Critical Numbers and the First Derivative Test

Sick of ads?​ Sign up for MathVids Premium
Taught by Houston
  • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
3081 views | 4 ratings
Meets NCTM Standards:
Lesson Description:

Critical numbers of a function. The first derivative test for local extrema.

Copyright 2005, Department of Mathematics, University of Houston. Created by Selwyn Hollis. Find more information on videos, resources, and lessons at http://online.math.uh.edu/HoustonACT/videocalculus/index.html.

Additional Resources:
Questions answered by this video:
  • What is a critical number?
  • What is the first derivative test?
  • What is a local extreme value?
  • How do you find local minimum and local maximum values of a function?
  • How do you pick test points for critical points?
  • Staff Review

    • Currently 5.0/5 Stars.
    Discussed in this video are critical numbers, critical points, and how to determine whether a point of a function is a local minimum, local maximum, or neither using the first derivative test. Several examples are done, and the common, accepted method for making a sketch of f’(x) for critical points is shown, as well as picking test points and determining local minimum and local maximum points for the function. This is a truly useful video for any Calculus student.
  • nrortiz

    • Currently 4.0/5 Stars.
    plenty of examples!