Q.Find the local maximum and local minimum values of f(x)=2x3−15x2+36x+10 using the first derivative test.
Concept understanding — Maxima and Minima -- First Derivative Test
A function f has a local maximum at x=c if f(c)≥f(x) throughout some neighbourhood of c (a local minimum if f(c)≤f(x) there), and every such local extremum of a differentiable function occurs only at a critical point -- a point c where f′(c)=0 or f′(c) fails to exist. The first derivative test classifies each critical point purely geometrically, from the sign of f′ immediately on either side of it: a change from + (rising) to − (falling) marks a local maximum, a change from − to + marks a local minimum, and no sign change at all means the point is neither -- the curve is simply still rising or still falling straight through it. In practice, the same sign-chart procedure used for finding intervals of increase/decrease is reused and read with a sharper conclusion at each critical point, then the critical x-value is substituted back into f itself to report the actual local maximum/minimum value, not merely its location.
Factor f′(x)=6(x−2)(x−3), sign-test around x=2,3, then evaluate f at each.
Local maximum f(2)=38; local minimum f(3)=37.
f(x)=2x3−15x2+36x+10⟹f′(x)=6x2−30x+36=6(x−2)(x−3). Critical points: x=2,3.
| Interval | Test point | f′(x) sign |
|---|---|---|
| x<2 | x=0 | 6(−)(−)=+ |
| 2<x<3 | x=2.5 | 6(+)(−)=− |
| x>3 | x=4 | 6(+)(+)=+ |
At x=2: +→−, local maximum. f(2)=16−60+72+10=38.
At x=3: −→+, local minimum. f(3)=54−135+108+10=37.
Local maximum f(2)=38; local minimum f(3)=37.
Factor f′(x), sign-test around each critical point per the first derivative test, then substitute each critical x back into f(x) for the extreme value.
Reversing the max/min labels since the two extreme values (38 and 37) are numerically close and easy to swap by mistake.
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.If y=xlogex then the maximum value of y is(a) e(b) e2(c) e1(d) e21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate y=xlogex, set y′=0 to get x=e, and evaluate; the maximum value is e1.
Maximising a function using the first derivative is a standard NCERT/CBSE Class 12 application of derivatives problem.
Differentiate with the quotient rule:
y′=x2x1⋅x−logex⋅1=x21−logex.
Set y′=0: 1−logex=0⇒logex=1⇒x=e.
For x<e, y′>0 and for x>e, y′<0, so x=e is a maximum. The value there is
y=elogee=e1.
✓Final answerMaximum value =e1 — option (c).
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.Statement-I: f(x)=3+∣x−3∣ has a local minimum value 3. Statement-II: f(x)=sinx has infinite number of maximum and minimum values. Which of the following options is correct?(a) Statement-I is true, Statement-II is false(b) Statement-I is false, Statement-II is true(c) Statements-I and II both are true(d) Statements-I and II both are false
›Reveal solutionSolution
Both statements are correct, so the answer is (c).
These are qualitative NCERT/CBSE Class 12 maxima–minima facts.
Statement-I: ∣x−3∣≥0 for all x, with equality only at x=3. Hence f(x)=3+∣x−3∣≥3, and the least value 3 is achieved at x=3. So it has a local (indeed global) minimum value 3. True.
Statement-II: sinx is periodic with period 2π; it reaches its maximum 1 at x=2π+2nπ and its minimum −1 at x=−2π+2nπ for every integer n. So it has infinitely many maximum and minimum values. True.
✓Final answerBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are true — option (c).
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Maximum value of 5 - (x-1)² is(a) 5(b) 4(c) 6(d) 3
›Reveal solutionSolution
(x−1)2≥0 always, so 5−(x−1)2 is largest exactly when the squared term is 0.
For any real x, (x−1)2≥0, with equality exactly when x=1. So 5−(x−1)2≤5 for all x, and this maximum value 5 is attained at x=1.
Using calculus to confirm: let f(x)=5−(x−1)2. Then f′(x)=−2(x−1), which is 0 at x=1. Since f′′(x)=−2<0, x=1 gives a maximum, and f(1)=5.
✓Final answer5 — option (a).
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The value of the function f(x) = 4x - x² - 3 will be maximum when:(a) x = 3(b) x = 2(c) x = -2(d) x = -3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Set the derivative to zero to find the critical point, then confirm it's a maximum with the second derivative.
Given f(x)=4x−x2−3.
First derivative:
f′(x)=4−2x
Set f′(x)=0:
4−2x=0⇒x=2
Second derivative test:
f′′(x)=−2<0 for all x, so x=2 gives a maximum (the graph is a downward parabola).
✓Final answerf(x) is maximum at x=2 — option (b).
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