Stationary point
In
mathematics, particularly in
calculus, a
stationary point is a
point on the
graph of a function where the
tangent to the graph is
parallel to the
x-axis or, equivalently, where the
derivative of the
function equals zero (known as a
critical number).
Stationary points are classified into four kinds:
- a minimal extremum (minimal turning point or relative minimum) is one where the derivative of the function changes from negative to positive;
- a maximal extremum (maximal turning point or relative maximum) is one where the derivative of the function changes from positive to negative;
- a rising point of inflection (or inflexion) is one where the derivative of the function is positive on both sides of the stationary point; such a point marks a change in concavity
- a falling point of inflection (or inflexion) is one where the derivative of the function is negative on both sides of the stationary point; such a point marks a change in concavity
Notice: Global (or absolute) maxima and minima are sometimes called global (or absolute) maximal (resp. minimal) extrema. While they may occur at stationary points, they are not actually an example of a stationary point. See absolute extremum for more information about this.
Determining the position and nature of stationary points aids in curve sketching, especially for continuous functions. Solving the equation f'(x) = 0 returns the x-coordinates of all stationary points; the y-coordinates are trivially the function values at those x-coordinates.
The specific nature of a stationary point at x can in some cases be determined by examining the second derivative f''(x):
- If f''(x) < 0, the stationary point at x is a maximal extremum.
- If f''(x) > 0, the stationary point at x is a minimal extremum.
- If f''(x) = 0, the nature of the stationary point must be determined by way of other means, often by noting a sign change around that point provided the function values exist around that point.
A more straight-forward way of determining the nature of a stationary point is by examining the function values between the stationary points. However, this is limited again in that it works only for functions that are continuous in at least a small interval surrounding the stationary point.
A simple example of a point of inflection is the function f(x) = x3. There is a clear change of concavity about the point x = 0, and we can prove this by means of calculus. The second derivative of f is the everywhere-continuous 6x, and at x = 0, f ′ ′ = 0, and that the sign changes about this point. So x = 0 is a point of inflection.