How do I find the maximum/minimum of a function?

MYTUTOR SUBJECT ANSWERS

Answers / Maths / A Level / How do I find the maximum/minimum of a function?

656 views

How do I find the maximum/minimum of a function?

The maximum/minimum of a function are the points where the first derivative (the gradient) of the function is zero.

So with a function of the form y=f(x), you must take the derivative (dy/dx) and set your result equal to zero. This equation must then be solved for x, to find the x value(s) for which the function is a maximum or minimum.

To determine which values are maxima and which are minima, you must take the second derivative of the function (this means differentiating the original function twice) and substitute each of the x-values found above into this equation in turn. The values which give a positive output for the second derivative are minimum points and the values which give a negative output for the seond derivative are maximum points.

Ellie L. GCSE Maths tutor, A Level Maths tutor, A Level Further Mathe...

2 years ago

Answered by Ellie, an A Level Maths tutor with MyTutor

Still stuck? Get one-to-one help from a personally interviewed subject specialist

321 SUBJECT SPECIALISTS

Praveenaa K. GCSE Further Mathematics tutor, A Level Further Mathema...

View profile

£20 /hr

Praveenaa K.

Degree: Mathematics (Masters) - Bristol University

Subjects offered:Maths, Science+ 4 more

“Top tutor from the renowned Russell university group, ready to help you improve your grades.”

5.0

8 reviews | 12 completed tutorials

Save profile

Tadas T. A Level Maths tutor, GCSE Maths tutor, IB Maths tutor, A Lev...

View profile

£26 /hr

Tadas T.

Degree: MMathPhil Mathematics and Philosophy (Bachelors) - Oxford, St Anne's College University

Subjects offered:Maths, Further Mathematics + 3 more

“University of Oxford Maths and Philosophy student happy to help students learn and stay motivated!”

5.0

71 reviews | 121 completed tutorials

Save profile

Giorgos A. A Level Maths tutor, GCSE Maths tutor, A Level Physics tut...

View profile

£20 /hr

Giorgos A.

Degree: Mechanical Engineering with Renewable Energy (Masters) - Edinburgh University

Subjects offered:Maths, Physics

“Feel rewarded helping younger students. Nobody is born knowing everything, life is a learning process and my aim is to help you achieve your goals.”

Trusted by schools

| 5 completed tutorials

Save profile

See more A Level Maths tutors

About the author

View profile

Ellie L.

Currently unavailable: for new students

Degree: Mathematics (Bachelors) - Bristol University

Subjects offered:Maths, Further Mathematics

“Top tutor from the renowned Russell university group, ready to help you improve your grades.”

5.0

8 reviews | 25 completed tutorials

Save profile

Version:	3.47.1
Build:	245b6290c38f
Time:	2017-07-12T13:15:28Z

MYTUTOR SUBJECT ANSWERS

How do I find the maximum/minimum of a function?

Still stuck? Get one-to-one help from a personally interviewed subject specialist

321 SUBJECT SPECIALISTS

About the author

You may also like...

Other A Level Maths questions

One-to-one help is at your fingertips