Optimization problems in calculus are always asking to maximize or minimize some quantity. Typical phrases that indicate an optimization problem include: "Find the largest ..." or "Find the minimum ..

A function \(f\) has an absolute maximum at \(c\) if \(f(c)\geq f(x)\) for all \(x\in D\text{,}\) the domain of \(f\text{.}\) The number \(f(c)\) is called the ...