How to find global/local minimums/maximums.

[thomasxc]

i've been searching the entire internet looking for a good how-to, but i have had no success. this is not a homework question, i am simply interested. and i would greatly appreciate some straightforward instruction.thanks in advance.

 

[g_edgar]

For function of one variable ... a course on calculus: this is one of the standard applications of derivatives.

For function of n real variables ... a course on multivariable calculus. Gradients, Lagrange multipliers, etc.

For a functional depending on a function ... "calculus of variations"

For linear functional defined on a convex set ... "linear programming"

For function of integer variables ... "integer programming"

 

[jhooper3581]

See this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxima_and_minima" .