Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

EXAMPLE

f(x, y) = x 2 + y 2
x
f x (x, y) =
x + y2
2

y
f y (x, y) = 2
x + y2
The partial derivatives exist at all points of the domain of f except at the origin which is
in the domain of f . Thus (0, 0) is a critical point of f

Now fx(x, y) = 0 only if x = 0 and

fy(x, y) = 0 only if y = 0
The only critical point is (0,0) and f(0,0)=0
Since f (x, y) ≥ 0 for all (x, y), f (0, 0) = 0 is the absolute minimum value of f .

Example
2 2
z = f(x, y) = x + y (Paraboloid)
fx (x, y) = 2x, f y (x, y) = 2y
when f x (x, y) = 0, fy (x, y) = 0
we have (0, 0) as critical point.

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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

EXAMPLE
z = g(x, y) = 1− x2 − y2 (Paraboloid)
gx (x, y) = − 2x, gy (x, y) =− 2y
whengx (x, y) =0, gy (x, y) =0
we have (0, 0)as critical point.

EXAMPLE

z = h(x,y)=y −x (Hyperbolic
2 2
paraboloid)
hx (x, y) = − 2x, hy (x, y) = 2y
when hx (x, y) = 0, hy (x, y) = 0
we have (0, 0) as critical point.

EXAMPLE
f(x, y) = x2 + y2
x y
fx = fy =
2 2
x +y x + y2
2

The point (0,0) is critical point of f because the partial derivatives do not both exist. It
is evident geometrically that fx(0,.0) does not exist because the trace of the cone in the
plane y=0 has a corner at the origin.

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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

The fact that fx(0,0) does not exist canalso be seen algebraically by noting
that fx(0,0) canbe interpreted as thederivative with respect to x of the function

f (x, 0) = x2 + 0 = |x| at x = 0.
But |x| is not differentiable at x = 0, so f x(0,0) does not exist. Similarly,
fy(0,0) does not exist. The function f has a relative minimum at the critical
point (0,0).
The Second Partial Derivative Test
Let f be a function of two variables with continuous second order partial derivatives

in some circle centered at a critical point (x0, y 0), and let

2
D = f xx (x0, y0) f yy (x0, y0) − f xy (x0, y0)
(a) If D > 0 and fxx(x 0,y0) > 0 , then f has a
relative minimum at (x 0,y 0).

(b) If D > 0 and fxx (x0,y0) < 0 , then f has a

relative maximumat (x0,y0).
(c) If D < 0 , then f has a saddle point at
(x0,y0).
(d) If D = 0 , then no conclusion can be
drawn.
REMARKS
If a function f of two variables has an absolute extremum (either an absolute maximum
or an absolute minimum) at an interior point of its domain, then this extremum occurs at
a critical point.

EXAMPLE

f(x,y) = 2x2 − 4x + xy2 − 1

fx (x, y) = 4x − 4 + y ,
2
fxx (x, y) = 4
fy (x, y) = 2xy, fyy (x, y) = 2x
fxy (x, y) = fyx (x, y) = 2y

For critical points, we set the first partial derivatives equal to zero. Then
4x − 4 + y = 0
2
(1)
and 2xy = 0 (2)
we have x = 0 or y = 0

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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

x = 0, then from (1), y = ± 2.

y = 0, then from (1), x = 1.
Thus the critical points are (1,0), (0, 2), (0, − 2).
We check the nature of each point.
fxx(1,0) = 4,
fyy (1, 0) = 2,
fxy (1, 0) = 0
2
D= fxx(1, 0).fyy (1, 0) - [fxy (1, 0)]
=8>0
and fxx (1, 0) is positive. Thus f has a relative minimum at (1, 0).
fxx (0, 2) = 4,
fyy (0, 2) = 0,
fxy (0, 2) = 4
D= fxx(0, 2).fyy (0, 2) - [fxy (0, 2)]2
= − 16 < 0.
Therefore, f has a saddle point at (0,2).

fxx(0,−2) = 4,
fyy (0,−2) = 0,
fxy(0,−2) = −4
D= fxx(0, − 2).f yy (0, − 2) - [fxy (0, − 2)]2
= − 16 < 0.
Therefore, f has a saddle point at (0,− 2).
EXAMPLE 2 +y2 +2x)
f(x,y) = e-(x
-(x 2 +y 2+2x)
fx(x, y)=−2 (x+1)e ,
-(x 2+y2+2x)
fy(x, y) = − 2ye
For critical points
fx (x,y) = 0, x + 1 = 0, x =− 1 and
fy (x, y) = 0, y = 0
Hence critical point 2 is −( 1,0).
-(x2+y 2+2x)
fxx(x,y) = [(− 2x − 2) − 2]e
fxx( −1, 0) = - ,2 2
2e 2 − 2]e-(x +y +2x)
fyy (x,y) = [4y
fyy (− 1, 0) = -
-(x2+y 2+2x)
fxy(x,y) = − 2y2e (− 2x − 2)e
fxy (− 1, 0) = 0
2
D = fxx(−1,0) fyy(−1, 0) − f xy (− 1, 0)
= (-2e ) (-2e ) > 0
This shows that f is maximum at (−1, 0).
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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

EXAMPLE
f(x,y) =3 2x4 + y2 − x2 − 2y
fx(x, y) = 8x − 2x, fy (x, y) = 2y − 2
2
fxx (x, y) = 24x 2,− f yy (x,y) = 2,
fxy (x, y) = 0
For critical points
fx(x, y) = 0,
−
2
2x (4x 1) = 0, x = 0,1/2,-1/2
fy (x, y) = 0,
2y − 2 = 0, y=1
Solving above equation we have the critical
 1  1 
points (0,1), − ,1  ,1 .
 2  2 
fxx (0,1) = − 2, fyy (0, 1) = 2,
fxy (0, 1) = 0
2
D = fx(0, 1) fyy (0, 1) − f xy (0, 1)
= (− 2)(2) − 0 = −4 < 0
This shows that (0, 1) is a saddle point.

1  1 
fxx  ,1 = 4, fyy =  ,1 = 2
2  2 
1 
fxy ,1 = 0
2 
1  1  2  1 
D = fxx ,1 fyy ,1  −f xy− ,1
2  2   2 
= (4) (2) − 0 = 8 > 0
1  1 
fxx ,1  = 4 > 0, so f is minimum at  ,1 .
2  2 

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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

Example
Locate all relative extrema and
saddle points of
f (x, y) = 4xy − x4 − y4.
fx(x, y) = 4y − 4x3, fy (x, y) = 4x − 4y3
For critical points
fx (x, y) = 0
4y − 4x3 = 0 (1)
y = x3
fy (x, y) = 0
4x − 4y3 = 0 (2)
x = y3

Solving (1) and (2), we have the

critical points (0,0), (1, 1),(−1, −1).
Now fxx (x, y) = − 12x , fxx (0, 0) = 0
2

fyy (x, y) = − 12y , fyy (0,0) = 0

2

fxy (x, y) = 4, fxy (0, 0) = 4

2
D = fxx (0,0) fy (0,0) − f xy (0,0)
= (0) (0) − (4) = - 16 < 0
2

This shows that (0,0) is0the saddle point.

fxx (x, y) = − 12x , fxx (1,1) = − 12 < 0
2

fyy (x,y) = − 12y , fy (1,1) = − 12

2

fxy (x, y) = 4, fxy (1,1) = 4

2
D = fxx (1,1) fyy (1,1) − f xy (1, 1)
= (− 12) (− 12) − (4) = 128 > 0
2

This shows that f has relative maximum at

(1,1).

fxx (x,y) = −12x , fxx (−1, −1) = − 12 < 0

2

fy (x, y) = − 2y , fy (−1, −1) = − 12

2

1
fxy (x, y) = 4, fxy (− 1, − 1) = 4
2
D=fxx (−1,−1) fyy (−1,−1)−f xy(−1,−1)
= (− 12) (− 12) − (4) = 128 > 0
2

This shows that f has relative maximum

(−1, − 1).
at
Over view of lecture # 15 Book
Calculus by HOWARD ANTON

Topic # Article # Page #

Example 3 836
Graph of f(x,y) 16.9.4 836
The Second Partial Derivative Test 16.9.5 836
Example 5 837

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 Calculus of multi variables (MTH301)

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