 = 6𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 − 12

𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1

𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − 9𝑥 2

1 3
𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 40𝑥
3 2
 4.0 Critical Points
Critical points are points on the curve where 𝑦 ′ = 0. Such point may be a maximum point
or a minimum point.

Illustrations: Maxima

1.

Absolute maximum
Relative maximum
absolute maximum has 𝑓(ℎ) relative maximum because 𝑓(𝑥 1)
the highest function value has the highest value in the interval

Absolute minimum

Relative minimum
at (𝑥 1,𝑦1 ) & (𝑥 2, 𝑦2 )
relative to the interval
To find the critical points, find all points on the curve where 𝑦′ or 𝑓′(𝑥) is equal to 0.
Illustrations:
1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 1 1
4. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
3 2
𝑦 ′ = 3𝑥 2
𝑦′ = 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 12
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦′ = 0
𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑦 ′ 𝑡𝑜 0
3𝑥 2 = 0
𝑥 =0 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12 = 0
𝑦 = 03 (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 3) = 0
𝑦=0 𝑥−4= 0 𝑥+3= 0
Therefore (0,0) is a critical point
𝑥=4 𝑥 = −3
2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 5
a. 𝑥 = 4
𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥
1 1
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦′ = 0 𝑦 = (4)3 − (4)2 − 12(4)
3 2
2𝑥 = 0
64
𝑥 =0 = − 8 − 48
3
𝑦 = 02 + 5
𝑦=5 64 − 168
=
3
Therefore (0,5) which is the vertex of the
parabolic function is a critical point −104
=
3
The parabola is concave upward.
104
3. 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 27
(4, − ) is a critical point
3
𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥 − 6 b. at 𝑥 = −3
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦′ = 0 1 1
𝑦 = (−3)3 − (−3)2 − 12(−3)
−2𝑥 − 6 = 0 3 2
−2𝑥 = 6 9
= −9 + + 36
𝑥 = −3 2
𝑦 = −(−3)2 − 6(−3) + 27 −18 + 9 + 72
= 36 =
2
(−3,36) the vertex of the parabolic function is the
63
critical point =
2
The parabola is concave downward. 62
(−3, ) is a critical point
3
4.1 The Second Derivative Test (SDT)

To determine the type of critical point, the Second Derivative Test is used. The following
rules are applied by the SDT:

If 𝑦 ′′ > 0, then the critical point is a MINIMUM.

If 𝑦 ′′ < 0, then the critical point is a MAXIMUM.

If 𝑦 ′′ = 0, the test fails; the point is an inflection point is an indicator of change in concavity.

Illustrations:

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
(0,0) is a critical point

Applying SDT
𝑦 ′ = 3𝑥 2
𝑦′′ = 6𝑥
= 6(0)
=0

The test fails.

Therefore (0,0) is an inflection point.

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 5
(0,5) is a critical point

𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥
𝑦 ′′ = 2 and 2 > 0

Therefore (0,5) is a minimum point.

Really, the parabola is concave upward.
3. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 27
(−3,36) the vertex of the parabola is a critical point

Apply SDT
𝑦 ′ = −2𝑥 − 6
𝑦 ′′ = −2 and − 2 > 0
(−3,36) is a maximum point.
Really, a parabola that is concave downward has a maximum point at its vertex.

1 1
4. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
3 2
104 63
The critical points are (4, − 3
) and (−3, 2
)

Apply the SDT

𝑦 ′ = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12
𝑦 ′′ = 2𝑥 − 1

104
a. at (4, − ) with 𝑥 = 4 , 𝑦′′ = 7
3
104
which means that (4, − ) is a MINIMUM
3

63
b. at (−3, 2
) with 𝑥 = −3 , 𝑦 ′′ = −7
63
which means that (−3, ) is a MAXIMUM
2

c. Interestingly,
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑦′′ = 0
2𝑥 − 1 = 0
2𝑥 = 1
1
𝑥=
2
146 73
𝑦=− =−
24 12
1 −73
( , ) is an inflection point
2 12
4.2 Curve Sketching

By knowing the critical points, the graph of a function can be sketched (not necessarily a
perfect graph)

 A maximum point will indicate a downward concavity.

 A minimum point will indicate an upward concavity.

Illustrations:

1. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 4
𝑦 ′ = 2𝑥
2𝑥 = 0
𝑥=0
𝑦 = 02 + 4
𝑦 =4
(0,4) is the critical point
𝑦 ′ ′ = 2 meaning
(0,4) is a minimum point 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 4 is an EVEN function

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
𝑦 ′ = 3𝑥 2
3𝑥 2 = 0
𝑥=0
𝑦=0
(0,0) is an inflection point
Since 𝑦 ′ ′ = 6𝑥
= 6(0)
=0
𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒: when 𝑥 > 0 , 𝑦 > 0
when 𝑥 < 0 , 𝑦 < 0
It is an ODD function
Activity 4a

Sketch the following curves

2. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 5 2. 𝑦 = −𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 27

Activity 4b
1 1
1. Sketch 𝑦 = 3 𝑥 3 − 2 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥

2. What is the inflection point?

What is the essence of the inflection point?
 POST TEST

Multiple choice
Choose the best answer. Encircle the letter of your choice.
1. Which of the following quadratic functions will have a maximum
point?
a. 𝑦 = 5 − 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 c. 𝑦 = 4 − 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2
b. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 10 d. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
2. At what point on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 17 will have 𝑦 ′ = 0
a. (4,1) b. (4, −1) c. (−4,1) d. (−4,−1)
1 3
3-6. Given the function 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 − 40𝑥
3 2
3. How many critical points are there in the function?
a. 𝑜𝑛𝑒 b. 𝑡𝑤𝑜 c. three d. none
4. What is the minimum point?
1476 −725
a. (−8, ) c. (5, )
6 6
−1225 3 498
b. (−5, 6 ) d. (− 2 , 8 )
5. What is the maximum point?
−725
a. (−8,48) c. (5, )
6
−1225 3 498
b. (−5, 6 ) d. (− 2 , 8 )
6. What is the inflection point?
1472 −725
a. (−8, 6
) c. (5, 6
)
−1225 3 498
b. (−5, ) d. (− , )
6 2 8
7. A quadratic function with a maximum point is
a. concave upward c. concave to the left
b. concave downward d. concave to the right
8. A quadratic function with a minimum point is
a. concave upward c. concave to the left
b. concave downward d. concave to the right