View source for Maximum and minimum

{{short description|Largest and smallest value taken by a function at a given point}}
{{redirect|Extreme value}}
{{redirect-multi|2|Maximum|Minimum}}
[[File:Extrema example original.svg|thumb|Local and global maxima and minima for cos(3&pi;''x'')/''x'', 0.1&le;'' x ''&le;1.1]]

In [[mathematical analysis]], the '''maximum''' and '''minimum'''{{efn|[[plural|{{sc|pl}}]]: '''maxima''' and '''minima''' (or '''maximums''' and '''minimums''').}} of a [[function (mathematics)|function]] are, respectively, the greatest and least value taken by the function. Known generically as '''extrema''',{{efn|{{sc|sg}}: '''extremum'''.}} they may be defined either within a given [[Interval (mathematics)|range]] (the ''local'' or ''relative'' extrema) or on the entire [[domain of a function|domain]] (the ''global'' or ''absolute'' extrema) of a function.<ref>{{cite book | last=Stewart | first=James | author-link=James Stewart (mathematician) | title=Calculus: Early Transcendentals | publisher=[[Brooks/Cole]] | edition=6th | year=2008 | isbn=978-0-495-01166-8 | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/calculusearlytra00stew_1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1=Larson | first1=Ron | author-link=Ron Larson (mathematician)| last2=Edwards | first2=Bruce H. | title=Calculus | publisher=[[Brooks/Cole]] | edition=9th | year=2009 | isbn=978-0-547-16702-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1 = Thomas | first1 = George B. | last2=Weir | first2= Maurice D. | last3=Hass | first3=Joel |author3-link = Joel Hass| author-link=George B. Thomas | title=Thomas' Calculus: Early Transcendentals | publisher=[[Addison-Wesley]] | year=2010 | edition=12th | isbn=978-0-321-58876-0}}</ref> [[Pierre de Fermat]] was one of the first mathematicians to propose a general technique, [[adequality]], for finding the maxima and minima of functions.

As defined in [[set theory]], the maximum and minimum of a [[set (mathematics)|set]] are the [[greatest and least elements]] in the set, respectively. Unbounded [[infinite set]]s, such as the set of [[real number]]s, have no minimum or maximum.

In [[statistics]], the corresponding concept is the [[sample maximum and minimum]].

==Definition==
A real-valued [[Function (mathematics)|function]] ''f'' defined on a [[Domain of a function|domain]] ''X'' has a '''global''' (or '''absolute''') '''maximum point'''{{anchor|Global maximum point|Absolute maximum point|Maximum point}} at ''x''<sup>∗</sup>, if {{nowrap|''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) ≥ ''f''(''x'')}} for all ''x'' in ''X''. Similarly, the function has a '''global''' (or '''absolute''') '''minimum point'''{{anchor|Global minimum point|Absolute minimum point|Minimum point}} at ''x''<sup>∗</sup>, if {{nowrap|''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) ≤ ''f''(''x'')}} for all ''x'' in ''X''. The value of the function at a maximum point is called the '''{{visible anchor|maximum value}}''' of the function, denoted <math>\max(f(x))</math>, and the value of the function at a minimum point is called the '''{{visible anchor|minimum value}}''' of the function, (denoted <math>\min(f(x))</math> for clarity). Symbolically, this can be written as follows:
:<math>x_0 \in X</math> is a global maximum point of function <math>f:X \to \R,</math> if <math>(\forall x \in X)\, f(x_0) \geq f(x).</math>
The definition of global minimum point also proceeds similarly.

If the domain ''X'' is a [[metric space]], then ''f'' is said to have a '''local''' (or '''relative''') '''maximum point'''{{anchor|Local maximum point|Relative maximum point}} at the point ''x''<sup>∗</sup>, if there exists some ''ε'' > 0 such that {{nowrap|''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) ≥ ''f''(''x'')}} for all ''x'' in ''X'' within distance ''ε'' of ''x''<sup>∗</sup>. Similarly, the function has a '''local minimum point'''{{anchor|Local minimum point|Relative minimum point}} at ''x''<sup>∗</sup>, if ''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) ≤ ''f''(''x'') for all ''x'' in ''X'' within distance ''ε'' of ''x''<sup>∗</sup>. A similar definition can be used when ''X'' is a [[topological space]], since the definition just given can be rephrased in terms of neighbourhoods. Mathematically, the given definition is written as follows:
:Let <math>(X, d_X)</math> be a metric space and function <math> f:X \to \R</math>. Then <math>x_0 \in X</math> is a local maximum point of function <math>f</math> if <math> (\exists \varepsilon > 0)</math> such that <math>(\forall x \in X)\, d_X(x, x_0)<\varepsilon \implies f(x_0)\geq f(x).</math>

The definition of local minimum point can also proceed similarly.

In both the global and local cases, the concept of a '''{{visible anchor|strict extremum}}''' can be defined. For example, ''x''<sup>∗</sup> is a '''{{visible anchor|strict global maximum point}}''' if for all ''x'' in ''X'' with {{nowrap|''x'' ≠ ''x''<sup>∗</sup>}}, we have {{nowrap|''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) > ''f''(''x'')}}, and ''x''<sup>∗</sup> is a '''{{visible anchor|strict local maximum point}}''' if there exists some {{nowrap|''ε'' > 0}} such that, for all ''x'' in ''X'' within distance ''ε'' of ''x''<sup>∗</sup> with {{nowrap|''x'' ≠ ''x''<sup>∗</sup>}}, we have {{nowrap|''f''(''x''<sup>∗</sup>) > ''f''(''x'')}}. Note that a point is a strict global maximum point if and only if it is the unique global maximum point, and similarly for minimum points.

A [[Continuous function|continuous]] real-valued function with a [[Compact space|compact]] domain always has a maximum point and a minimum point. An important example is a function whose domain is a closed and bounded [[Interval (mathematics)|interval]] of [[real number]]s (see the graph above).

==Search==
Finding global maxima and minima is the goal of [[mathematical optimization]]. If a function is continuous on a closed interval, then by the [[extreme value theorem]], global maxima and minima exist. Furthermore, a global maximum (or minimum) either must be a local maximum (or minimum) in the interior of the domain, or must lie on the boundary of the domain. So a method of finding a global maximum (or minimum) is to look at all the local maxima (or minima) in the interior, and also look at the maxima (or minima) of the points on the boundary, and take the greatest (or least) one.

For [[differentiable functions]], [[Fermat's theorem (stationary points)|Fermat's theorem]] states that local extrema in the interior of a domain must occur at [[critical point (mathematics)|critical point]]s (or points where the derivative equals zero).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W.|title=Minimum|url=https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Minimum.html|access-date=2020-08-30|website=mathworld.wolfram.com|language=en}}</ref> However, not all critical points are extrema. One can often distinguish whether a critical point is a local maximum, a local minimum, or neither by using the [[first derivative test]], [[derivative test#Second-derivative test (single variable)|second derivative test]], or [[higher-order derivative test]], given sufficient differentiability.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W.|title=Maximum|url=https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Maximum.html|access-date=2020-08-30|website=mathworld.wolfram.com|language=en}}</ref>

For any function that is defined [[piecewise]], one finds a maximum (or minimum) by finding the maximum (or minimum) of each piece separately, and then seeing which one is greatest (or least).

==Examples==
[[Image:xth root of x.svg|thumb|right|The global maximum of {{math|{{sqrt|''x''|''x''}}}} occurs at {{math|''x'' {{=}} ''[[e (mathematical constant)|e]]''}}.]]
{|class="wikitable"
!Function!!Maxima and minima
|-
| ''x''<sup>2</sup>||Unique global minimum at ''x'' = 0.
|-
| ''x''<sup>3</sup> ||No global minima or maxima. Although the first derivative (3''x''<sup>2</sup>) is 0 at ''x'' = 0, this is an [[inflection point]]. (2nd derivative is 0 at that point.)
|-
| <big><math>\sqrt[x]{x}</math></big> ||Unique global maximum at ''x'' = ''[[e (mathematical constant)|e]]''. (See figure at right)
|-
| ''x''<sup>−''x''</sup> ||Unique global maximum over the positive real numbers at ''x'' = 1/''e''.
|-
| ''x''<sup>3</sup>/3 − ''x'' ||First derivative ''x''<sup>2</sup> − 1 and [[second derivative]] 2''x''.  Setting the first derivative to 0 and solving for ''x'' gives [[stationary point]]s at −1 and +1. From the sign of the second derivative, we can see that −1 is a local maximum and +1 is a local minimum. This function has no global maximum or minimum.
|-
| <nowiki> |</nowiki>''x''<nowiki>|</nowiki> ||Global minimum at ''x'' = 0 that cannot be found by taking derivatives, because the derivative does not exist at ''x'' = 0.
|-
| cos(''x'') ||Infinitely many global maxima at 0, ±2{{pi}}, ±4{{pi}}, ..., and infinitely many global minima at ±{{pi}}, ±3{{pi}}, ±5{{pi}}, ....
|-
| 2 cos(''x'') − ''x'' ||Infinitely many local maxima and minima, but no global maximum or minimum.
|-
| cos(3{{pi}}''x'')/''x'' with {{nowrap|0.1 ≤ ''x'' ≤ 1.1}} ||Global maximum at ''x''&nbsp;= 0.1 (a boundary), a global minimum near ''x''&nbsp;= 0.3, a local maximum near ''x''&nbsp;= 0.6, and a local minimum near ''x''&nbsp;= 1.0. (See figure at top of page.)
|-
|''x''<sup>3</sup> + 3''x''<sup>2</sup> − 2''x'' + 1 defined over the closed interval (segment) [−4,2] || Local maximum at ''x''&nbsp;= −1−{{radic|15}}/3, local minimum at ''x''&nbsp;= −1+{{radic|15}}/3, global maximum at ''x''&nbsp;= 2 and global minimum at ''x''&nbsp;= −4.
|}

For a practical example,<ref name="minimization_maximization_refresher">{{cite web|author=Garrett, Paul|title=Minimization and maximization refresher|url=https://mathinsight.org/minimization_maximization_refresher}}</ref> assume a situation where someone has <math>200</math> feet of fencing and is trying to maximize the square footage of a rectangular enclosure, where <math>x</math> is the length, <math>y</math> is the width, and <math>xy</math> is the area:

:<math> 2x+2y = 200 </math>
:<math> 2y = 200-2x </math>
:<math> \frac{2y}{2} = \frac{200-2x}{2} </math>
:<math> y = 100 - x</math>
:<math> xy=x(100-x) </math>

The derivative with respect to <math>x</math> is:
:<math>\begin{align}
\frac{d}{dx}xy&=\frac{d}{dx}x(100-x) \\
&=\frac{d}{dx} \left(100x-x^2 \right) \\
&=100-2x
\end{align}</math>
Setting this equal to <math>0</math>
:<math>0=100-2x</math>
:<math>2x=100</math>
:<math>x=50</math>
reveals that <math>x=50</math> is our only [[Critical_point_(mathematics)|critical point]].
Now retrieve the [[Interval_(mathematics)|endpoints]] by determining the interval to which <math>x</math> is restricted. Since width is positive, then <math>x>0</math>, and since {{nowrap|<math>x=100-y</math>,}} that implies that {{nowrap|<math>x < 100</math>.}}
Plug in critical point {{nowrap|<math>50</math>,}} as well as endpoints <math>0</math> and {{nowrap|<math>100</math>,}} into {{nowrap|<math>xy=x(100-x)</math>,}} and the results are <math>2500, 0,</math> and <math>0</math> respectively.

Therefore, the greatest area attainable with a rectangle of <math>200</math> feet of fencing is {{nowrap|<math>50 \times 50 = 2500</math>.}}<ref name="minimization_maximization_refresher"></ref>

==Functions of more than one variable==<!-- This section is linked from [[Indifference curve]] -->
{{main|Second partial derivative test}}
[[File:Modell einer Peanoschen Fläche -Schilling XLIX, 1-.jpg|thumb|left|[[Peano surface]], a counterexample to some criteria of local maxima of the 19th century]][[File:MaximumParaboloid.png|thumb|right|The global maximum is the point at the top]]
[[File:MaximumCounterexample.png|thumb|right|Counterexample: The red dot shows a local minimum that is not a global minimum]]
For functions of more than one variable, similar conditions apply. For example, in the (enlargeable) figure on the right, the necessary conditions for a ''local'' maximum are similar to those of a function with only one variable. The first [[partial derivatives]] as to ''z'' (the variable to be maximized) are zero at the maximum (the glowing dot on top in the figure).  The second partial derivatives are negative. These are only necessary, not sufficient, conditions for a local maximum, because of the possibility of a [[saddle point]]. For use of these conditions to solve for a maximum, the function ''z'' must also be [[Differentiable function|differentiable]] throughout. The [[second partial derivative test]] can help classify the point as a relative maximum or relative minimum.
In contrast, there are substantial differences between functions of one variable and functions of more than one variable in the identification of global extrema. For example, if a bounded differentiable function ''f'' defined on a closed interval in the real line has a single critical point, which is a local minimum, then it is also a global minimum (use the [[intermediate value theorem]] and [[Rolle's theorem]] to prove this by [[proof by contradiction|contradiction]]). In two and more dimensions, this argument fails. This is illustrated by the function
:<math>f(x,y)= x^2+y^2(1-x)^3,\qquad x,y \in \R,</math>
whose only critical point is at (0,0), which is a local minimum with ''f''(0,0)&nbsp;=&nbsp;0. However, it cannot be a global one, because ''f''(2,3)&nbsp;=&nbsp;−5.

==Maxima or minima of a functional==
If the domain of a function for which an extremum is to be found consists itself of functions (i.e. if an extremum is to be found of a [[Functional (mathematics)|functional]]), then the extremum is found using the [[calculus of variations]].

==In relation to sets==
Maxima and minima can also be defined for sets. In general, if an [[ordered set]] ''S'' has a [[greatest element]] ''m'', then ''m'' is a [[maximal element]] of the set, also denoted as <math>\max(S)</math>. Furthermore, if ''S'' is a subset of an ordered set ''T'' and ''m'' is the greatest element of ''S'' with (respect to order induced by ''T''), then ''m'' is a [[supremum|least upper bound]] of ''S'' in ''T''. Similar results hold for [[least element]], [[minimal element]] and [[infimum|greatest lower bound]]. The maximum and minimum function for sets are used in [[database]]s, and can be computed rapidly, since the maximum (or minimum) of a set can be computed from the maxima of a partition; formally, they are self-[[decomposable aggregation function]]s.

In the case of a general [[partial order]], a '''least element''' (i.e., one that is less than all others) should not be confused with the '''minimal element''' (nothing is lesser). Likewise, a '''[[greatest element]]''' of a [[partially ordered set]] (poset) is an [[upper bound]] of the set which is contained within the set, whereas the '''maximal element''' ''m'' of a poset ''A'' is an element of ''A'' such that if ''m'' ≤ ''b'' (for any ''b'' in ''A''), then ''m'' = ''b''. Any least element or greatest element of a poset is unique, but a poset can have several minimal or maximal elements.  If a poset has more than one maximal element, then these elements will not be mutually comparable.

In a [[total order|totally ordered]] set, or ''chain'', all elements are mutually comparable, so such a set can have at most one minimal element and at most one maximal element.  Then, due to mutual comparability, the minimal element will also be the least element, and the maximal element will also be the greatest element. Thus in a totally ordered set, we can simply use the terms '''''minimum''''' and '''''maximum'''''. 

If a chain is finite, then it will always have a maximum and a minimum.  If a chain is infinite, then it need not have a maximum or a minimum.  For example, the set of [[natural number]]s has no maximum, though it has a minimum. If an infinite chain ''S'' is bounded, then the [[topological closure|closure]] ''Cl''(''S'') of the set occasionally has a minimum and a maximum, in which case they are called the '''greatest lower bound''' and the '''least upper bound''' of the set ''S'', respectively.

==Argument of the maximum==
{{excerpt|Arg max}}

==See also==
*[[Derivative test]]
*[[Infimum and supremum]]
*[[Limit superior and limit inferior]]
*[[Maximum-minimums identity]]
*[[Mechanical equilibrium]]
*[[Mex (mathematics)]]
*[[Saddle point]]
*[[Sample maximum and minimum]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Extrema (calculus)}}
{{Wiktionary|maxima|minima|extremum}}
*[http://www.maa.org/publications/periodicals/convergence/thomas-simpson-and-maxima-and-minima Thomas Simpson's work on Maxima and Minima] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713083148/http://mathdl.maa.org/convergence/1/ Convergence]
*[http://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/differential-calculus/application-of-maxima-and-minima Application of Maxima and Minima with sub pages of solved problems]
*{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Maxima and Minima |volume=17 |pages=918–920 |first=Arthur Ernest |last=Jolliffe |short=1 |ref=none}}

{{Calculus topics}}

[[Category:Calculus]]
[[Category:Mathematical analysis]]
[[Category:Mathematical optimization]]
[[Category:Superlatives]]