Maxima and Minima of
function of two variables
MATHEMATICS-I (20MA101T)
Engineering Mathematics
Lecture - 5
Maxima and Minima of function of two variables
Dr. Brajesh Kumar Jha
Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics
Definition 1 : LOCAL MAXIMA & LOCAL MAXIMUM VALUE
• A function of two variables has a local maximum at (a, b)
if f(x, y) ≤ f(a, b) when (x, y) is near (a, b).
• This means that f(x, y) ≤ f(a, b) for all points (x, y) in some
disk with center (a, b).
The number f(a, b) is called a local maximum value.
Definition 2 : LOCAL MINIMA & LOCAL MINIMUM VALUE
• If f(x, y) ≥ f(a, b) when (x, y) is near (a, b), then f has a local
minimum at (a, b).
f(a, b) is a local minimum value.
Definition 3 : ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM & MINIMUM
• If the inequalities in Definitions 1 and 2 hold for all points (x,
y) in the domain of f, then f has an absolute maximum (or
absolute minimum) at (a, b).
Theorem 1 : LOCAL MAXIMUM & MINIMUM
• If f has a local maximum or minimum at (a, b) and the first-
order partial derivatives of f exist there, then
• GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION
If the graph of f has a tangent plane at a local maximum or
minimum, then the tangent plane must be horizontal.
Result : CRITICAL POINT
• A point (a, b) is called a critical point (or stationary point) of f
if either:
.
One of these partial derivatives does not exist.
Result : CRITICAL POINTS
• Theorem 1 says that, if f has a local maximum or minimum at
(a, b), then (a, b) is a critical point of f.
• However, as in single-variable calculus, not all critical points
give rise to maxima or minima.
At a critical point, a function could have a local maximum
or a local minimum or neither.
Example 1 : LOCAL MINIMUM
• Let f(x, y) = x2 + y2 – 2x – 6y + 14
• Then, fx(x, y) = 2x – 2
fy(x, y) = 2y – 6
These partial derivatives are equal to 0
when x = 1 and y = 3.
So, the only critical point is (1, 3).
Example 1 : LOCAL MINIMUM (Cont…)
• By completing the square, we find:
f(x, y) = 4 + (x – 1)2 + (y – 3)2
Since (x – 1)2 ≥ 0 and (y – 3)2 ≥ 0, we have
f(x, y) ≥ 4 for all values of x and y.
So, f(1, 3) = 4 is a local minimum.
In fact, it is the absolute minimum of f.
Example 1 : LOCAL MINIMUM (Cont…)
• This can be confirmed geometrically from the graph of f,
which is the elliptic paraboloid with vertex (1, 3, 4).
Example 2 : EXTREME VALUES
• Find the extreme values of f(x, y) = y2 – x2
• Since fx = –2x and fy = –2y, the only critical point is (0, 0).
• Notice that, for points on the x-axis, we have y = 0.
So, f(x, y) = –x2 < 0 (if x ≠ 0).
• For points on the y-axis, we have x = 0.
So, f(x, y) = y2 > 0 (if y ≠ 0).
Example 2 : EXTREME VALUES (Cont…)
• Thus, every disk with center (0, 0) contains points where f
takes positive values as well as points where f takes negative
values.
So, f(0, 0) = 0 can’t be an extreme value for f.
Hence, f has no extreme value.
NOTE 1 : Example 2 illustrates the fact that a function need
not have a maximum or minimum value at a critical point.
MAXIMUM & MINIMUM VALUES
The graph of f is the hyperbolic paraboloid z = y2 – x2.
It has a horizontal tangent plane (z = 0) at the origin.
MAXIMUM & MINIMUM VALUES (Cont…)
• You can see that f(0, 0) = 0 is:
A maximum in the direction of the x-axis.
A minimum in the direction of the y-axis.
SADDLE POINT
• Near the origin, the graph has the shape of a saddle.
So, (0, 0) is called a saddle point of f.
Theorem 2 : SECOND DERIVATIVES TEST
• Suppose that:
The second partial derivatives of f are continuous on a disk
with center (a, b).
fx(a, b) = 0 and fy(a, b) = 0
[that is, (a, b) is a critical point of f].
Theorem 2 : SECOND DERIVATIVES TEST (Cont…)
• Let D = D(a, b) = fxx(a, b) fyy(a, b) – [fxy(a, b)]2
a) If D > 0 and fxx(a, b) > 0, f(a, b) is a local minimum.
b) If D > 0 and fxx(a, b) < 0, f(a, b) is a local maximum.
c) If D < 0, f(a, b) is neither a local maximum nor minimum.
NOTE 2: In case of c
• The point (a, b) is called a saddle point of f.
• The graph of f crosses its tangent plane at (a, b).
SECOND DERIVATIVES TEST (Cont…)
NOTE 3:
If D = 0, the test gives no information:
f could have a local maximum or local minimum at (a, b), or
(a, b) could be a saddle point of f.
SECOND DERIVATIVES TEST (Cont…)
NOTE 4 :
To remember the formula for D, it’s helpful to write it
as a determinant:
f xx f xy
D f xx f yy ( f xy ) 2
f yx f yy
SECOND DERIVATIVES TEST (Summary)
D(a, b) fxx(a, b) Conclusion
0 any inconclusive
_ any saddle
+ + minimum
_ _ maximum
Example : 3
Find the local maximum and minimum values and saddle points of
f(x, y) = x4 + y4 – 4xy + 1
We first locate the critical points:
fx = 4x3 – 4y
fy = 4y3 – 4x
Setting these partial derivatives equal to 0, we obtain:
x3 – y = 0
y3 – x = 0
Example : 3 (Cont…)
To solve these equations, we substitute y = x3 from the first
equation into the second one.
This gives:
0 x x
9
x( x8 1)
x( x 4 1)( x 4 1)
x( x 1)( x 1)( x 1)
2 2 4
So, there are three real roots: x = 0, 1, –1
Example : 3 (Cont…)
• The three critical points are:
(0, 0), (1, 1), (–1, –1)
• Next, we calculate the second partial derivatives and D(x, y):
fxx = 12x2 fxy = – 4 fyy = 12y2
• D(x, y) = fxx fyy – (fxy)2
= 144x2y2 – 16
Example : 3 (Cont…)
• As D(0, 0) = –16 < 0, it follows from case c of the Second
Derivatives Test that the origin is a saddle point.
That is, f has no local maximum or minimum at (0, 0).
• As D(1, 1) = 128 > 0 and fxx(1, 1) = 12 > 0, we see from case
a of the test that f(1, 1) = –1 is a local minimum.
• Similarly, we have D(–1, –1) = 128 > 0 and fxx(–1, –1) = 12 >
0.
So f(–1, –1) = –1 is also a local minimum.
Example : 3 (Cont…)
• The graph of f is shown here.
Example : 4 (unsolved)
Find the local maximum and minimum values of
ANS: critical point : (0,0) local maximum value : 1
Example : 5 (unsolved)
Find and classify the critical points of the function
6x 3
ANS: Critical points : (5,0), (-5,0), (3,4) and (-3,-4)
(5,0) : local minimum
(-5,0) : local maximum
(3,4) : saddle
(-3,-4) : saddle
Practical Example : 6 (unsolved)
Find the shortest distance from the point (1, 0, –2) to the plane x +
2y + z = 4.
Hint : The distance from any point (x, y, z) to the point (1, 0, –2) is:
d ( x 1)2 y 2 ( z 2)2
• However, if (x, y, z) lies on the plane x + 2y + z = 4,
then z = 4 – x – 2y.
• Thus, we have: d ( x 1) 2 y 2 (6 x 2 y ) 2
• Critical point : ( 11
6 3)
, 5
• ANS: 5
6
6
Practical Example : 7 (unsolved)
A rectangular box without a lid is to be made from 12 m2 of
cardboard.
Find the maximum volume of such a box.
Hint: Let the length, width, and height of the box
(in meters) be x, y, and z.
Then, its volume is: V = xyz
Practical Example : 8 (unsolved) (Cont…)
• We can express V as a function of just two variables x and y by using
the fact that the area of the four sides and the bottom of the box is:
2xz + 2yz + xy = 12
• Solving this equation for z, we get:
z = (12 – xy)/[2(x + y)]
12 xy 12 xy x 2 y 2
• So, the expression for V becomes: V xy
2( x y ) 2( x y )
• Critical Point : (2, 2, 1)
• ANS: 4 m3
