Topics:
• Review of the method for finding absolute maximum or minimum values on a closed interval. (Problem 4 from the WeBWorK “ExtremeValues”)
• The First Derivative Test for a local maximum or minimum
• Concavity of the graph and the second derivative
• The Second Derivative Test for a local maximum or minimum
It is a very good idea to try out using both the First Derivative Test and the Second Derivative Test on the same problem, when you are starting out. The Second Derivative Test can be quicker, but it fails when the second derivative is 0. See which one you prefer. (But make sure you know who to use both of them!)
Here are my notes:
(Contains notes on the closed interval method as well as the First and Second Derivative tests.)
(Shows examples of concave up and concave down)
