Finding local extremes from stationary points

  • Thread starter Thread starter goatsebear
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Local Points
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 4K views
goatsebear
Messages
13
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



Find the stationary points and local extreme values of f(x,y) = xy^2e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]

Homework Equations


You need to find the gradient for the function and then set it equal to 0. So then df/dy equals df/dx and you can solve for a solution set.

The Attempt at a Solution


df/dx = y^2(-x^2 + 1)*e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]

df/dy = y*x(-y^2 + 2)*e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]

So since e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex] cannot equal zero, y^2(-x^2 + 1) = 0
and y*x(-y^2 + 2) = 0

So then, y^2(-x^2 + 1) goes to y^2 - x^2y^2 = 0 and then [tex]\pm[/tex]1 = x

Plugging this into the dy/dx equation gives me the following x, y critical points
(0,0) (1,-[tex]\sqrt{2}[/tex]) (1, -[tex]\sqrt{2}[/tex]) (-1, [tex]\sqrt{2}[/tex]) (-1, [tex]\sqrt{-2}[/tex])

So then to find out if they are max or mins or saddle points, I solve for the second partials of fx, fy, fxy

fxx=A = x(-1 + 2y^2 - x^2y^2) * e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]

fyy=C = y(x - 2y + 3yx) * e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]

fxy=B = y(2- 2x^2 + y^2 = Y2x^2) * e^-([tex]\frac{x^2 + y^2)}{2}[/tex]Now I use the equation D = AC - B^2

Can someone check my math out? It seems that something is wrong somewhere. I know this is a huge problem so thanks for any help.
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
The critical points are:
(x, 0) for any x
(-1, -sqrt 2)
(-1, sqrt 2)
(1, -sqrt 2)
(1, sqrt 2)

In each 2nd order derivative, the polynomial term should simplify to:
x(-3 + x^2)y^2 ... for "xx"
x(2 - 5 y^2 + y^4) ... for "yy"
y(-1 + x^2)(-2 + y^2) ... for "xy"
 
Last edited:
So I was mostly right other than that being (x,0). Now I just plug those points in for x and y in that D = AC - B^2 right? How would I do that with the (x,0) point?