Lecture 8

Maximum and Minimum

Values - (Optimization Problems)

Differentiation with Applications

and Algebra
(EMP111)

Dr. Basma Magdy

 Maximum and Minimum Values
Some of the most important applications of differential calculus are
optimization problems, in which we are required to find the optimal (best)
way of doing something.
These problems can be reduced to finding the maximum or minimum
values of a function.

Definition The number 𝒇(𝒄) is a

local maximum value of 𝑓 if 𝑓(𝑐) ⩾ 𝑓(𝑥) when 𝑥 is near 𝑐.
local minimum value of 𝑓 if 𝑓(𝑐) ⩽ 𝑓(𝑥) when 𝑥 is near 𝑐 .
 Maximum and Minimum Values

We see that 𝒇(𝟒) = 𝟓 is a local minimum because it's the smallest

value of 𝑓 on the interval.

In fact 𝒇(𝟏𝟐) = 𝟑 is both a local minimum and the absolute minimum.

Similarly, 𝒇(𝟖) = 𝟕 is a local maximum, but not the absolute maximum
because 𝑓 takes larger values near 1 .
➢ Theorem
f is continuous and defined on the closed interval, then the absolute
minimum and maximum exist.

➢ Method to find the absolute value

Definition

A critical number of a function 𝑓 is a number 𝑐 in the domain of 𝑓 such that

𝑓 ′ (𝑐) = 0 or 𝑓 ′ (𝑐) doesn't exist.

➢ The Closed Interval Method To find the absolute maximum and

minimum values of a continuous function 𝑓 on a closed interval [𝑎, 𝑏] :
1. Find the values of 𝑓 at the critical numbers of 𝑓 in (𝑎, 𝑏).
2. Find the values of 𝑓 at the endpoints of the interval.
3. The largest of the values from Steps 1 and 2 is the absolute maximum
value; the smallest of these values is the absolute minimum value.
 First Derivative Test for Absolute Extreme Values

Suppose that 𝑐 is a critical number of a continuous function 𝑓 defined on

an interval.
(a) If 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) > 0 for all 𝑥 < 𝑐 and 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) < 0 for all 𝑥 > 𝑐, then 𝑓(𝑐) is the
absolute maximum value of 𝑓.
(b) If 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) < 0 for all 𝑥 < 𝑐 and 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) > 0 for all 𝑥 > 𝑐, then 𝑓(𝑐) is the
absolute minimum value of 𝑓.
Example 1: Find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum of
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟐𝒙𝟑 + 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 if the domain of 𝒇 is [−𝟒. 𝟐].

Solution:

Step 1. Find all critical values in (a, b).

𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 6𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 12
= 6 𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 2
= 6(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 1)
The first derivative is zero when 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑥 = 1. Hence, f(x) has two
critical values: 𝑥 = −2 and 𝑥 = 1.

Step 2. Evaluate 𝑓(𝑥) at the critical values and at the endpoints 𝑎 and 𝑏.
Both critical values lie in the interval (-4.2), so we need to compare four
values: 𝑓(−4), 𝑓(−2), 𝑓(1), and 𝑓(2) :
 𝒙 𝒇(𝒙)
-4 -32
-2 20
1 -7
2 4

• Absolute maximum: 𝑓(−2) = 20

• Absolute minimum: 𝑓(−4) = −32

 Example 2: Find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum of
𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝟑𝒙 if the domain of 𝒇 is 𝟎, 𝟐 .

Solution:
𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 3𝑥 2 − 3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = −1 ∉ [0,2], 𝑥 = 1 ∈ [0,2]
Then the critical number is 𝒙 = 1 and 𝑓(1) = −2; the critical point is (1, −2)

The values of 𝒇 at the endpoints 0 and 2 are ∶ 𝐟(𝟎) = 𝟎, 𝐟(𝟐) = 2

Thus, the absolute maximum of 𝒇 on[0,2] is 2 and the absolute minimum is -2

 Solving Optimization Problems
Steps In Solving Optimization Problems.

1. Understand the Problem: The first step is to read the problem

carefully until it is clearly understood. Ask yourself: What is the
unknown? What are the given quantities? What are the given
conditions?

2. Draw a Diagram In most problems it is useful to draw a diagram and

identify the given and required quantities on the diagram.

3. Introduce Notation Assign a symbol to the quantity that is to be

maximized or minimized (let's call it Q for now).
Example 3: The Hubble Space Telescope was
deployed on April 24, 1990, by the space shuttle
Discovery. A model for the velocity of the shuttle
during this mission, from liftoff at 𝒕 = 𝟎 until the
solid rocket boosters were jettisoned at 𝐭 = 𝟏𝟐𝟔
seconds, is given by
𝒗(𝒕)
= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟎𝟐𝒕𝟑 − 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟎𝟐𝟗𝒕𝟐 + 𝟐𝟑. 𝟔𝟏𝒕 − 𝟑. 𝟎𝟖𝟑
(in feet per second). Using this model, estimate
the absolute maximum and minimum values of
the acceleration of the shuttle between liftoff and
the jettisoning of the boosters.

Solution:
We are asked for the extreme values not of the given velocity function
but rather of the acceleration function. So we first need to differentiate
to find the acceleration

𝑑
𝑎(𝑡) = 𝑣 ′ (𝑡) = 0.001302𝑡 3 − 0.09029𝑡 2 + 23.61𝑡 − 3.083
𝑑𝑡
= 0.003906𝑡 2 − 0.18058𝑡 + 23.61
We now apply the Closed Interval Method to the continuous function 𝑎 on
the interval 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 126. Its derivative is

𝒂′ (𝒕) = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟖𝟏𝟐𝒕 − 𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟎𝟓𝟖

The only critical number occurs when 𝒂′ (𝒕) = 𝟎 :

0.18058
𝑡1 = ≈ 23.12
0.007812

Evaluating 𝑎(𝑡) at the critical number and at the endpoints, we have

a(0) = 23,61, 𝑎 𝑡1 ≈ 21,5, 𝑎(126) ≈ 62,87

So the maximum acceleration is about 62,87ft/s 2 and the minimum

acceleration is about 21.52ft/s 2 .
Example 4: A cylindrical can is to be made to hold 1 L of oil. Find the
dimensions that will minimize the cost of the metal to manufacture the
can.

Solution:

Draw the diagram see figure .In order to minimize the cost of the metal,
we minimize the total surface area of the cylinder (top, bottom, and sides).
we see that the sides are made from a rectangular sheet with dimensions 2𝑟
and ℎ. So the surface area is 𝑨 = 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝟐 + 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝒉
𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟 2 + 2𝜋𝑟ℎ
We would like to express 𝑨 in terms of one variable, 𝒓. To eliminate ℎ
we use the fact that the volume is given as 1 L , which is equivalent to
1000 cm3 . Thus
𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ = 1000 which gives ℎ = 1000/ 𝜋𝑟 2
𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑨= 𝟐𝝅𝒓𝟐 + 𝟐𝝅𝒓 𝟐
= 𝟐𝝅𝒓 +
𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝒓
The function that we want to minimize is
2000
𝐴(𝑟) = 2𝜋𝑟 2
+ 𝑟>0
𝑟
3
′
2000 4 𝜋𝑟 − 500
𝐴 (𝑟) = 4𝜋𝑟 − 2 =
𝑟 𝑟2
𝟑 𝟓𝟎𝟎
Then 𝐴′ (𝑟) = 0 when 𝜋𝑟 3 = 500 so the only critical number is 𝒓 =
𝝅
Since the domain of 𝑨 is (𝟎, ∞), we can observe that

′
3 500 3 500
𝐴 (𝑟) < 0 for 𝑟 < and 𝐴′ (𝑟) > 0 for 𝑟 >
𝜋 𝜋

so 𝐴 is decreasing for all 𝑟 to the left of the critical number and increasing
3 500
and increasing for all 𝑟 to the right Thus 𝑟 = must give rise to an
𝜋
absolute minimum.
𝟑 𝟓𝟎𝟎
The value of ℎ corresponding to 𝒓 =
𝝅
≈ 5.42cm is

𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝟑 𝟓𝟎𝟎

𝒉= = =𝟐 = 𝟐𝒓 ≈ 10.84cm
𝝅𝒓𝟐 𝝅(𝟓𝟎𝟎/𝝅)𝟐/𝟑 𝝅

3 500
Thus, to minimize the cost of the can, the radius should be 𝑟 = cm
𝜋
and the height should be equal to twice the radius, namely, the diameter.
Example 5: A farmer has 2400 meters of fencing and wants to enclose
a rectangular field that borders a straight river. He needs no fence
along the river. What are the dimensions of the field that has the
largest area?

Solution:

Note that the area of the field depends

on its dimensions: To solve the
problem, we first draw a picture that
illustrates the general case.

The next step is to create a corresponding mathematical model. Let 𝒙 and 𝒚

be the length and width of the rectangle (in meters ).
 Then we express 𝑨 in terms of 𝒙 and 𝒚.
𝑨 = 𝒙𝒚

We want to Maximize: 𝑨

express 𝑨 as a function of just one variable, so we eliminate 𝒚 by

expressing it in terms of 𝒙. To do this we use the given information that
the total length of the fencing is 2400 m . Thus
𝟐𝒙 + 𝒚 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎

From this equation we have 𝒚 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝒙, which gives

𝑨 = 𝒙𝒚 = 𝒙(𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝒙) = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐
To find the absolute maximum value of 𝐀 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 , we use the
closed interval method:

We first show that 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎.

𝒚 ≥ 𝟎 ⇒ 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐𝒙 ≥ 𝟎 ⇒ 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 ≥ 𝟐𝒙 ⇒ 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 ≥ 𝒙

On the other hand, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟎. Combining these two inequalities gives

𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎
′
The derivative of 𝑨(𝒙) is 𝑨′ (𝒙) = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎𝒙 − 𝟐𝒙𝟐 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟒𝒙 so to
find the critical numbers we solve the equation
𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟒𝒙 = 𝟎 ⇒ 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 = 𝟒𝒙 ⇒ 𝒙 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎/𝟒 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎 (critical number)
To find the maximum value of 𝑨(𝒙) we evaluate it at the end points and
critical number:
𝑨(𝟎) = 𝟎, 𝑨(𝟔𝟎𝟎) = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 ⋅ 𝟔𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐 ⋅ 𝟔𝟎𝟎 = 𝟕𝟐𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎, 𝑨(𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎) = 𝟎
The Closed Interval Method gives the maximum value as
𝑨(𝟔𝟎𝟎) = 𝟕𝟐𝟎, 𝟎𝟎𝟎 (square meter ) and the dimensions are

𝒙 = 𝟔𝟎𝟎, 𝒚 = 𝟐𝟒𝟎𝟎 − 𝟐 ⋅ 𝟔𝟎𝟎 = 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐦.

 Example 6: Find the point on the parabola 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐𝒙 that is closest to
the point (𝟏, 𝟒).
Solution:
The distance between the point (𝟏, 𝟒) and the point
(𝒙, 𝒚) is
𝑑= (𝑥 − 1)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2
1
But if (𝒙, 𝒚) lies on the parabola, then 𝑥 = 𝑦 2 so
2
the expression for 𝑑 becomes
2
1 2
𝑑= 𝑦 −1 + (𝑦 − 4)2
2

Instead of minimizing 𝐝, we minimize its square:

2
2
1 2
𝑑 = 𝑓(𝑦) = 𝑦 −1 + (𝑦 − 4)2
2
Note that there are no restrictions on 𝑦, so the domain is all real numbers.
Differentiating, we obtain

𝟏 𝟐
𝒇′ (𝒚) =𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟏 𝒚 + 𝟐(𝒚 − 𝟒) = 𝒚𝟑 − 𝟖
𝟐
So 𝒇′ (𝒚) = 𝟎 when 𝒚 = 𝟐. Observe that and 𝒇′ (𝒚) > 𝟎 when 𝒚 > 𝟐. and
𝒇′ (𝒚) < 𝟎 when 𝒚 < 𝟐, so by the First Derivative Test for Absolute
Extreme Values, the absolute minimum occurs when 𝒚 = 𝟐.

𝟏
The corresponding value of 𝒙 is 𝒙 = 𝒚𝟐 . Thus the point on 𝑦 2 = 2𝑥
𝟐

closest to (1,4) is (2,2). [The distance between the points is

𝒅= 𝒇(𝟐) = 𝟓
Example 7: Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed
in a semicircle of radius 𝟓.

Solution:

The semicircle is the upper half of the circle 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐 with center the
origin. Let (𝑥, 𝑦) be the vertex that lies in the first quadrant. Then the
rectangle has sides of lengths 2𝑥 and 𝑦, so its area is 𝑨 = 𝟐𝒙𝒚

To eliminate 𝑦 we use the fact that (𝑥, 𝑦)

lies on the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 25 and so
𝑦 = 25 − 𝑥 2
The domain of this function is 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑟.
 𝑨 = 𝟐𝒙 25 − 𝑥 2
Its derivative is
𝟐𝒙 ∗ (𝟐𝒙) 𝟒 𝟐𝟓 − 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟒𝒙𝟐
𝑨′ = 𝟐 𝟐𝟓 − 𝒙𝟐 − =
𝟐 𝟐𝟓 − 𝒙𝟐 𝟐𝟓 − 𝒙𝟐

𝑨′ = 𝟎 4 25 − 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 2 = 0
4 25 − 𝑥 2 = 4𝑥 2 25 − 𝑥 2 = 𝑥 2
5
which is 0 when 2𝑥 2 = 25, that is, 𝑥 = (since 𝑥 ≥ 0 This value of
2

𝑥 gives a maximum value of 𝐴 since 𝐴(0) = 0 and 𝐴(𝑟) = 0.

Therefore, the area of the largest inscribed rectangle is

5 𝟐𝟓
𝑨=𝟐 25 − = 𝟐𝟓
2 𝟐