Maxima & Minima

Turning Points of Graphs

The turning point of a graph is any coordinate on a graph where the gradient = 0. Another way to say this is that the derivative of the graph = 0 or that the gradient of the graph = 0.

Turning points

Once you have found the derivative of a graph, f'( $x$ ), you can find the $x$ coordinate of a turning point by making f'( $x$ ) = 0.
When f'( $x$ ) = 0, the rate of change of the function is equal to zero.
It is called a turning point because the graph often changes direction at f'( $x$ ) = 0.

Example

If f( $x$ ) = $x$ ² − 2 $x$
- f'( $x$ ) = 2 $x$ − 2
The turning point is when f'( $x$ ) = 0
- So, 0 = 2 $x$ − 2
- Solve for $x$ to find $x$ = 1

Example cont.

Find the $y$ -coordinate by substituting in the value of $x$ = 1 into f( $x$ ).
- f(1) = 1² − (2 × 1)
- f(1) = −1
So the coordinate of the turning point of f( $x$ ) = $x$ ² − 2 $x$ is (1, −1).

Maxima & Minima

You can categorise turning points as a maximum or a minimum. Maxima and minima are the plurals of maximum and minimum.

Maxima & minima

A turning point is a local maximum if it is a high point when the graph is turning.
A turning point is a local minimum if it is a low point when the graph is turning.

The second derivative

You can find out if a turning point is a local maximum or local minimum using the second derivative.
The second derivative is found by differentiating the derivative.
- We can write the second derivative of f( $x$ ) is f''( $x$ )
- We can write the second derivative of $y$ as $\large\frac{d^2y}{dx^2}$ or $y$ ''.

Local maximum or local minimum

Once you have the $x$ value of the turning point, you can find out if it's a local maximum or a local minimum by substituting the $x$ value into the second derivative.
- If the second derivative is less than 0, then it is a local maximum.
- If the second derivative is greater than 0, then it is a local minimum.

Example

f( $x$ ) = $x$ ³ + 6 $x$ ² + 12 has a turning point at (0, 12). Is this a maximum or a minimum?
- f'( $x$ ) = 3 $x$ ² + 12 $x$
- And f''( $x$ ) = 6 $x$ + 12
- Then substitute in the $x$ coordinate of the turning point into f''( $x$ ).
- f''(0) = (6 × 0) + 12 = 12
- f''( $x$ ) is positive at $x$ = 0 so the turning point at (0, 12) is a local minimum.

1Numbers

1.1Integers

1.1.1Integers

1.1.2Ordering Numbers

1.1.3The Four Rules of Operations

1.1.4Hierarchy of Operations

1.1.5Definitions & Terms

1.1.6HCF & LCM

1.1.7Standard Form

1.1.8Standard Form 2

1.1.9Prime Numbers

1.1.10End of Topic Test - Standard Form

1.2Fractions

1.2.1Fractions

1.2.2Using Fractions

1.2.3Conversion

1.2.4Reciprocals

1.3Decimals

1.3.1Decimals

1.3.2Decimals 2

1.3.3Exam-Style Questions - Recurring Decimals

1.3.4Comparing & Converting Decimals

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Fractions & Decimals

1.4Powers & Roots

1.4.1Square Numbers

1.4.2Index Notation

1.4.3Exam-Style Questions - Index Notation

1.4.4Advanced Indices

1.4.5Surds

1.4.6End of Topic Test - Powers & Roots

1.5Set Language & Notation

1.5.1Sets

1.6Percentages

1.6.1Percentages

1.6.2Percentage Change

1.6.3Percentages in Finance

1.6.4Compound Interest

1.7Ratio & Proportion

1.7.1Manipulating Ratios

1.7.2Proportion

1.8Degree of Accuracy

1.8.1Rounding & Significant Figures

1.8.2Estimation

1.8.3Upper & Lower Bounds

1.8.4Limits of Accuracy

1.8.5Limits of Accuracy 2

1.8.6End of Topic Test - Rounding & Estimation

2Equations, Formulae & Identities

2.1Algebraic Manipulation

2.1.1Algebra Basics

2.1.2Power Rules & Collecting Terms

2.1.3Expanding Brackets

2.1.4Expanding Brackets 2

2.1.5Factorising Quadratics

2.1.6Algebraic Fractions

2.1.7Proofs

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Algebra & Proofs

2.1.9Exam-Style Questions - Algebraic Proof

2.2Expressions & Formulae

2.2.1Rearranging Formulae

2.2.2Simple Formulae

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Algebra Manipulation & Formula

2.3Linear Equations

2.3.1Solving Linear Equations

2.3.2Simultaneous Linear Equations

2.4Quadratic Equations

2.4.1Solving Quadratics

2.4.2Solving Quadratics 2

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Solving Equations

2.4.4Simulateous Quadratic Equations

2.4.5Exam-Style Questions - Simultaneous Equations

2.4.6Graphs of Simultaneous Equations

2.4.7End of Topic Test - Simultaneous Equations

2.5Proportion

2.5.1Graphs & Proportion

2.6Inequalities

2.6.1Solving Inequalities

2.6.2Graphs of Inequalities

2.6.3Exam-Style Questions - Inequalities

2.6.4End of Topic Test - Inequalities

3Sequences, Functions & Graphs

3.1Sequences

3.1.1Sequence Rules

3.1.2Finding Terms

3.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Sequences

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Sequences

3.2Functions

3.2.1Functions

3.2.2Composite & Inverse

3.2.3End of Topic Test - Functions

3.3Graphs

3.3.1Plotting Graphs

3.3.2Straight Line Graphs

3.3.3Properties of Graphs

3.3.4Quadratic Graphs

3.3.5Practical Graphs

3.3.6Graphs of Polynomials

3.3.7End of Topic Test Graphs

3.4Common Graphs

3.4.1Graphs of Common Functions

3.4.2Transformations of Graphs

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Transformations and Graph

3.5Calculus

3.5.1Derivatives of Functions

3.5.2Maxima & Minima

4Geometry

4.1Angles, Lines & Triangles

4.1.1Angles & Lines

4.1.2Angle Rules

4.1.3Angles in Triangles

4.1.4Exam-Style Questions - Angles

4.2Polygons

4.2.1Polygons

4.2.2Quadrilaterals

4.2.3Congruence

4.2.4Scale Factor

4.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Enlargements

4.2.6End of Topic Test - Geometry

4.3Symmetry

4.3.1Symmetry

4.3.2Exam-Style Questions - Reflection

4.4Measures

4.4.1Measurements

4.4.2Time

4.4.3Bearings

4.4.4Speed

4.5Circle Properties

4.5.1Properties of a Circle

4.5.2Circle Theorems

4.5.3Circle Theorems 2

4.5.4Circle Theorems 3

4.5.5Exam-Style Questions - Circle Theorems

4.6Trigonometry & Pythagoras’ theorem

4.6.1Pythagoras' Theorem

4.6.2Trigonometry

4.6.3Sine & Cosine for Obtuse Angles

4.6.4Triangle Formulae

4.6.5Exam-Style Questions - Trigonometry & Area

4.7Mensuration of 2D Shapes

4.7.1Standard Units

4.7.2Perimeter of 2D Shapes

4.7.3Area of 2D Shapes

4.7.4Area & Circumference of Circle

4.7.5End of Topic Test - Trigonometry & Shapes

4.83D Shapes & Volume

4.8.13D Shapes

4.8.2Surface Area

4.8.3Volume

4.8.4Exam-Style Questions - Volume

5Vectors & Transformation Geometry

5.1Vectors

5.1.1Vectors

5.1.2Vectors 2

5.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Vectors

5.2Transformation Geometry

5.2.1Transformations

5.2.2Rotations

5.2.3Translations & Reflections

5.2.4Enlargements

5.2.5Effects of Transformations

6Statistics & Probability

6.1Statistical Measures

6.1.1Basic Statistics

6.1.2Frequency Table

6.2Graphical Representation of Data

6.2.1Pictograms, Bar Charts & Pie Charts

6.2.2Histograms

6.2.3Cumulative Frequency

6.2.4Cumulative Frequency 2

6.2.5Exam-Style Questions - Cumulative Frequency

6.2.6End of Topic - Datasets

6.3Probability

6.3.1Probability

6.3.2Theoretical Probability

6.3.3Experimental Probability

6.3.4Venn Diagrams

6.3.5Sample Space Diagrams

6.3.6Tree Diagrams

6.3.7Independent Events

6.3.8Conditional Probability

6.3.9End of Topic Test - Probability

6.3.10Exam-Style Questions - Probability

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