Discretize a continuous function to get its max value?

[JBlackhole]

I can't remember hence the silly question. If one has a continuous function (in my case of time) and one wants to only return the max (absolute) value of the function (range 0..tend), does one needs to discretize the function?

a example

y(t):t^2  wit t = 0..5

max(y(t)) does not return 25

[StuartBruff]

I don't think you do if you've got Premium Prime (ie, not Express).  You can use a solve block or maximize function, as described in:

https://support.ptc.com/help/mathcad/r6.0/en/index.html#page/PTC_Mathcad_Help%2Fabout_solve_block_functions.html%23wwID0EYDC5

https://support.ptc.com/help/mathcad/r6.0/en/index.html#page/PTC_Mathcad_Help%2Fexample_optimizing_a_function.html%23wwID0E4EJJB

If it's an analytic function, then you could also either try using symbolic differentiation to find the maximum (1st and 2nd derivatives)

Stuart 

[AlanStevens · Accepted solution]

Make sure t is a vector not a range variable:

Alan

[StuartBruff]

You need to be careful how many points you evaluate a function over when looking for its maximum within a given range.

If you don't have enough points, you will not likely get the prize of picking the right maximum or even seeing most of them.

Here's the difference between 0..5 and 0,0.01..5.  Quite different beasts.

Stuart

[JBlackhole]

 Thanks for the info.