What is a local maximum?
John Castro
Published Feb 16, 2026
What is a local maximum?
A local maximum point on a function is a point (x,y) on the graph of the function whose y coordinate is larger than all other y coordinates on the graph at points “close to” (x,y). A local extremum is either a local minimum or a local maximum.
Can a local minimum be greater than a local maximum?
Local minimum value of f is f(2) = 4. This example shows that a local minimum may have a value that is greater than a local maximum. In the example, the local maximum value of f is 0, while the local minimum value of f is 4. This is perfectly fine.
What happens at a local maximum?
A local max will occur when the function changes from increasing to decreasing. This means that the derivative of the function will change from positive to negative. Next, find at which of these two values changes from positive to negative.
What is the maxima and minima of a graph?
Maxima will be the highest point on the curve within the given range and minima would be the lowest point on the curve. The combination of maxima and minima is extrema. In the image given below, we can see various peaks and valleys in the graph.
What is a local minimum?
A function f has a local minimum or relative minimum at a point xo if the values f(x) of f for x ‘near’ xo are all greater than f(xo). Thus, the graph of f near xo has a trough at xo.
What is a local minimum on a graph?
The graph of a function y = f(x) has a local maximum at the point where the graph changes from increasing to decreasing. The graph has a local minimum at the point where the graph changes from decreasing to increasing. Again, at this point the tangent has zero slope.
What is the meaning of minimum and maximum?
Minimum means the least you can do of something. Maximum means the most you can have of something. For example, if the maximum amount of oranges you can juggle is five, you cannot juggle more than five oranges. You can do the maximum or less.
What is a local minimum in calculus?
Local Minimum : Example Question #3 The local maximums and minumums of a function are where the slope of the line tangent to the function is 0. To find the slope of the tangent line we must find the derivative. Then we must set ot equal to 0 and solve. The derivative of is . \displaystyle f'(x)=3x^2+24x+36.
Is local maximum the same as absolute maximum?
The maximum or minimum over the entire function is called an “Absolute” or “Global” maximum or minimum. There is only one global maximum (and one global minimum) but there can be more than one local maximum or minimum. Assuming this function continues downwards to left or right: The Global Maximum is about 3.7.
How do you find the local minimum and maximum?
When a function’s slope is zero at x, and the second derivative at x is: less than 0, it is a local maximum. greater than 0, it is a local minimum.
What is the difference between local minimum and absolute minimum?
A function can have two types of minima: local and absolute. An absolute minimum, also called a global minimum, occurs when a point is lower than any other point on the function. A local minimum, also called a relative minimum, occurs when a point is lower than the points surrounding it.