The Candidates Test (Closed Interval Method)
The method
Why it works
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Example 1: polynomial
Example 2: trig function
Example 3: function with $f'$ DNE
When there's only one critical point on $(a, b)$
Multiple critical points: organize with a table
Candidates test with data tables
Common mistakes
AP exam tips
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Vocabulary
Unit 5 topics
Unit 5 overview15.1 Using the Mean Value Theorem25.2 Extreme Value Theorem and Critical Points35.3 Determining Intervals of Increasing and Decreasing45.4 Using the First Derivative Test55.5 Using the Candidates Test for Absolute Extrema65.6 Determining Concavity and Points of Inflection75.7 Using the Second Derivative Test85.8 Sketching Curves of Functions and Their Derivatives95.9 Connecting f, f', and f''105.10 Solving Optimization Problems