1.

4 Extrema and average

rates of change
Objective:
Increasing and decreasing behavior
 Increasing decreasing and constant functions

Function Function Function

We consider a function We consider a function We consider a function

if and only if for any two points if and only if for any two points if and only if for any two points
our interval, a change our interval, a change our interval, a change
in results in a in results in a in results in a
change in . change in . change in .
 Analyze increasing, decreasing, and
constant behavior
Estimate intervals to the nearest 0.5 unit on whether it is increasing,
decreasing, or constant.
a) b) c)
 Relative and absolute Extrema: maximum

If a maximum
is the greatest value a function
f can attain over its entire
A maximum domain, then it is the
of a function is the greatest maximum.
value can attain on some
interval of the domain
 Relative and absolute Extrema: minimum

If a minimum
is the least value a function f
can attain over its entire
A minimum domain, then it is the
of a function is the least value minimum.
can attain on some
interval of the domain.
 Finding extrema by analyzing graphs

Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum

-Relative: -Relative: -Relative: -Relative:

-Absolute: -Absolute: -Absolute: -Absolute:

 Let’s find extrema using our graphing
calculator!
• Plug in the following function: f(x) = -4x3 -8x2 +9x -4

• When you hit graph, can you see the entire graph?
This means we need to adjust our window settings!

• Then we can determine maximum and minimum by using the calculator

function.

What is the minimum? Is this relative or absolute? What is the maximum?

Is this relative or absolute?
 Average rate of change

• The
between two points on the graph is
the slope of the line through these
points.

• The line that passes through

these two points on a curve is
called the
.

• The formula for average rate of

change is:
 Find the average rate of change of
the following:
f(x) = -x3 +3x on the following intervals:

a) [-2, -1] b) [0,1]

 We can also use average rate of change
to find average speed
• The formula for the distance traveled by falling objects on the
Moon is d(t) = 2.7t2, where d(t) is the distance in feet and t is
the time in seconds. Find and interpret the average speed of
the object for each time interval.

a) 1 to 2 seconds b) 2 to 3 seconds