Increase and decrease of a function. Relative minimums and
maximums.
In increasing functions, as the independent
variable, x, increases, the dependent variable, y, increases. In decreasing
functions, when x increases, y decreases. A single function can have both
increasing intervals and decreasing intervals.
We say that a function f(x) has a relative maximum
value at x = a, if f(a) is greater than any value immediately preceding or following.We
call it a "relative" maximum because other values of the function may
in fact be greater.
We say that a function f(x) has a relative minimum
value at x = b, if f(b) is less than any value immediately preceding or following.
Again, other values of the function may in fact be less.
