Math 51- Analytic Geometry with Calculus 1*

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

Surigao Del Sur State University
WEEKS 1-2
December 22, 2021

“A boat that is not tied up will drift along with the stream.”– Japanese Proverbs

1 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM VALUES OF A FUNC-

TION
We have seen that the geometrical interpretation of the derivative of a function is the slope
of the tangent line to the graph of a function at a point. This fact enables us to apply
derivatives as an aid in sketching graphs.
Definition 1.1. The function f is said to have a relatiae maximum value at c if there
exists an open interval containing c, on which f is defined, such that f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x
in this interval.

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a portion of the graph of a function having a relative maximum
value at c.

Figure 1:

* Prepared by: Andrew Felix S. Cunanan IV

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Definition 1.2. The function f is said to have a relatiae minimum value at c if there
exists an open interval containing c, on which f is defined, such that f (c) ≤ f (x) for all x
in this interval.

Figure 2 shows a sketch of a portion of the graph of a function having a relative maximum
value at c.

Figure 2:

If the function f has either a relative maximum or a relative minimum value at c, then f
is said to have a relative extremum at c. (The plurals of maximum and minimum are
maxima and minima; the plural of extremum is extrema.)

The following theorem enables us to locate the possible values of c for which there is a relative
extremum.

Theorem 1.3. If f (x) exists for all values of x in the open interval (a, b) and if f has a
relative extremum at c, where a < c < b, then It f 0 (c) exists, f 0 (c) = 0.

Definition 1.4. If c is a number in the domain of the function f and if either f 0 (c) = 0 or
f 0 (c) does not exist, then c is called a critical number of f .

Definition 1.5. The function f is said to have an absolute maximum value on an

interval if there is some number c in the interval such that f (c) ≥ f (x) for all x in the
interval. In such a case, f (c) is the absolute maximum value of f on the interval.

Definition 1.6. The function f is said to have an absolute minimum value on an inter-
val if there is some number c in the interval such that f (c) ≤ f (x) for all x in the interval.
In such a case, f (c) is the absolute mainimum value of f on the interval.

Definition 1.7. An absolute extremum of a function on an interval is either an absolute

maximum value or an absolute minimum value of the function on the interval.

A function may or may not have an absolute extremum on a given interval.

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If a function is continuous on a closed interval, there is a theorem, called the Extreme-

Value theorem, which assures us that the function has both an absolute maximum value
and an absolute minimum value on the interval.

Theorem 1.8. If the function f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], then f has an
absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value on [a, b]

2 ABSOLUTE EXTREMUM
2.1 Application of Absolute Extremum on a Closed Interval
We consider some problerns in whidr the solution is air absolute extremum of a function
on a dosed interval. Use is made of the extreme value theorem, which assures us that both
an absolute maximum value and an absolute minimum value of a function exist on a closed
interval if the function is continuous on that closed interval.

Example 2.1. A cardboard box manufacturer wishes to make open boxes from pieces of card-
board 12 in. square by cutting equal squares from the four corners and turning up the sides.
Find the length of the side of the square to be cut out in order to obtain a box of the largest
possible volume.

Figure 3:

Solution: Let

1. x = the number of inches in the length of the side of the square to be cut out;

2. V = the number of cubic inches in the volume of the box.

The number of inches in the dimensions of the box are then x, (12 − 2x), and (12 − 2x).
Figure 3 represents a given piece of cardboard, and Figure 4 represents the box.

The volume of the box is the product of the three dimensions, and so V is a function of x,
and we write
V (x) = x(12 − 2x)(12 − 2x) (1)
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Figure 4:

lf x = 0, V = 0, and if x = 6, V = 0. The value of x that we wish to find is in the

closed interval [0, 6]. Because V is continuous on the closed interval [0, 6], it follows from
the extreme-value theorem that V has an absolute maximum value on this interval. We also
know that this absolute maximum value of V must occur either at a critical number or at an
endpoint of the interval. To find the critical numbers of V , we find V 0 (x), and then find the
values of x for which either V 0 (x) = 0 or V 0 (x) does not exist.

From Equation (1), we obtain

V (x) = 144x − 48x2 + 4x3 .

Thus,
V 0 (x) = 144 − 96x + 12x2 .
V 0 (x) exists for all values of x. Setting V 0 (x) = 0, we have

12(x2 − 18x + 12) = 0

from which we obtain

x=6 and x=2
The critical numbers of V are 2 and 6, both of which are in the closed interval [0, 6]. The
absolute maximum value of V on [0, 6] must occur at either a critical number or at an end-
point of the interval. Because V (0) = 0 and V (6) = 0, while V (2) = 128, we conclude that
the absolute maximum value of V on [0, 6] is 128, occurring at 2.

Therefore, the largest possible volume is 128 in3 ., and this is obtained when the length of the
side of the square cut out is 2 in. 

Example 2.2. An island is at point A, 6 miles offshore from the nearest point B on a
straight beach. A store is at point C, 7 miles down the beach from B. If a man can row at
the rate of 4 mi/hr and walk at the rate of 5 mi/hr, where should he land in order to go from
the island to the store in the least possible time?

Solution: Let P be the point on the beach where the man lands. Therefore, the man rows
from A to P and walks from P to C. Let
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Figure 5:

1. x = the number of miles in the distance from B to P .

2. T = the number of hours in the time it takes the man to make the trip from A to C.
Then T = the number of hours in the time to go from A to P plus the number of hours in
the time to go from P to C. Because time is obtained by dividing distance by rate, we have
|AP | |P C|
T = + (2)
4 5
From Figure 5 we see that |AP | is the length of the hypotenuse of right triangle ABP .
Therefore √
|AP | = x2 + 36
we also see from the figure that |P C| = 7 − x. So from Equation (2) T can be expressed as
a function of x, and we have
√
x2 + 36 7 − x
T (x) = +
4 5
Because the distance from B to C is 7 miles and because P can be any point on the line
segment BC, we know that x is in the closed interval [0, 7].

We wish to find the value of x for which T has an absolute minimum value on [0, 7]. Because
T is a continuous function of x on [0, 7], we know that such a value exists. The critical
numbers of T are found by first computing
x 1
T 0 (x) = √ − .
4 x + 36 5
2

T 0 (x) exists for all values of x. Setting T 0 (x) = 0 and solving for x, we have
x 1
√ − =0 (3)
4 x2 + 36 5
√
5x = 4 x2 + 36
25x2 = 16(x2 + 36)
9x2 = 16 · 36
x2 = 64
x = ±8.
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The number −8 is an extraneous root of Equation (3), and 8 is not in the interval [0, 7].
Therefore, there are no critical numbers of T in [0, 7]. The absolute minimum value of T on
[0, 7] must therefore occur at an endpoint of the interval. Computing T (0) and T (7), we get
29 1√
T (0) = and T (7) =
85.
10 4
√ √
Since 41 85 < 29
10
, the absolute minimum value of T on [0, 7] is 1
4
85, occurring when x = 7.
Therefore, in order for the man to go from the island to the store in the least possible time,
he should row directly there and do no walking. 

2.2 Rolle’s Theorem and The Mean-Value Theorem

Let f be a function which is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], differentiable on the open
interval (a, b), and such that f (a) = 0 and f (b) = 0. The French mathematician Michel
Rolle (1652 − 1779) proved that if a function f satisfies these conditions, there is at least
one number c between a and b for which f 0 (c) = 0.
Theorem 2.3. (Rolle’s Theorem) Let f be a function such that
(i) it is continuous on the closed interval [a, b];

(ii) it is differentiable on the open interval (a, b);

(iii) f (a) = f (b) = 0.

Then there is a number c in the open interval (a, b) such that

f 0 (c) = 0.

Example 2.4. Given

f (x) = 4x3 − 9x
verify that conditions (i), (ii), and (iii) of the hyoothesis of Rolle’s theorem are satisfied for
each of the following intervals: [− 32 , 0], [0, 32 ], and [− 32 , 32 ]. Then find a suitable value for c in
each of these intervals for which f 0 (c) = o.

Solution: f 0 (x) = 12x2 − 9; f 0 (x) exists for all values of x, and so f is differentiable
on (−∞, +∞) and therefore continuous on (−∞, +∞). Conditions (i) and (ii) of Rolle’s
theorem thus hold on any interval. To determine on which intervals condition (iii) holds, we
find the values of x for which f (x) = 0. Setting f (x) = 0, we have
9
4x(x2 − ) = 0
4
which gives us
3 3
x=− x=0 x=
2 2
Taking a = − 2 and b = 0, we see that Rolle’s theorem holds on [− 32 , 0].
3
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Similarly, Rolle’s theorem holds on [0, 32 ] and [− 32 , 23 ].

To find the suitable values for c, we set f 0 (x) = 0 and get

12x2 − 9 = 0

which gives us
1√ 1√
x=− 3 and 3.
2 2
√
Therefore, in the interval [− 23 , 0] a suitable choice for c is − 21 3. In the interval [O, 23 ], we
√ √ √
take c = 12 3. In the interval [− 32 , 32 ] there are two possibilities for c: either − 12 3 or 12 3.

the next theorem is one of the most important theorems in calculus-that known as the mean-
aalue theorem (or law of the mean). The mean-value theorem is used to prove many theorems
of both differential and integral calculus.

Theorem 2.5. (Mean-Value Theorem) Let f be a function such that

(i) it is continuous on the closed interval [a, b];

(ii) it is differentiable on the open interval (a, b).

Then there is a number c in the open interval (a, b) such that

f (b) − f (a)
f 0 (c) = .
b−a
Geometrical Interpretation: If we draw a sketch of the graph of the function f , then [f (b) −
f (a)]/(b − a) is th eslope of the line segment joining the points A(a, f (a)) and B(b, f (b)).
The Mean-Value theorem states that there is some point on the curve between A and B where
the tangent line is parallel to the secant line through A and B; that is, there is some number
c in (a, b) such that
f (b) − f (a)
f 0 (c) = .
b−a
Refer to Figure 6.

By taking the x-axis along the line segment AB, we observe that the Mean-Value theorem is
a generalization of Rolle’s theorem.

Example 2.6. Given

f (x) = x3 − 5x2 − 3x
verify that the hypothesis of the Mean-value theorem is satisfied for a = 1 and b = 3. Then
find all numbers c in the open interval (1, 3) such that

f (3) − f (1)
f 0 (c) = .
3−1
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Figure 6:

Solution: Because f is a polynomial function, f is continuous and differentiable for all

values of x. Therefore, the hypothesis of the Mean-value theorem is satisfied for any a and
b.
f 0 (x) = 3x2 − 10x − 3 f (1) = −7 and f (3) = −27.
Hence,
f (3) − f (1) −27 − (−7)
= = −10.
3−1 2
Setting f 0 (c) = −10, we obtain

3c2 − 10c − 3 = −10

3c2 − 10c + 7 = 0
(3c − 7)(c − 1) = 0

which gives us
7
c= and c = 1.
3
Because 1 is not in the open interval (1, 3), the only possible value for c is 37 .