Section 6.1 Absolute Extrema
The largest possible value of a function is called the absolute maximum and the
smallest possible value of a function is called the absolute minimum.
 Absolute extrema often coincide with relative extrema.
 Although a function may have several relative maxima or relative
minima, it never has more than one absolute maximum or absolute
minimum, although the absolute maximum or minimum might occur at
more than one value of x.
 Just like a relative extremum, an absolute extremum is a y-value, not an
x-value.
Work #1 - 2
6.1 - 2
If a continuous function on an open interval has just one critical number, we
use the following theorem.
If the domain is an open interval:
 Apply the Critical Point Theorem when there is only one critical number.
 If there is more than one critical number, evaluate the function at the
critical numbers and also find the limit as the endpoints of the interval
are approached to determine if an absolute maximum or minimum exits
at one of the critical points. (These limits can be determined using a
table).
Work #3 - 6