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How to find a local minimum of a function?

User Maloney
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1 Answer

1 vote

Answer:

Find the places where the derivative is zero and the second derivative is positive.

Explanation:

By definition, a function has a minimum where the first derivative is zero and the second derivative is positive.

That will be a "local" minimum if there are other points on the function graph that have values less than that. It will be a "global" minimum if there are no other function values less than that. A global minimum is also a local minimum.

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On a graph, a local minimum is the bottom of the "U" where the graph changes from negative slope to positive slope.

User LVB
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