Stationary Points for Surface: Finding Local and Absolute Extrema

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The discussion centers on finding stationary points and local/absolute extrema for the function f(x,y) = xye^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}. Participants derived the partial derivatives, resulting in the equations ∂z/∂x = y(1 - x^2)e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} = 0 and ∂z/∂y = x(1 - y^2)e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} = 0. The key to solving for stationary points lies in substituting one equation into the other after identifying the roots of the first equation, which yields three solutions for y and corresponding values for x.

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Find the stationary points for the surface. And find the local and absolute maxima or minima for the following function.
\f(x,y)= xye^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}

Is there any stationary points for this surface?
Let z = f(x,y)
I found the
\delta{z}/\delta{x} = y[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - x^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]

and

\delta{z}/\delta{x} = x[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - y^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]

I'm supposed to equate the two equations to get the stationary points (x , y, z) But I couldn't since I could only get y - x = y^2 - x^2 from the two equations and that's it.

How do I proceed? Did i do anything wrong?
 
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Hi custer! :smile:

(type \partial not \delta for ∂ :wink:)
custer said:
Find the stationary points for the surface. And find the local and absolute maxima or minima for the following function.
\f(x,y)= xye^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}

\delta{z}/\delta{x} = y[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - x^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]

and

\delta{z}/\delta{x} = x[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - y^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]

You got y = x2 and x = y2, and you combined them by adding (or subtracting?) them …

try substituting one into the other instead. :wink:
 
tiny-tim said:
Hi custer! :smile:

(type \partial not \delta for ∂ :wink:)


You got y = x2 and x = y2, and you combined them by adding (or subtracting?) them …

try substituting one into the other instead. :wink:


I think it should be
y[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - x^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]= y(1- x^2) e^{-1/2(x^2+ y^2)}= 0
x[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - y^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]= x(1- y^2)e^{-1/2(x^2+ y^2)}= 0
 
oops!

custer said:
I think it should be
y[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - x^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]= y(1- x^2) e^{-1/2(x^2+ y^2)}= 0
x[e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)} - y^2e^{-1/2(x^2+y^2)}]= x(1- y^2)e^{-1/2(x^2+ y^2)}= 0

oops! you're right, I misread it :redface:

ok … so you have y(1- x2) = 0 and x(1- y2) = 0 …

solve the first equation (there'll be three solutions), and then substitute (each solution into the second equation). :smile:
 

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