Maxima, Minima, & "First Derivative Test" (a.k.a. "Extrema")
Extrema (maximums and minimums) come in two flavors: relative and absolute. This chapter covers both, and how to find them using the first derivative test.
Relative Maxima & Minima
In this video I start off explaining the difference between relative and absolute extrema. Then we get into the nuts and bolts of how to find relative extrema (maximums and minimums) using the first derivative test, and how not to get burned by common trick questions.
Absolute Extrema
These "absolute" problems start the same way as the "relative" ones: finding critical points and then using the first derivative test to figure out whether they're maxima or minima. But then we have to test the endpoints of the interval (there's always an interval in this type of problem).
Relative Maxima & Minima
In this video I start off explaining the difference between relative and absolute extrema. Then we get into the nuts and bolts of how to find relative extrema (maximums and minimums) using the first derivative test, and how not to get burned by common trick questions.
Absolute Extrema
These "absolute" problems start the same way as the "relative" ones: finding critical points and then using the first derivative test to figure out whether they're maxima or minima. But then we have to test the endpoints of the interval (there's always an interval in this type of problem).