Scribd
Upload
8 views16 pages

TanApCalcBr10 08 03

This document discusses the concepts of maxima and minima for functions of two variables, distinguishing between relative and absolute extrema. It explains the conditions for identifying critical points and introduces the second derivative test for classifying these points. An example is provided to illustrate the process of finding relative extrema and confirming results through graphical representation.

Uploaded by

cindy.yh321
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views16 pages

TanApCalcBr10 08 03

This document discusses the concepts of maxima and minima for functions of two variables, distinguishing between relative and absolute extrema. It explains the conditions for identifying critical points and introduces the second derivative test for classifying these points. An example is provided to illustrate the process of finding relative extrema and confirming results through graphical representation.

Uploaded by

cindy.yh321
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 16

CALCULUS OF

8 SEVERAL
VARIABLES

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.


8.3 Maxima and Minima of Functions
of Several Variables

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.


Maxima and Minima

3
Maxima and Minima
In this section, we will focus our attention on finding the
extrema of a function of two variables.

As in the case of a function of one variable, we distinguish


between the relative (or local) extrema and the absolute
extrema of a function of two variables.

4
Maxima and Minima
If the inequalities in this last definition hold for all points
(x, y) in the domain of f, then f has an absolute maximum
(or absolute minimum) at (a, b) with absolute maximum
value (or absolute minimum value) f (a, b).

Figure 16 shows the graph of


a function with relative maxima
at (a, b) and (e, g) and a relative
minimum at (c, d).

The relative and absolute extrema


of the function f over the domain D
Figure 16
5
Maxima and Minima
The absolute maximum of f occurs at (e, g), and the
absolute minimum of f occurs at (h, i).

Observe that in the case of a function of one variable, a


relative extremum (relative maximum or relative minimum)
may or may not be an absolute extremum.

Now let’s turn our attention to the study of relative extrema


of a function.

Suppose that a differentiable function f (x, y) of two


variables has a relative maximum (relative minimum) at a
point (a, b) in the domain of f.
6
Maxima and Minima
From Figure 17, it is clear that at the point (a, b) the slopes
of the “tangent lines” to the surface in any direction must
be zero.

(a) f has a relative maximum at (a, b). (b) f has a relative minimum at (a, b).

Figure 17
7
Maxima and Minima
In particular, this implies that both

must be zero.

Lest we be tempted to jump to the conclusion that a


differentiable function f satisfying both the conditions

8
Maxima and Minima
At a point (a, b) must have a relative extremum at the point
(a, b), let’s examine the graph of the function f depicted in
Figure 18.

Here, both

and

The point (a, b, f (a, b)) is called a saddle point.


Figure 18

9
Maxima and Minima
But f has neither a relative maximum nor a relative
minimum at the point (a, b) because some nearby points
are higher and some are lower than the point (a, b, f (a, b)).

The point (a, b, f (a, b)) is called a saddle point.

10
Maxima and Minima
To determine the nature of a critical point of a function
f (x, y) of two variables, we use the second partial
derivatives of f.

The resulting test, which helps us to classify these points, is


called the second derivative test and is incorporated in the
following procedure for finding and classifying the relative
extrema of f.

11
Maxima and Minima

12
Example 1
Find the relative extrema of the function
f (x, y) = x2 + y2
Solution:
We have
fx(x,y) = 2x

fy (x,y) = 2y

To find the critical point (s) of f, we set fx(x,y) = 0 and


fy (x,y) = 0 and solve the resulting system of simultaneous
equations
2x = 0 2y = 0
13
Example 1 – Solution cont’d

Obtaining x = 0, y = 0, or (0, 0), as the sole critical point of f.

Next, we apply the second derivative test to determine the


nature of the critical point (0, 0). We compute

fxx(x,y) = 2 fxy(x,y) = 0 fyy(x,y) = 2

and

D(x,y) = fxx(x,y) fyy(x,y) – f 2xy(x,y)

= (2)(2) – 0

=4 14
Example 1 – Solution cont’d

In particular, D (0, 0) = 4. Since D (0, 0) > 0 and


fxx(0, 0) = 2 > 0, we conclude that f (x, y) has a relative
minimum at the point (0, 0).

The relative minimum value, 0, also happens to be the


absolute minimum of f.

15
Example 1 – Solution cont’d

The graph of the function f, shown in Figure 20, confirms


these results.

The graph of f (x, y) = x2 + y2


Figure 20

16

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy