How do I find critical points and determine local extrema for a given function?

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
3 replies · 2K views
qq545282501
Messages
31
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


find all critical points and identify the locations of local maximums, minimums and saddle points of the function [tex]f(x,y)=4xy-\frac{x^4}{2}-y^2[/tex]

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


setting Partial derivative respect to x = 0 : [tex]4y-\frac{4x^3}{2}=0[/tex]
setting partial derivative respect to y=0: [tex]4x-2y=0[/tex]

from the second equation, Y=2X, plug it into the first equation. I get : [tex]2x(4-x^2)=0[/tex]
now, x=0 or x=-2 or x=2. since y=2x, now I got 3 sets of critical points. (0,0), (-2,-4) and (2,4)

second partial derivative respect to x = [tex]-6x^2[/tex]
second partial derivative respect to y=-2
and ƒxy=0

so [tex]D(a,b)= 12x^2[/tex]

plug in these critical points into D(a,b) I found that local max value at (-2,-4) and (2,4) for which both give D value of 48, greater than 0, and ƒxx at both points are smaller than 0.
for D(0,0) , the test is inconclusive .

I did not find any local min, I am wondering if i missed something.
any help is appreciated
 
Physics news on Phys.org
qq545282501 said:

Homework Statement


find all critical points and identify the locations of local maximums, minimums and saddle points of the function [tex]f(x,y)=4xy-\frac{x^4}{2}-y^2[/tex]

second partial derivative respect to x = [tex]-6x^2[/tex]
second partial derivative respect to y=-2
and ƒxy=0

so [tex]D(a,b)= 12x^2[/tex]
fxy is not zero.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: qq545282501
qq545282501 said:

Homework Statement


find all critical points and identify the locations of local maximums, minimums and saddle points of the function [tex]f(x,y)=4xy-\frac{x^4}{2}-y^2[/tex]

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


setting Partial derivative respect to x = 0 : [tex]4y-\frac{4x^3}{2}=0[/tex]
setting partial derivative respect to y=0: [tex]4x-2y=0[/tex]

from the second equation, Y=2X, plug it into the first equation. I get : [tex]2x(4-x^2)=0[/tex]
now, x=0 or x=-2 or x=2. since y=2x, now I got 3 sets of critical points. (0,0), (-2,-4) and (2,4)

second partial derivative respect to x = [tex]-6x^2[/tex]
second partial derivative respect to y=-2
and ƒxy=0

so [tex]D(a,b)= 12x^2[/tex]

plug in these critical points into D(a,b) I found that local max value at (-2,-4) and (2,4) for which both give D value of 48, greater than 0, and ƒxx at both points are smaller than 0.
for D(0,0) , the test is inconclusive .

I did not find any local min, I am wondering if i missed something.
any help is appreciated

##f_{xy} \neq 0##.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: qq545282501
opps, got it. thank you