Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.3 – Maxima and Minima | Boundless Maths
Chapter 6 · Application of Derivatives

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.3: Maxima and Minima

This Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.3 page covers all 29 questions, solved step-by-step — local and absolute maxima/minima using the first and second derivative tests, plus the classic Application of Derivatives optimisation problems (maximum volume, minimum surface area, maximum area) that show up almost every year in the board exam.

29Questions
Easy–HardDifficulty Mix
2026-27CBSE Syllabus

Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.3 — All 29 Questions

Tip: Q1–Q12 are direct max/min questions (definitions, local vs. absolute). Q13–Q26 are word-problem optimisations (two numbers, boxes, cones, cylinders). Q27–Q29 are MCQs.
1

Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of: (i) f(x)=(2x-1)^2+3 (ii) f(x)=9x^2+12x+2 (iii) f(x)=-(x-1)^2+10 (iv) g(x)=x^3+1

Medium +
(i)
Since (2x-1)^2 \geq 0, minimum value = 3 at x=\tfrac12; no maximum (unbounded above).
(ii)

Complete the square: 9x^2+12x+2 = 9\left(x+\tfrac23\right)^2-2.

Minimum value =-2 at x=-\tfrac23; no maximum.
(iii)
Since -(x-1)^2 \leq 0, maximum value =10 at x=1; no minimum (unbounded below).
(iv)
g(x)=x^3+1 is strictly increasing and unbounded in both directions — no maximum, no minimum value.
2

Find the maximum and minimum values, if any, of: (i) f(x)=|x+2|-1 (ii) g(x)=-|x+1|+3 (iii) h(x)=\sin(2x)+5 (iv) f(x)=|\sin4x+3| (v) h(x)=x+1,\ x\in(-1,1)

Medium +
(i)
Minimum value =-1 at x=-2; no maximum.
(ii)
Maximum value =3 at x=-1; no minimum.
(iii)

Since \sin(2x) \in [-1,1], h(x) \in [4,6].

Maximum =6, minimum =4.
(iv)

Since \sin4x \in [-1,1], \sin4x+3 \in [2,4], always positive, so |\sin4x+3| = \sin4x+3.

Maximum =4, minimum =2.
(v)
Domain is the open interval (-1,1) — the endpoints are never reached, so h has no maximum and no minimum value.
3

Find the local maxima/minima (and values) of: (i) x^2 (ii) x^3-3x (iii) \sin x+\cos x,\ 0<x<\tfrac{\pi}{2} (iv) \sin x-\cos x,\ 0<x<2\pi (v) x^3-6x^2+9x+15 (vi) \tfrac{x}{2}+\tfrac{2}{x},\ x>0 (vii) \tfrac{1}{x^2+2} (viii) x\sqrt{1-x},\ 0<x<1

Hard +
(i) f(x) = x²
Local minimum =0 at x=0 (no local maxima).
(ii) g(x) = x³ − 3x

g'(x)=3x^2-3=0 \Rightarrow x=\pm1. g''(x)=6x.

Local max =2 at x=-1; local min =-2 at x=1.
(iii) h(x) = sin x + cos x on (0, π/2)

h'(x)=\cos x-\sin x=0 \Rightarrow x=\tfrac{\pi}{4}. h''\left(\tfrac{\pi}{4}\right)=-\sqrt2<0.

Local maximum =\sqrt2 at x=\tfrac{\pi}{4}.
(iv) f(x) = sin x − cos x on (0, 2π)

f'(x)=\cos x+\sin x=0 \Rightarrow x=\tfrac{3\pi}{4},\ \tfrac{7\pi}{4}.

Local max =\sqrt2 at x=\tfrac{3\pi}{4}; local min =-\sqrt2 at x=\tfrac{7\pi}{4}.
(v) f(x) = x³ − 6x² + 9x + 15

f'(x)=3(x-1)(x-3)=0 \Rightarrow x=1,3. f''(x)=6x-12.

Local max =19 at x=1; local min =15 at x=3.
(vi) g(x) = x/2 + 2/x, x > 0

g'(x)=\tfrac12-\tfrac{2}{x^2}=0 \Rightarrow x=2 (taking the positive root). g''(x)=\tfrac{4}{x^3}>0.

Local minimum =2 at x=2.
(vii) g(x) = 1/(x² + 2)

g'(x)=\dfrac{-2x}{(x^2+2)^2}=0 \Rightarrow x=0. For x<0, g'>0; for x>0, g'<0 — sign changes +\to-.

Local maximum =\tfrac12 at x=0.
(viii) f(x) = x√(1−x), 0 < x < 1

f'(x)=\dfrac{2-3x}{2\sqrt{1-x}}=0 \Rightarrow x=\tfrac23. Sign changes +\to- around x=\tfrac23.

Local maximum =\dfrac{2\sqrt3}{9} at x=\tfrac23.
4

Prove that the following functions do not have maxima or minima: (i) f(x)=e^x (ii) g(x)=\log x (iii) h(x)=x^3+x^2+x+1

Medium +
(i)
f'(x)=e^x>0 always — never zero, so no critical point exists, hence no maxima/minima.
(ii)
g'(x)=\tfrac1x>0 for all x>0 — never zero, hence no maxima/minima.
(iii)

h'(x)=3x^2+2x+1. Its discriminant = 4-12=-8<0, and the leading coefficient is positive, so h'(x)>0 for every real x.

No critical points exist, so h has no maxima or minima.
5

Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of: (i) f(x)=x^3,\ x\in[-2,2] (ii) f(x)=\sin x+\cos x,\ x\in[0,\pi] (iii) f(x)=4x-\tfrac12x^2,\ x\in\left[-2,\tfrac92\right] (iv) f(x)=(x-1)^2+3,\ x\in[-3,1]

Medium +
(i)

Critical point: f'(x)=3x^2=0 \Rightarrow x=0. Evaluate: f(-2)=-8,\ f(0)=0,\ f(2)=8.

Absolute max =8 at x=2; absolute min =-8 at x=-2.
(ii)

Critical point: x=\tfrac{\pi}{4}. Evaluate: f(0)=1,\ f\left(\tfrac{\pi}{4}\right)=\sqrt2,\ f(\pi)=-1.

Absolute max =\sqrt2 at x=\tfrac{\pi}{4}; absolute min =-1 at x=\pi.
(iii)

Critical point: f'(x)=4-x=0 \Rightarrow x=4. Evaluate: f(-2)=-10,\ f(4)=8,\ f\left(\tfrac92\right)=7.875.

Absolute max =8 at x=4; absolute min =-10 at x=-2.
(iv)

Critical point (also the right endpoint): x=1. Evaluate: f(-3)=19,\ f(1)=3.

Absolute max =19 at x=-3; absolute min =3 at x=1.
6

Find the maximum profit that a company can make, if the profit function is given by p(x) = 41 - 72x - 18x^2.

Easy +
Solution

p'(x)=-72-36x=0 \Rightarrow x=-2. p''(x)=-36<0 — maximum.

p(-2) = 41-72(-2)-18(4) = 41+144-72 = 113.

Maximum profit = 113.
7

Find both the maximum value and the minimum value of 3x^4-8x^3+12x^2-48x+25 on the interval [0,3].

Medium +
Solution

f'(x)=12x^3-24x^2+24x-48=12(x-2)(x^2+2). Since x^2+2>0 always, the only critical point is x=2.

Evaluate: f(0)=25,\ f(2)=-39,\ f(3)=16.

Maximum value =25 at x=0; minimum value =-39 at x=2.
8

At what points in the interval [0,2\pi] does the function \sin 2x attain its maximum value?

Easy +
Solution

\sin2x attains its maximum value 1 when 2x=\tfrac{\pi}{2}+2k\pi, i.e. x=\tfrac{\pi}{4}+k\pi.

Within [0,2\pi]: x=\tfrac{\pi}{4} and x=\tfrac{5\pi}{4}.

Maximum value 1 is attained at x=\tfrac{\pi}{4} and x=\tfrac{5\pi}{4}.
9

What is the maximum value of the function \sin x+\cos x?

Easy +
Solution

\sin x+\cos x = \sqrt2\sin\left(x+\tfrac{\pi}{4}\right), and \sin(\cdot) has maximum value 1.

Maximum value = \sqrt2.
10

Find the maximum value of 2x^3-24x+107 in the interval [1,3]. Find the maximum value of the same function in [-3,-1].

Medium +
Solution

f'(x)=6x^2-24=6(x-2)(x+2). Critical points: x=\pm2.

On [1,3] (critical point x=2 inside): f(1)=85,\ f(2)=75,\ f(3)=89.

On [-3,-1] (critical point x=-2 inside): f(-3)=125,\ f(-2)=139,\ f(-1)=129.

On [1,3]: maximum =89 at x=3. On [-3,-1]: maximum =139 at x=-2.
11

It is given that at x=1, the function x^4-62x^2+ax+9 attains its maximum value on [0,2]. Find the value of a.

Easy +
Solution

Since x=1 is an interior point of [0,2] and gives the maximum, f'(1)=0.

f'(x)=4x^3-124x+a. f'(1)=4-124+a=0 \Rightarrow a=120.

Answer: a=120.
12

Find the maximum and minimum values of x+\sin 2x on [0,2\pi].

Hard +
Solution

f'(x)=1+2\cos2x=0 \Rightarrow \cos2x=-\tfrac12, giving critical points x=\tfrac{\pi}{3},\tfrac{2\pi}{3},\tfrac{4\pi}{3},\tfrac{5\pi}{3} within [0,2\pi].

Evaluating f at all critical points and the endpoints x=0,\ 2\pi shows the extreme values actually occur at the endpoints.

f(0)=0; f(2\pi)=2\pi, and every interior critical value lies strictly between these two.

Maximum value =2\pi at x=2\pi; minimum value =0 at x=0.
13

Find two numbers whose sum is 24 and whose product is as large as possible.

Easy +
Solution

Let the numbers be x and 24-x. P(x)=x(24-x)=24x-x^2.

P'(x)=24-2x=0 \Rightarrow x=12. P''(x)=-2<0 — maximum.

The two numbers are 12 and 12.
14

Find two positive numbers x and y such that x+y=60 and xy^3 is maximum.

Medium +
Solution

Let y=60-x. f(x)=x(60-x)^3.

f'(x)=(60-x)^2(60-4x)=0 \Rightarrow x=15 (rejecting x=60, which gives y=0). Sign changes +\to- — maximum.

Answer: x=15,\ y=45.
15

Find two positive numbers x and y such that their sum is 35 and the product x^2y^5 is a maximum.

Medium +
Solution

Let y=35-x. f(x)=x^2(35-x)^5.

f'(x)=7x(35-x)^4(10-x)=0 \Rightarrow x=10 (rejecting x=0,35). This gives the maximum.

Answer: x=10,\ y=25.
16

Find two positive numbers whose sum is 16 and the sum of whose cubes is minimum.

Medium +
Solution

Let y=16-x. f(x)=x^3+(16-x)^3.

f'(x)=3x^2-3(16-x)^2=96(x-8)=0 \Rightarrow x=8. f''(x)=96>0 — minimum.

The two numbers are 8 and 8.
17

A square piece of tin of side 18 cm is made into an open box by cutting a square from each corner and folding up the flaps. What side of square should be cut off so the volume is maximum?

Medium +
Solution

Let the cut-out side be x. Volume V(x)=x(18-2x)^2, 0<x<9.

V'(x)=12(x-3)(x-9)=0 \Rightarrow x=3 (rejecting x=9, a degenerate box). V''(3)=-72<0 — maximum.

Cut squares of side 3\text{ cm} for maximum volume (432\text{ cm}^3).
18

A rectangular sheet of tin 45 cm by 24 cm is made into an open box by cutting squares from each corner. What side should be cut off for maximum volume?

Medium +
Solution

V(x)=x(45-2x)(24-2x), 0<x<12.

V'(x)=12(x-5)(x-18)=0 \Rightarrow x=5 (rejecting x=18, outside domain). V''(5)=-156<0 — maximum.

Cut squares of side 5\text{ cm} for maximum volume.
19

Show that of all the rectangles inscribed in a given fixed circle, the square has the maximum area.

Hard +
Solution

Let the circle have radius r (fixed). For a rectangle with sides x,y inscribed in it, the diagonal equals the diameter: x^2+y^2=4r^2, so y=\sqrt{4r^2-x^2}.

Area A(x)=x\sqrt{4r^2-x^2}. A'(x)=\dfrac{4r^2-2x^2}{\sqrt{4r^2-x^2}}=0 \Rightarrow x^2=2r^2 \Rightarrow x=r\sqrt2.

Then y=\sqrt{4r^2-2r^2}=r\sqrt2=x.

Since x=y, the maximum-area rectangle is a square (proved).
20

Show that the right circular cylinder of given surface and maximum volume is such that its height is equal to the diameter of the base.

Hard +
Solution

Fixed surface S=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh \Rightarrow h=\dfrac{S-2\pi r^2}{2\pi r}.

V(r)=\pi r^2 h = \dfrac{S}{2}r-\pi r^3. V'(r)=\dfrac{S}{2}-3\pi r^2=0 \Rightarrow r^2=\dfrac{S}{6\pi}.

Substituting back gives h=\dfrac{S}{3\pi r}=2r. V''(r)=-6\pi r<0 — maximum.

Height h=2r, i.e. equal to the diameter of the base (proved).
21

Of all the closed cylindrical cans of a given volume of 100\text{ cm}^3, find the dimensions of the can with minimum surface area.

Hard +
Solution

V=\pi r^2h=100 \Rightarrow h=\dfrac{100}{\pi r^2}.

S(r)=2\pi r^2+\dfrac{200}{r}. S'(r)=4\pi r-\dfrac{200}{r^2}=0 \Rightarrow r^3=\dfrac{50}{\pi}.

Substituting back shows h=2r. S''(r)>0 — minimum.

Radius r=\left(\dfrac{50}{\pi}\right)^{1/3}\text{cm}, height h=2r.
22

A wire of length 28 m is cut into two pieces — one bent into a square, the other into a circle. What lengths minimise the combined area?

Hard +
Solution

Let length x form the square (side \tfrac{x}{4}) and 28-x form the circle (radius \tfrac{28-x}{2\pi}).

A(x)=\dfrac{x^2}{16}+\dfrac{(28-x)^2}{4\pi}. A'(x)=\dfrac{x}{8}-\dfrac{28-x}{2\pi}=0 \Rightarrow x=\dfrac{112}{\pi+4}.

A''(x)>0 — minimum.

Square piece =\dfrac{112}{\pi+4}\text{ m}; circle piece =\dfrac{28\pi}{\pi+4}\text{ m}.
23

Prove that the volume of the largest cone that can be inscribed in a sphere of radius R is \tfrac{8}{27} of the volume of the sphere.

Hard +
Solution

For a cone of height h and base radius r inscribed in a sphere of radius R: r^2=h(2R-h).

V(h)=\tfrac13\pi h^2(2R-h). V'(h)=\tfrac13\pi h(4R-3h)=0 \Rightarrow h=\tfrac{4R}{3}. V''\left(\tfrac{4R}{3}\right)<0 — maximum.

V_{max}=\tfrac{32}{81}\pi R^3, while the sphere's volume is \tfrac43\pi R^3.

Ratio =\dfrac{32/81}{4/3}=\dfrac{8}{27} (proved).
24

Show that the right circular cone of least curved surface and given volume has altitude equal to \sqrt2 times the radius of the base.

Hard +
Solution

Fixed volume V=\tfrac13\pi r^2h \Rightarrow h=\dfrac{3V}{\pi r^2}. Curved surface area squared: S^2=\pi^2r^4+\pi^2r^2h^2.

Substituting h and minimising w.r.t. r leads to the critical-point condition h^2=2r^2.

So h=\sqrt2\,r at the minimum curved-surface configuration (proved).
25

Show that the semi-vertical angle of the cone of maximum volume, for a given slant height, is \tan^{-1}\sqrt2.

Hard +
Solution

With slant height l fixed and semi-vertical angle \alpha: r=l\sin\alpha, h=l\cos\alpha.

V(\alpha)=\tfrac{\pi l^3}{3}\sin^2\alpha\cos\alpha. \dfrac{dV}{d\alpha}=\tfrac{\pi l^3}{3}\sin\alpha\left(2\cos^2\alpha-\sin^2\alpha\right)=0.

This gives \tan^2\alpha=2 \Rightarrow \alpha=\tan^{-1}\sqrt2 (a maximum on checking sign change).

Proved: semi-vertical angle =\tan^{-1}\sqrt2.
26

Show that the semi-vertical angle of a right circular cone of given surface area and maximum volume is \sin^{-1}\left(\tfrac13\right).

Hard +
Solution

Fixed total surface S=\pi r^2+\pi rl, so l=\dfrac{S}{\pi r}-r.

Maximising V^2 in terms of r leads to the critical-point condition r^2=\dfrac{S}{4\pi}, which gives l=3r.

Then \sin\alpha=\dfrac{r}{l}=\dfrac{r}{3r}=\dfrac13.

Proved: semi-vertical angle =\sin^{-1}\left(\tfrac13\right).
27

MCQ. The point on the curve x^2=2y nearest to the point (0,5) is:   (A) (2\sqrt2,4)   (B) (2\sqrt2,0)   (C) (0,0)   (D) (2,2)

Medium +
Solution

A point on the curve is \left(x,\tfrac{x^2}{2}\right). Let u=x^2; distance² D=u+\left(\tfrac{u}{2}-5\right)^2 = \tfrac{u^2}{4}-4u+25.

\dfrac{dD}{du}=\tfrac{u}{2}-4=0 \Rightarrow u=8 \Rightarrow x=\pm2\sqrt2, giving y=4.

Answer: (A) (2\sqrt2,4)
28

MCQ. For all real x, the minimum value of \dfrac{1-x+x^2}{1+x+x^2} is:   (A) 0   (B) 1   (C) 3   (D) \tfrac13

Hard +
Solution

Let y equal the expression. Cross-multiplying and rearranging as a quadratic in x: x^2(y-1)+x(y+1)+(y-1)=0.

For real x, the discriminant must be \geq0: (y+1)^2-4(y-1)^2\geq0 \Rightarrow 3y^2-10y+3\leq0.

Solving gives y\in\left[\tfrac13,3\right].

Answer: (D) \tfrac13
29

MCQ. The maximum value of [x(x-1)+1]^{1/3}, 0\leq x\leq1 is:   (A) \left(\tfrac13\right)^{1/3}   (B) \tfrac12   (C) 1   (D) 0

Medium +
Solution

Let g(x)=x^2-x+1 (the expression inside the cube root). Since cube root is increasing, maximising g maximises the whole expression.

g'(x)=2x-1=0 \Rightarrow x=\tfrac12, which is a minimum of g (since g''>0). So the maximum of g on [0,1] is at an endpoint: g(0)=1,\ g(1)=1.

Answer: (C) 1

Want timed, exam-style practice?

The AI Question Bank has board-tagged MCQs, Assertion-Reason and Case Studies for this whole chapter.

Explore it free →
Common Questions

FAQs — Class 12 Maths NCERT Solutions Chapter 6 Ex 6.3

How many questions are there in Exercise 6.3?

Exercise 6.3 has 29 questions (26 short-answer/proof questions plus 3 MCQs), covering local maxima/minima, absolute maxima/minima on closed intervals, and real-world optimisation problems.

What concept does Exercise 6.3 test?

It tests the first and second derivative tests for local extrema, the working rule for absolute maximum/minimum on a closed interval, and applying these to optimisation problems like maximum volume, minimum surface area, and maximum area.

Where can I find the official NCERT textbook for this exercise?

Exercise 6.3 is from Chapter 6, Application of Derivatives, in the NCERT Class 12 Mathematics textbook (Part I), published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and prescribed by CBSE. You can download the official textbook PDF directly from ncert.nic.in, NCERT's official website — the solutions on this page follow the questions exactly as they appear there.

Carry the formulas with you

One-page printable formula deck for every Calculus chapter, including Application of Derivatives.

Get the Formula Deck →
Expert CBSE Coaching · Class 9–12