Identifying Turning Points (Local Extrema) for a Function
Key Questions
-
Answer:
See below.
Explanation:
To find extreme values of a function
#f# , set#f'(x)=0# and solve. This gives you the x-coordinates of the extreme values/ local maxs and mins.For example. consider
#f(x)=x^2-6x+5# . To find the minimum value of#f# (we know it's minimum because the parabola opens upward), we set#f'(x)=2x-6=0# Solving, we get#x=3# is the location of the minimum. To find the y-coordinate, we find#f(3)=-4# . Therefore, the extreme minimum of#f# occurs at the point#(3,-4)# . -
Any polynomial of degree
#n# can have a minimum of zero turning points and a maximum of#n-1# . However, this depends on the kind of turning point.Sometimes, "turning point" is defined as "local maximum or minimum only". In this case:
- Polynomials of odd degree have an even number of turning points, with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of
#n-1# . - Polynomials of even degree have an odd number of turning points, with a minimum of 1 and a maximum of
#n-1# .
However, sometimes "turning point" can have its definition expanded to include "stationary points of inflexion". For an example of a stationary point of inflexion, look at the graph of
#y = x^3# - you'll note that at#x = 0# the graph changes from convex to concave, and the derivative at#x = 0# is also 0.If we go by the second definition, we need to change our rules slightly and say that:
- Polynomials of degree 1 have no turning points.
- Polynomials of odd degree (except for
#n = 1# ) have a minimum of 1 turning point and a maximum of#n-1# . - Polynomials of even degree have a minimum of 1 turning point and a maximum of
#n-1# .
So, in part, it depends on the definition of "turning point", but in general most people will go by the first definition.
- Polynomials of odd degree have an even number of turning points, with a minimum of 0 and a maximum of
-
For a differentiable function
#f(x)# , at its turning points,#f'# becomes zero, and#f'# changes its sign before and after the turning points.
I hope that this was helpful.
Questions
Graphing with the First Derivative
-
Interpreting the Sign of the First Derivative (Increasing and Decreasing Functions)
-
Identifying Stationary Points (Critical Points) for a Function
-
Identifying Turning Points (Local Extrema) for a Function
-
Classifying Critical Points and Extreme Values for a Function
-
Mean Value Theorem for Continuous Functions