Maxima and Minima

Maxima and minima are points on a curve where the function reaches its highest or lowest value within a specific region. A maximum is a peak point where the function's value is higher than all nearby points, indicating a local high. Conversely, a minimum is a valley point where the function's value is lower than all nearby points, indicating a local low. These points help identify the relative highness or lowness of a function’s behavior and are important in optimization problems, such as maximizing profits or minimizing costs in real-world applications.