Steps to Finding the Absolute Extrema on a Closed Interval a,b: 1. Locate all critical values. Evaluate f(x) at all the critical values and also at the two values a and b. The absolute maximum of f(x)ona,bwillbethelargestnumberfoundinStep2, while the absolute minimum of f(x)ona,bwillbethesmallestnumberfoundin Step 2. The investment vectors of absolute minimum variance portfolios are scalar multiples of solutions of (3). An explicit formula for these investment vectors is therefore easy to come by: PROPOSITION 3: Absolute minimum variance portfolios ex.
Absolute minimum definition: 1. The lowest value across a whole domain (= range) of a function: 2. The lowest value across a. Cambridge Dictionary +Plus. This calculus video tutorial explains how to find the absolute maximum and minimum values of a function on a closed interval. Tto find the absolute extrema. Example 39 Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of a function f given by π (π₯) = 2π₯3 β 15π₯2 + 36π₯ +1 on the interval 1, 5. F(π₯) = 2π₯3 β 15π₯2 + 36π₯ + 1 Finding fβ(π) fβ(π₯)=6π₯^2β30π₯+36 Putting f β(π)=π 6π₯2 β 30π₯ + 36 = 0 6(π₯^2β5π₯+6)=0 (π₯^2β5π₯+6)=0 (π₯^2β2π₯β3π₯+6)=0 π₯(π₯β2)β3.
Local Maximum and Minimum
Functions can have 'hills and valleys': places where they reach a minimum or maximum value.
It may not be the minimum or maximum for the whole function, but locally it is.
We can see where they are,
but how do we define them?
Absolute Minimum Definition
Local Maximum
First we need to choose an interval:
Then we can say that a local maximum is the point where:
The height of the function at 'a' is greater than (or equal to) the height anywhere else in that interval.
Absolute Minimum Equation
Or, more briefly:
f(a) β₯ f(x) for all x in the interval
In other words, there is no height greater than f(a).
Note: a should be inside the interval, not at one end or the other.
Local Minimum
Likewise, a local minimum is:
f(a) β€ f(x) for all x in the interval
The plural of Maximum is Maxima
The plural of Minimum is Minima
Maxima and Minima are collectively called Extrema

Global (or Absolute) Maximum and Minimum
The maximum or minimum over the entire function is called an 'Absolute' or 'Global' maximum or minimum.
There is only one global maximum (and one global minimum) but there can be more than one local maximum or minimum.
Assuming this function continues downwards to left or right:
- The Global Maximum is about 3.7
- The Global Minimum is βInfinity
Calculus
Calculus can be used to find the exact maximum and minimum using derivatives.
Absolute Minimum And Maximum
The calculator will find the critical points, local and absolute (global) maxima and minima of the single variable function. The interval can be specified.
- In general, you can skip the multiplication sign, so `5x` is equivalent to `5*x`.
- In general, you can skip parentheses, but be very careful: e^3x is `e^3x`, and e^(3x) is `e^(3x)`.
- Also, be careful when you write fractions: 1/x^2 ln(x) is `1/x^2 ln(x)`, and 1/(x^2 ln(x)) is `1/(x^2 ln(x))`.
- If you skip parentheses or a multiplication sign, type at least a whitespace, i.e. write sin x (or even better sin(x)) instead of sinx.
- Sometimes I see expressions like tan^2xsec^3x: this will be parsed as `tan^(2*3)(x sec(x))`. To get `tan^2(x)sec^3(x)`, use parentheses: tan^2(x)sec^3(x).
- Similarly, tanxsec^3x will be parsed as `tan(xsec^3(x))`. To get `tan(x)sec^3(x)`, use parentheses: tan(x)sec^3(x).
- From the table below, you can notice that sech is not supported, but you can still enter it using the identity `sech(x)=1/cosh(x)`.
- If you get an error, double-check your expression, add parentheses and multiplication signs where needed, and consult the table below.
- All suggestions and improvements are welcome. Please leave them in comments.
Absolute Minimum Finder
Absolute Minimum Example
Type | Get |
Constants | |
e | e |
pi | `pi` |
i | i (imaginary unit) |
Operations | |
a+b | a+b |
a-b | a-b |
a*b | `a*b` |
a^b, a**b | `a^b` |
sqrt(x), x^(1/2) | `sqrt(x)` |
cbrt(x), x^(1/3) | `root(3)(x)` |
root(x,n), x^(1/n) | `root(n)(x)` |
x^(a/b) | `x^(a/b)` |
x^a^b | `x^(a^b)` |
abs(x) | `|x|` |
Functions | |
e^x | `e^x` |
ln(x), log(x) | ln(x) |
ln(x)/ln(a) | `log_a(x)` |
Trigonometric Functions | |
sin(x) | sin(x) |
cos(x) | cos(x) |
tan(x) | tan(x), tg(x) |
cot(x) | cot(x), ctg(x) |
sec(x) | sec(x) |
csc(x) | csc(x), cosec(x) |
Inverse Trigonometric Functions | |
asin(x), arcsin(x), sin^-1(x) | asin(x) |
acos(x), arccos(x), cos^-1(x) | acos(x) |
atan(x), arctan(x), tan^-1(x) | atan(x) |
acot(x), arccot(x), cot^-1(x) | acot(x) |
asec(x), arcsec(x), sec^-1(x) | asec(x) |
acsc(x), arccsc(x), csc^-1(x) | acsc(x) |
Hyperbolic Functions | |
sinh(x) | sinh(x) |
cosh(x) | cosh(x) |
tanh(x) | tanh(x) |
coth(x) | coth(x) |
1/cosh(x) | sech(x) |
1/sinh(x) | csch(x) |
Inverse Hyperbolic Functions | |
asinh(x), arcsinh(x), sinh^-1(x) | asinh(x) |
acosh(x), arccosh(x), cosh^-1(x) | acosh(x) |
atanh(x), arctanh(x), tanh^-1(x) | atanh(x) |
acoth(x), arccoth(x), cot^-1(x) | acoth(x) |
acosh(1/x) | asech(x) |
asinh(1/x) | acsch(x) |
