Question

How do you find a local maximum? What about a local min? (I always get confused with these two)

Answer 1

Max and mins are indicated by the sign of the derivative. That is, when a derivative changes from negative to positive, you have a local minimum. When it changes from positive to negative, you have a local maximum.

Answer 2

It helps to draw a graph also, try sketching a graph of a few examples (just the basic shape, and approximately where the axis will be), then add on the sketch the co-ordinates of the max + mins, you should start to see a pattern.