In mathematical analysis, the maxima and minima (the
plural of maximum and minimum) of a function, known collectively as
extrema, are the largest and smallest value of the function, either
within a given range (the local or relative extrema) or on the entire
domain of a function (the global or absolute extrema).[1][2][3]
Pierre de Fermat was one of the first mathematicians to propose a
general technique, adequality, for finding the maxima and minima of
functions.
As defined in set theory, the maximum and minimum of a set are the greatest and least elements in the set, respectively. Unbounded infinite sets, such as the set of real numbers, have no minimum or maximum.
