Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A local minimum refers to the lowest point of a function within a specific interval. It is lower than all nearby points but may not be lower than all other points on the entire function.
Related terms
Absolute Minimum: An absolute minimum refers to the lowest point of an entire function across its entire domain.
Increasing Interval: An increasing interval is an interval on which every y-value (output) of a function is greater than any previous y-value within that interval.
The first derivative test helps determine whether critical points are relative maxima or minima by analyzing intervals of increase and decrease based on derivatives.