For optimization problems, if I'm supposed to find the mins/maxes, assuming I get more than one critical number, the smallest number would be the min, and the larger one would be the max, correct? And I wouldn't have to worry about global/local max/mins, right?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Usually, when you get more than one critical number it will be a situation where it obvious which one is the max and which is the min (smaller number is min).

As far as absolute vs local max/mins, the absolute values will be the maximums and minimums over the entire domain of the graph (i.e. highest and lowest points on the whole graph) whereas local are over a specified curve in the graph.

Local max/mins can be absolute! If there is only one set of critical points.

Hope this helps :/

anonymous · Answer

Thank you!!