System of equations (multivariable second derivative test)

jonroberts74
Messages
189
Reaction score
0
I am doing critical points and using the second derivative test (multivariable version)

Homework Statement


f(x,y) = (x^2+y^2)e^{x^2-y^2}
Issue I am having is with the system of equations to get the critical points from partial wrt x, wrt y

The Attempt at a Solution


f_{x} = 2xe^{x^2-y^2}+2xe^{x^2-y^2}(x^2+y^2)
f_{y} = 2ye^{x^2-y^2}-2ye^{x^2-y^2}(x^2+y^2)

It is pretty easy to see (0,0) makes both equal to zero

I know +/- 1 = y and x = 0 is a solution as well.

(x^2+y^2) is never negative let alone zero [over the reals]
e^{x^2-y^2} won't be zero, it will get infinitesimally close to zero for values of square of y > square of x

and 2x+2x=0 only when x = 0

and 2y-2y=0 for all real values of y

how do I arrive at y = +/- 1 [ I can see it in the line just above but then I can use any real value for y]
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You should note that you have
\begin{equation*}
\frac{\partial f} {\partial x} = 2x e^{x^2 - y^2}(1 + x^2 + y^2)
\end{equation*}

and similarly for ## \frac{\partial f} {\partial y} ##.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
thank you
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top