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Maxima-Minima Analysis for Two Variables

This document discusses finding maxima and minima for functions with two variables. It explains that maxima and minima occur at stationary points where the first partial derivatives are equal to zero. To determine if a stationary point is a maximum or minimum, the second partial derivatives and their product must be evaluated. The signs of the second partial derivatives and their product determine whether the point is a maximum, minimum, or neither.

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Shubham
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128 views2 pages

Maxima-Minima Analysis for Two Variables

This document discusses finding maxima and minima for functions with two variables. It explains that maxima and minima occur at stationary points where the first partial derivatives are equal to zero. To determine if a stationary point is a maximum or minimum, the second partial derivatives and their product must be evaluated. The signs of the second partial derivatives and their product determine whether the point is a maximum, minimum, or neither.

Uploaded by

Shubham
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Maxima-Minima for Two Variables :-

z = f (x, y) where x, y are independent variables while z is


the dependent variable.

z = f(x, y) represent surface in space.

We assume that the surface be smooth, which means


that the first and second order partial derivatives are
continuous. Then a point on the surface is said to be a
stationary point, if z = 0 and z = 0.
y

(Note : maxima or minima occurs at Stationary point)

The solution of these two equations gives the points on


the surface.

Now to test whether these points are maximum or


minimum the second order partial derivative of z w.r.t. x
and w.r.t. y should be determined along with product
derivative.

Let us denote
z
x

and r =

= p and
2z
x 2

z
y

, t=

=q
2z
y 2

, s=

2z
x y

Then, to find whether the points on the surface are maxima or


1

minima proceed to test :


rt s2

Conclusion

>0

<0

Maximum

>0

>0

Minimum

<0

No maximum, no minimum

=0

No conclusion

Points to Remember:
(1) If

z
x

and

z
y

both exist and if there is point on the surface

where there is a maximum or a minimum, then


= 0. But, the converse is not true that is, if

z
x

z
x

= 0,

= 0,
z
y

z
y

= 0,

it does not mean that the point at which this happens is


necessarily a stationary point.
(2) If rt s2 = 0, further we find whether the point is a point
of maximum or a point of minimum.

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