Function minimization and maximization are the process of finding the smallest and largest value of a given function. Let's talk briefly about that value.
If the value is within a given range, then it is called the local extrema; if it is within the entire domain of a function then it is called the global extrema. Let's say we have a function f, and it's defined against a domain X. The maximum, or global, point at x* is f(x*) is greater than or equal to f(x) for all x in the domain X. Conversely, the function's global minimum point at x* is f(x*) is less than or equal to f(x) for all x in the domain X.
In a simpler fashion, the maximum point is also called the maximum value, and the minimum point is called the minimum value, of the function. The global maximum or minimum is either the highest or lowest function value in...
