Q.Find the value of the following: At what points in the interval [0,2π], does the function sin2x attain its maximum value?
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Critical Points Analysis: Where Functions Change Direction
Hiking a mountain range, you reach peaks (highest spot around), valleys (bottoms), and flat stretches where the ground doesn't slope. These special locations — peaks, valleys, and flat spots — are critical points.
The Intuition
A function's graph is like that trail. At most points it is rising (positive slope) or falling (negative slope). At a critical point something changes: the slope becomes zero, or the slope doesn't exist (a sharp corner).
Throw a ball straight up: at the very top of its arc it stops for an instant before falling. Its velocity — the rate of change of height — is zero at that moment. That's a critical point.
The Precise Definition
A point x=c in the domain of f(x) is a critical point if either:
f′(c)=0orf′(c) does not exist
Why Two Conditions?
Derivative equals zero catches the "flat" spots — peaks, valleys, horizontal plateaus — where the tangent line is horizontal.
Derivative does not exist catches sharp corners (like the tip of ∣x∣ at x=0), vertical tangents, and cusps. Even without a zero slope, these can be peaks or valleys.
A common mistake: thinking every critical point is a maximum or minimum. Not true. A critical point could be a "saddle point" — flat but neither. For example, f(x)=x3 at x=0 has f′(0)=0, yet the function just passes through with no extremum.
How to Find Critical Points
- Find the derivative f′(x).
- Solve f′(x)=0 — these are candidates.
- Check where f′(x) does not exist — but only if f(x) exists there (the point must be in the domain).
- Collect all such x-values.
Example 1: A Simple Polynomial
Let f(x)=x3−3x2+1.
f′(x)=3x2−6x=3x(x−2).
f′(x)=0⟹x=0 or x=2. Since f′ exists everywhere, the critical points are x=0 and x=2.
Example 2: A Function with a Corner
Let f(x)=∣x∣. Here f′(x) does not exist at x=0 (left derivative −1, right derivative +1), and f′(x)=0 has no solutions. So the only critical point is x=0.
x=0 is actually a minimum of ∣x∣ — the sharp corner is a valley.
What Critical Points Tell Us …
Concept: Critical Points Analysis — we find where the derivative is zero or undefined, then check endpoints and evaluate.
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Let f(x)=sin2x on [0,2π].
f′(x)=2cos2x. Set f′(x)=0:
cos2x=0⟹2x=2π,23π,25π,27π
So x=4π,43π,45π,47π.
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Evaluate f at these critical points and the endpoints 0,2π:
f(0)=0, f(2π)=0,
f(π/4)=sin(π/2)=1,
f(3π/4)=sin(3π/2)=−1,
f(5π/4)=sin(5π/2)=1, …
The function sin2x attains its maximum value of 1 at x=4π and x=45π within [0,2π], found by analyzing critical points and checking endpoints.
We need to find where sin2x reaches its highest value in the closed interval [0,2π]. The sine function itself peaks at 1, so we’re really asking: for which x in [0,2π] does sin2x=1? But we must also consider that the maximum could occur at the boundaries of the interval, so a full critical-point analysis is the reliable method.
The key idea: for a continuous function on a closed interval, the maximum occurs either at critical points (where derivative is zero or undefined) or at the endpoints. Since sin2x is differentiable everywhere, we only need to find where its derivative vanishes and then compare function values.
- Find the derivative and critical points. Let f(x)=sin2x. Then f′(x)=2cos2x. Set f′(x)=0:
2cos2x=0⇒cos2x=0.
In the interval [0,2π], 2x ranges from 0 to 4π. The cosine function is zero at odd multiples of 2π:
2x=2π,23π,25π,27π.
Solving for x:
x=4π,43π,45π,47π.
These four points are the critical points inside (0,2π).
- Evaluate f(x) at critical points and endpoints. Endpoints: x=0 and x=2π.
f(0)=sin0=0,f(2π)=sin4π=0.
Critical points:
f(4π)=sin(2⋅4π)=sin2π=1,
f(43π)=sin(2⋅43π)=sin23π=−1,
f(45π)=sin(2⋅45π)=sin25π=sin(2π+2π)=1,
f(47π)=sin(2⋅47π)=sin27π=sin(3π+2π)=−1. …
Method: Locating Where a Periodic Function Attains Its Maximum on a Closed Interval
This is the closed-interval candidates test specialised to a trigonometric function whose argument is scaled (like sin2x instead of sinx), where the key extra care is in correctly solving the trig equation over the full given range.
Steps
Step 1: Differentiate and set the derivative equal to zero.
For f(x)=sin(kx), f′(x)=kcos(kx)=0⟹cos(kx)=0.
Step 2: Solve for the argument kx over its full extended range, not just one period.
Because the interval is given in terms of x (here [0,2π]), the argument kx sweeps through a wider range (here [0,4π] for k=2) — list every solution of cos(kx)=0 in that whole extended range before dividing back by k to recover x.
kx=2π, 23π, 25π, 27π, …
Step 3: Evaluate f at every resulting critical point plus the two endpoints. …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing the period of sin2x with that of sinx.
Why it's wrong: sinx completes one cycle over [0,2π] and peaks once, but sin2x completes two full cycles over the same interval and therefore peaks twice — assuming a single peak at x=2π (borrowed from sinx's behaviour) misses the second, genuine peak. Correct approach: always substitute the scaled argument 2x into the standard sin-peak condition, rather than reusing the unscaled peak location.
Mistake 2: Stopping after finding the first critical point instead of listing every solution across the full interval. …
- COMEDK 2021Set 2021-B1 markMCQQ.The absolute Maxima and Minima values of the function f(x)=−4sinx+2x in [0,2π] are respectively. (A) 0,π−4 (B) 0,π/3 (C) 1,0 (D) 0,2π/3−23
›Reveal solutionSolution
Absolute max =0, absolute min =32π−23.
f(x)=−4sinx+2x, f′(x)=−4cosx+2. Setting f′=0: cosx=21⇒x=3π∈[0,π/2].
Evaluate at the critical point and endpoints:
- f(0)=0
- f(π/2)=−4(1)+π=π−4≈−0.86 …
- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-A1 markMCQQ.The curve 4y=3x4−2x2 attains ----------- at the points x=−31 and x=31 (A) both minimum values (B) a maximum value and a minimum value respectively (C) a minimum value and a maximum value respectively (D) both maximum values
›Reveal solutionSolution
The curve has a local maximum at x=0 and local minima at x=±31, so at both given points the curve attains minimum values — option (A).
We are given the curve
4y=3x4−2x2⇒y=43x4−21x2.
The question asks what happens at x=−31 and x=31: are these both minima, both maxima, or one of each?
Concept and intuition:
To decide whether a critical point is a local maximum or minimum, we use the second derivative test. If the second derivative is positive, the curve is concave up (minimum); if negative, concave down (maximum). Since the function is even (only even powers of x), the two points are symmetric, so they will behave identically — meaning both are the same type of extremum. That already hints that options (B) and (C) (which claim they are different) are unlikely.
Step-by-step reasoning:
- Find the first derivative to locate critical points.
y′=dxd(43x4−21x2)=3x3−x.
Factor:
y′=x(3x2−1)=x(3x−1)(3x+1).
Critical points occur when y′=0:
x=0,x=31,x=−31.
- Find the second derivative to test each critical point.
y′′=dxd(3x3−x)=9x2−1.
- Evaluate the second derivative at each given point.
- At x=31:
y′′=9(31)−1=3−1=2>0.
Positive → local minimum.- At x=−31:
y′′=9(31)−1=2>0.
Also positive → local minimum. … - COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.If the function f(x)=μsinx+31sin3x has its derivative equal to zero at x=3π, then the value of ' μ ' is (A) 0 (B) −1 (C) 1 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is to differentiate f(x), set f′(x)=0 at x=3π, and solve for μ. The result is μ=2, so the correct option is (D).
We are given f(x)=μsinx+31sin3x and told that its derivative is zero at x=3π. This is a straightforward application of differentiation and trigonometric evaluation — but the trap is forgetting the chain rule on sin3x or mis-evaluating cosπ and cosπ/3.
Why this approach works:
The derivative of a sum is the sum of derivatives. For sin3x, the chain rule gives 3cos3x. Then we plug in the specific x and set the expression equal to zero. This yields a simple linear equation in μ.
- Differentiate f(x) term by term.
- The derivative of μsinx is μcosx.
- The derivative of 31sin3x is 31⋅3cos3x=cos3x. So
f′(x)=μcosx+cos3x.
- Apply the given condition: f′(3π)=0. Substitute x=3π:
μcos(3π)+cos(3⋅3π)=0.
- Evaluate the trigonometric values.
- cos(3π)=21.
- 3⋅3π=π, and cos(π)=−1. So the equation becomes:
μ⋅21+(−1)=0.
- Solve for μ.
- Differentiate f(x) term by term.
- COMEDK 2024Set 2024-A1 markMCQQ.If f(x)=logx+bx2+ax,x=0 has extreme values (or turning points) at x=−1 and x=2 then the values of a and b are (A) a=41b=−21 (B) a=21b=−41 (C) a=21b=41 (D) a=−21b=−41
›Reveal solutionSolution
Setting f′(x)=0 at x=−1 and x=2 gives two linear equations that solve to a=21, b=−41 — option (B).
Derivative and turning-point conditions
f(x)=logx+bx2+ax ⇒ f′(x)=x1+2bx+a.
A turning point requires f′(x)=0. Applying this at the two given locations:
- At x=−1: −1−2b+a=0 ⇒ a−2b=1.
- At x=2: 21+4b+a=0 ⇒ a+4b=−21.
Solve the system
Subtract the first equation from the second: …
- COMEDK 2026Set 2026-M1 markMCQQ.If the function f(x)=x4−31x2+ax+5 has a turning point at x=1, then the value of ' a ' is ____ and the function attains a ____ at x=1 (A) a=50, local minima (B) a=58, local maxima (C) a=58, local minima (D) a=−50, local maxima
›Reveal solutionSolution
A turning point means the first derivative is zero at that point; solving f′(1)=0 gives a=58, and the second derivative test shows it is a local minimum, so the answer is option (C).
The key idea is that a turning point (also called a stationary point) occurs where the derivative is zero. Once we find a from f′(1)=0, we determine the nature (max or min) using the second derivative.
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Find the first derivative
f(x)=x4−31x2+ax+5
Differentiate term by term:
f′(x)=4x3−62x+a
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Apply the turning point condition
At x=1, f′(1)=0:
4(1)3−62(1)+a=0
4−62+a=0
−58+a=0
So a=58.
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Determine the nature of the turning point
Compute the second derivative:
f′′(x)=12x2−62
Evaluate at x=1:
f′′(1)=12(1)2−62=12−62=−50 …
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- COMEDK 2025Set 2025-E1 markMCQQ.Let f(x)=x4ax−x2,a>0 then f′(x) at x=2a is : (A) Does not exist (B) Zero (C) Decreasing (D) Increasing
›Reveal solutionSolution
The derivative of f(x)=x4ax−x2 at x=2a does not exist because the square-root term becomes zero, causing a vertical tangent (infinite slope) from the right and an undefined derivative from the left due to the domain ending.
Concept & Intuition
When a function involves a square root, the derivative may fail to exist at points where the radicand is zero, especially if the zero occurs at the boundary of the domain. Here, 4ax−x2=x(4a−x) is zero at x=0 and x=4a, but we are asked about x=2a, which is the vertex of the quadratic inside the root. At x=2a, the radicand is 4a(2a)−(2a)2=8a2−4a2=4a2>0, so the square root is well-defined. However, the derivative involves a term 4ax−x21 after differentiation, which blows up when the radicand is zero — but here it isn’t zero. Wait: let’s check carefully. The radicand at x=2a is 4a2, not zero. So why might the derivative not exist? The pitfall is that the derivative formula from the product rule gives a finite value, but we must check the limit definition because the function might have a cusp or vertical tangent. Actually, let’s compute properly.
Step-by-step solution
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Write the function and its domain
f(x)=x4ax−x2, with a>0. The square root requires 4ax−x2≥0, i.e., x(4a−x)≥0, so 0≤x≤4a. At x=2a, we are inside the domain.
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Differentiate using the product rule
Let u=x, v=4ax−x2=(4ax−x2)1/2.
Then u′=1, and v′=21(4ax−x2)−1/2⋅(4a−2x)=4ax−x22a−x.
So
f′(x)=1⋅4ax−x2+x⋅4ax−x22a−x.
- Combine into a single fraction
f′(x)=4ax−x2(4ax−x2)+x(2a−x)=4ax−x24ax−x2+2ax−x2=4ax−x26ax−2x2.
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Evaluate at x=2a
Numerator: 6a(2a)−2(2a)2=12a2−8a2=4a2.
Denominator: 4a(2a)−(2a)2=8a2−4a2=4a2=2a (since a>0).
So f′(2a)=2a4a2=2a, which is finite and positive.
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But wait — check the limit definition from both sides
The algebraic simplification assumed the derivative exists. However, note that the denominator 4ax−x2 is zero at the endpoints x=0 and x=4a, but not at x=2a. So the derivative appears to exist and equal 2a. Yet the problem suggests it might not exist. Let’s re-examine the original function: f(x)=x4ax−x2. At x=2a, the radicand is 4a2, fine. But consider the behavior of the derivative formula: the expression 4ax−x22a−x in the product rule is undefined if the denominator is zero — but it isn’t. So why would the derivative not exist?
Watch outA common mistake is to assume that because the derivative formula simplifies nicely, the derivative exists. But we must check the one-sided limits of the difference quotient, especially if the function has a cusp. Here, the function is smooth at x=2a — it’s actually the maximum point of the quadratic inside the root, but the square root is smooth there. Let’s compute the difference quotient directly to be sure.
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Difference quotient at x=2a
f(2a)=2a⋅4a(2a)−(2a)2=2a⋅2a=4a2.
For h=0, …
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