mathematics. : the largest value that a mathematical function can have over its entire curve (see curve entry 3 sense 5a) The absolute maximum on the graph occurs at x = d, and the absolute minimum of the graph occurs at x = a.— W.

Finding the Domain and Range of a Quadratic Function. Any number can be the input value of a quadratic function. Therefore, the domain of any quadratic function is all real numbers. Because parabolas have a maximum or a minimum point, the range is restricted.

If the parabola opens upward, your answer will be the minimum value. If the parabola opens downward, your answer is the maximum value. In this example, since the parabola opens upward, f(-1.25) = 0.875 is the minimum value of the function.

Determine whether each of these critical points is the location of a maximum, minimum, or point of inflection. For each value, test an x-value slightly smaller and slightly larger than that x-value. If both are smaller than f(x), then it is a maximum. If both are larger than f(x), then it is a minimum.

Then to find the global maximum and minimum of the function:

1. Make a list of all values of c, with a≤c≤b, a ≤ c ≤ b , for which. f′(c)=0, f ′ ( c ) = 0 , or. f′(c) does not exist, or.
2. Evaluate f(c) for each c in that list. The largest (or smallest) of those values is the largest (or smallest) value of f(x) for a≤x≤b.

Finding Maxima & Minima

1. Find the derivative of the function.
2. Set the derivative equal to 0 and solve for x. This gives you the x-values of the maximum and minimum points.
3. Plug those x-values back into the function to find the corresponding y-values. This will give you your maximum and minimum points of the function.