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Definition:
A function f (x, y) has a local maximum at (a, b) if f (x, y) f (a, b) for all (x, y) in
some disk with center (a, b). The number f (a, b) is called a local maximum value.
Similarly, f (x, y) has a local minimum at (a, b) if f (x, y) f (a, b) for all (x, y) in
some disk with center (a, b). The number f (a, b) is called a local minimum value.
A local maximum or minimum is called a local extremum.
A function f (x, y) has an absolute maximum at (a, b) if f (x, y) f (a, b) for all
(x, y) in the domain of f . The number f (a, b) is called an absolute maximum
value. Similarly, f (x, y) has an absolute minimum at (a, b) if f (x, y) f (a, b) for
all (x, y) in the domain of f . The number f (a, b) is called an absolute minimum
value. An absolute maximum or minimum is called an absolute extremum.
Definition: A point (a, b) such that fx (a, b) = fy (a, b) = 0, or one of these partial derivatives
does not exist, is called a critical point of f .
Setting these partial derivatives equal to zero, we have x = 2 and y = 3. Thus, (2, 3) is
the only critical point.
Example: Find all critical points of f (x, y) = 2x2 + y 2 + 2xy + 2x + 2y.
4x + 2y + 2 = 0,
2y + 2x + 2 = 0.
6x2 + y 2 + 10x = 0,
2y(x + 1) = 0.
It follows from the second equation that either x = 1 or y = 0. If x = 1, then the first
equation becomes y 2 4 = 0 and so y = 2. Thus, (1, 2) and (1, 2) are critical points.
If y = 0, then the first equation becomes 6x2 + 10x = 2x(3x + 5) = 0 and so x = 0 or
x = 5/3. Thus, (0, 0) and (0, 5/3) are critical points.
Definition: A critical point (a, b) of f is called a saddle point if every disk centered at (a, b)
contains points (x, y) such that f (a, b) f (x, y) and points such that f (a, b) f (x, y).
Example: Find the local extrema and saddle points of f (x, y) = 3x2 + 8y 3 + 12x 12y 2 + 7.
6(x + 2) = 0,
24y(y 1) = 0.
Since D(2, 0) = 144 < 0, (2, 0) is a saddle point. Since D(2, 1) = 144 > 0 and
fxx (2, 1) = 6 > 0, f (2, 1) = 3 is a local minimum.
Example: Find the local extrema and saddle points of f (x, y) = x3 3xy + y 3 .
3(x2 y) = 0,
3(y 2 x) = 0.
This equation has three roots: x = 0, 1, 1. Thus, there are three critical points (0, 0), (1, 1),
and (1, 1).
The second-order partial derivatives are
Since D(0, 0) = 9 < 0, (0, 0) is a saddle point. Since D(1, 1) = 27 > 0 and fxx (1, 1) = 6 > 0,
f (1, 1) = 1 is a local minimum. Since D(1, 1) = 27 > 0 and fxx (1, 1) = 6 < 0,
f (1, 1) = 5 is a local maximum.
Example: Find the points on the surface z 2 = xy + 1 that are closest to the origin.
The distance from a point (x, y, z) on the surface to the origin is given by
p p
d = x2 + y 2 + z 2 = x2 + y 2 + xy + 1.
2y + x = 2(2x) + x = 3x = 0.
It follows that x = y = 0 and so the points of interest are (0, 0, 1) and (0, 0, 1).
Example: A cardboard box without a lid must have a volume of 23, 328 cm3 . Find the
dimensions that minimize the amount of cardboard used.
The volume of the box is V = xyz = 23, 328 and so z = 23, 328/xy. Thus, the surface area
of the box is given by
46, 656 46, 656
S = xy + 2yz + 2xz = xy + + .
x y
The first-order partial derivatives are
46, 656 46, 656
Sx = y and Sy = x .
x2 y2
Setting these partial derivatives equal to zero, we have y = 46, 656/x2 and so
x4 x3
46, 656
x =x =x 1 = 0.
y2 46, 656 46, 656
Clearly x 6= 0 and so x = 3 46, 656 = 36. Thus, y = 36 and z = 18. The dimensions of the
box with smallest surface area are 36 36 18.
Definition: A closed set in R2 is a set that contains all of its boundary points. A bounded
set in R2 is a set that is contained in some disk.
3. The largest of these values is the absolute maximum and the smallest is the absolute
minimum.
Example: Find the absolute extrema of f (x, y) = 2+2x+2y x2 y 2 on the closed triangular
region T with vertices (0, 0), (0, 4), and (4, 0).
Since f is a polynomial, it is continuous on the closed, bounded set T . The first-order partial
derivatives are
fx (x, y) = 2 2x and fy (x, y) = 2 2y.
Thus, the only critical point in the interior of T is (1, 1) and f (1, 1) = 4.
The boundary of T consists of three line segments L1 , L2 , L3 .
0,4
=4
0,0
1 4,0
On L1 , we have y = 0 and
f (x, 0) = 2 + 2x x2 , 0 x 2.
f (0, y) = 2 + 2y y 2 , 0 y 2.