Stationary Points

Module 3 – Calculus
CAPE Integrated Mathematics
Presenter: Mr. Garth Reid
BSc Mathematics and Education (Pending)
Contact Number: (876) 403-3717
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 In Calculus, a stationary point can be defined as a turning
point of the curve where the gradient at that point is equal
to zero.
Stationary points are also called critical points or points of
extrema.
Definition of
Stationary Points There are three types of stationary points. The three types
are:
and the three
 Local/Relative Maximum Point
types  Local/Relative Minimum Point
 Point of Inflexion/Saddle Point
NOTE: An inflexion point lies between a local maximum
and minimum point.
 𝑦 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠
𝑑𝑦 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
=0
𝑑𝑥

𝑥 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠

𝑳𝑶𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑴𝑼𝑴 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑵𝑻

𝑳𝑶𝑪𝑨𝑳 𝑴𝑨𝑿𝑰𝑴𝑼𝑴 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑵𝑻

𝑰𝑵𝑭𝑳𝑬𝑿𝑰𝑶𝑵 𝑷𝑶𝑰𝑵𝑻
𝑑𝑦
=0
𝑑𝑥
 Given 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), the following approach is used to find and classify the
stationary points of the function.

𝑑𝑦
 Step 1: Find
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
 Step 2: Solve = 0 to find the stationary point 𝑥1 , 𝑦1
𝑑𝑥
Steps to find and 𝑑2𝑦
 Step 3: Find 2
classify stationary 𝑑𝑥

points  Step 4: Classify the Points (Nature of Stationary Points)

NOTE: Finding points of 𝑑2 𝑦

inflexion is NOT required in If ቚ > 0 ⇒ 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥=𝑥1
the CAPE Integrated
Mathematics Syllabus.
𝑑2 𝑦
If 2
อ < 0 ⇒ 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥
𝑥=𝑥1

𝑑2 𝑦
If อ = 0 ⇒ 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑥=𝑥1
Example 1: Find the stationary points of 𝑦 = 7𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
Solution:

𝑑𝑦
= 21𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 5
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
At Stationary Points, 𝑑𝑥 = 0
⇒ 21𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 5 = 0
−(−8) ± −8 2 − 4 21 −5
𝑥=
2 21
8 ± 484
𝑥=
42
8 + 22 5 8 − 22 −1
𝑥1 = = 𝑜𝑟 𝑥2 = =
42 7 42 3

5 5 3 5 2 5 144
When 𝑥1 = , 𝑦 = 7 − 4 − 5 +6 =
7 7 7 7 49
−1 −1 3 −1 2 −1 188
When 𝑥2 = , 𝑦 = 7 − 4 − 5 +6=
3 3 3 3 27

5 144 −1 188
∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ,
7 49 3 27
Hence, determine the nature of the stationary points.
Solution:

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 2 − 8𝑥 − 5 = 42𝑥 − 8
= = 21𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
5 𝑑2 𝑦 5
At 𝑥1 = , ቚ = 42 − 8 = 22
7 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥=5 7
7

𝑑2 𝑦 5 144
Since, 2 ቚ 5 >0⇒ , 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥= 7 49
7

−1 𝑑 2 𝑦 −1
At 𝑥2 = , ቚ = 42 − 8 = −22
3 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑥=−1 3
3

𝑑2 𝑦 −1 188
Since, 2 ቚ −1 <0⇒ , 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥= 3 27
3
 𝑦 = 7𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6
−1 188
,
3 27

5 144
,
7 49
Example 2: Find the stationary points of 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 1
Solution:

𝑑𝑦
= 3𝑥 2 − 3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
At Stationary Points, 𝑑𝑥 = 0

⇒ 3𝑥 2 − 3 = 0

Divide each term in the equation by 3.

3𝑥 2 3 0
− =
3 3 3

𝑥2 − 1 = 0
𝑥2 = 1
𝑥1 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥2 = −1

When 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑦 = 1 3 − 3 1 + 1 = −1

When 𝑥2 = −1, 𝑦 = −1 3
− 3 −1 + 1 = 3

∴ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 1, −1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 −1, 3

Hence, determine the nature of the stationary points.
Solution:

𝑑2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑑𝑦 𝑑 2
2
= = 3𝑥 − 3 = 6𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑2 𝑦
At 𝑥1 = 1, 2 ቚ =6 1 =6
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=1

𝑑2 𝑦
Since, 2 ቚ > 0 ⇒ 1, −1 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=1

𝑑2 𝑦
At 𝑥2 = −1, 2 ቚ = 6 −1 = −6
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=−1

𝑑2 𝑦
Since, 2 ቚ < 0 ⇒ −1, 3 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒂𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒎 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=−1
 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 1
−1, 3

1, −1
The figure below shows the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). Given that 𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵 are stationary points, fill in the missing
information below.
Point 𝒇′′(𝒙) Nature/Classification
𝐴 𝑓 ′′ 𝑥1 0 𝐿𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
𝐵 𝑓′′ 𝑥2 > 0

𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑓 𝑥1

𝑥2
𝑥1

𝑓 𝑥2
  𝑓′′ 𝑥1 < 0
 𝐿𝑜𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑃𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
ANSWERS
THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
BE SAFE DURING THIS TIME
Mr. Garth Reid
Student Ambassador for the University of Technology, Jamaica