Ch. 4 - Applications of Derivatives

Hass15th EditionThomas' CalculusISBN: 9780137616077Not the one you use?Change textbook

Hass 15th Edition

Ch. 4 - Applications of Derivatives

Problem 4.1.35

Chapter 4, Problem 4.1.35

Absolute Extrema on Finite Closed Intervals

In Exercises 21–36, find the absolute maximum and minimum values of each function on the given interval. Then graph the function. Identify the points on the graph where the absolute extrema occur, and include their coordinates.

f(t) = 2 − |t|, −1 ≤ t ≤ 3

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the function f(t) = 2 - |t|. This function involves the absolute value of t, which affects its behavior. The absolute value function |t| is piecewise, meaning it behaves differently based on the sign of t.

Step 2: Break down the function into its piecewise components. For t >= 0, |t| = t, so f(t) = 2 - t. For t < 0, |t| = -t, so f(t) = 2 + t. This gives us two expressions to consider: f(t) = 2 - t for t >= 0 and f(t) = 2 + t for t < 0.

Step 3: Evaluate the function at the endpoints of the interval [-1, 3]. Calculate f(-1) and f(3) using the appropriate piecewise expressions. These values will help determine the extrema.

Step 4: Check for critical points within the interval. Since the function is piecewise linear, it doesn't have any critical points where the derivative is zero. However, the point where the piecewise function changes, t = 0, should be evaluated as it might be an extremum.

Step 5: Compare the values obtained at the endpoints and the point t = 0 to determine the absolute maximum and minimum values. The largest value will be the absolute maximum, and the smallest will be the absolute minimum. Graph the function over the interval [-1, 3] and mark the points where these extrema occur, including their coordinates.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Absolute Extrema

Absolute extrema refer to the highest and lowest values a function attains on a given interval. To find these, evaluate the function at critical points and endpoints of the interval. The largest value is the absolute maximum, and the smallest is the absolute minimum.

Critical Points

Critical points occur where the derivative of a function is zero or undefined. These points are potential locations for local extrema. For the function f(t) = 2 - |t|, consider where the derivative changes or is not defined, especially at t = 0 where the absolute value function has a cusp.

Graphing Absolute Value Functions

Graphing absolute value functions involves understanding their V-shaped structure. For f(t) = 2 - |t|, the graph is an inverted V with a vertex at t = 0. Evaluate the function at endpoints t = -1 and t = 3, and at the vertex to determine the absolute extrema and their coordinates.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

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Textbook Question

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Textbook Question

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Textbook Question

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