Absolute minimum and maximum values | Unit 3 and 4 VCE Maths Methods

PLEASE NOTE: In Example 4, I accidentally used the y-coordinate of the stationary point in the sign diagram instead of the x-coordinate. It should be x = 1 in the centre column of the sign diagram. The rest of the information is still sufficient to justify a local minimum, since x = 0 is to the left of the stationary point and x = 10 is to the right of the stationary point, but I would have used x = 0 and x = 2 as points either side of the stationary point had I not made the error. Apologies for any confusion!

As my classes move to online learning amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I will be sharing my lessons with you all.

My Year 12 VCE Mathematical Methods class are working on the Calculus area of study. This is the fourth in a series of videos on applications differentiation. Here we continue on from the video on stationary points, but we make the distinction between a local maximum/minimum and an absolute maximum/minimum of a function. This involves consideration of both stationary points and endpoints of functions.

We use the Cambridge Senior Maths textbook for Unit 3 and 4 Mathematical Methods and the TI Nspire CAS CX / CXII calculator.