Can a function have a local max but no global max?

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SafiBTA
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Homework Statement


I need to confirm if I correct in saying the following:
If f(x) is a function having the domain [a,b) as shown in the figure, then f(x) has several local maxima but none of them is global maximum, and f(x) does not have a global maximum.
Graph of a wiggly curve f(x) on the x-axis from a to b, with a closed dot at the left endpoint a and an open circle at the right endpoint b, which sits higher than the curve just before it.


Homework Equations

and definitions[/B]
Global Maximum: f(c) is said to be the global maximum of a function f(x) if f(c)≥f(x) for all x on the domain of f(x).

The Attempt at a Solution


There exists no point c in the domain of f(x) such that f(c)≥f(x) for all x in the domain. Hence, although f(x) has several local maxima, f(x) does not have a global maximum.
 
SafiBTA said:

Homework Statement


I need to confirm if I correct in saying the following:
If f(x) is a function having the domain [a,b) as shown in the figure, then f(x) has several local maxima but none of them is global maximum, and f(x) does not have a global maximum.
Hand-drawn graph of a wavy curve f(x) on x and y axes, defined from x = a to x = b, with a filled dot at the left endpoint a and an open circle at the right endpoint b.


Homework Equations

and definitions[/B]
Global Maximum: f(c) is said to be the global maximum of a function f(x) if f(c)≥f(x) for all x on the domain of f(x).

The Attempt at a Solution


There exists no point c in the domain of f(x) such that f(c)≥f(x) for all x in the domain. Hence, although f(x) has several local maxima, f(x) does not have a global maximum.
Yes, the function in this graph has no global maximum.
 
SafiBTA said:

Homework Statement


I need to confirm if I correct in saying the following:
If f(x) is a function having the domain [a,b) as shown in the figure, then f(x) has several local maxima but none of them is global maximum, and f(x) does not have a global maximum.
Graph of a wavy curve f(x) on the interval from a to b on x and y axes, with a filled dot at the left endpoint a and an open circle at the right endpoint b, so the value near b is not attained.


Homework Equations

and definitions[/B]
Global Maximum: f(c) is said to be the global maximum of a function f(x) if f(c)≥f(x) for all x on the domain of f(x).

The Attempt at a Solution


There exists no point c in the domain of f(x) such that f(c)≥f(x) for all x in the domain. Hence, although f(x) has several local maxima, f(x) does not have a global maximum.
You are correct: the function has a (global) supremum, but not a global maximum on [a,b).