Multivariable Calculus. II.

Maxima and Minima of Functions of Several Variables

Definition. The function f ( x, y ) has a local maximum at the point ( x0 , y 0 ) if

f ( x, y ) f ( x0 , y 0 ) for all points ( x, y ) sufficiently close to ( x0 , y 0 ) , except for ( x0 , y 0 ) itself.
The function f ( x, y ) has a local minimum at the point ( x0 , y 0 ) if f ( x, y ) f ( x0 , y 0 ) for all
points ( x, y ) sufficiently close to ( x0 , y 0 ) , except for ( x0 , y 0 ) itself.
The corresponding value f ( x0 , y 0 ) is called the local maximum value (or local minimum
value, as the case may be) of the function f. The term extremum is used to cover both maxima
and minima.

Theorem 1. If f ( x, y ) has a local maximum or a local minimum at the point ( x0 , y 0 ) , then it is

necessary that
f x ( x0 , y 0 ) 0 and f y ( x0 , y 0 ) 0 .

Definition. A critical point of a smooth function f ( x, y ) is a point ( x0 , y 0 ) at which

f x ( x0 , y 0 ) f y ( x0 , y 0 ) 0 .
Every local extremum of a smooth function must be a critical point. However, not every critical
point is an extremum. A critical point, which is neither a local maximum nor a local minimum, is
called a saddle point.

Theorem 2 (Second-Derivative Test for Local Extrema). Let ( x0 , y 0 ) be a critical point of the
function f ( x, y ) for which f x ( x0 , y 0 ) f y ( x0 , y 0 ) 0 . Let

A f x x ( x0 , y 0 ), B f y y ( x0 , y 0 ), C f x y ( x 0 , y 0 ), D AB C 2 .
(a) If D > 0 and A < 0, then f ( x, y ) has a local maximum at ( x0 , y 0 ) .
(b) If D > 0 and A > 0, then f ( x, y ) has a local minimum at ( x0 , y 0 ) .
(c) If D < 0, then ( x0 , y 0 ) is not a local extremum of f ( x, y ) , but is a saddle point.
(d) If D = 0, the test fails.
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Example. Find the local extrema of the function

f ( x, y ) x 2 2 xy 2 y 2 2 x 2 y .
Solution. First, let us find the critical points.
fx 2x 2 y 2 0 ,
f y 2x 4 y 2 0 .
Solving these two equations, we obtain x 3 and y 2 . Thus (3, 2) is the only critical point.
Now let us apply Theorem 2 in order to test whether this critical point is a local
maximum or a local minimum. We find upon differentiating a second time that
f xx 2, f yy 4, f xy 2 .
Therefore, D AB C 2 f xx f yy f xy 2 4. So we see that D > 0 and A > 0, and thus the point
x 3 , y 2 is a local minimum of f. The local minimum value of f is f (3, 2) 5 .

Applications of Maxima and Minima

Example (Pricing Decision). The Organic Toothpastes Corporation produces toothpaste in two
sizes, 100 milliliter and 150 milliliter. The cost of production for each size tube are 60 and 90,
respectively. The weekly demands x1 and x2 (in thousands) for the two sizes are
x1 3( p2 p1 ),
x2 320 3 p1 5 p2 ,
where p1 and p2 are the prices in cents per tube. Determine the prices p1 and p2 that will
maximize the companys profits.
Solution. The profit obtained from each 100-milliliter tube of toothpaste is ( p1 60) cents and
the profit from each 150-milliliter tube is ( p2 90) cents. Therefore the profit P (in thousands of
cents, because the demands are in thousands) obtained by selling x1 tubes of 100-milliliter size
and x2 tubes of 150-milliliter size is given by

P ( p1 60) x1 ( p2 90) x2 3( p1 60)( p2 p1 ) ( p2 90)(320 3 p1 5 p2 )

3 p12 5 p2 2 6 p1 p2 90 p1 590 p2 28800.
Therefore,
P
P
6 p2 6 p1 90,
6 p1 10 p2 590.
p1
p2
P P
For maximum profit,

0 . That is,
p1 p2
6 p2 6 p1 90 0,
6 p1 10 p2 590 0.
Solving these two equations, we get
p1 110
and
A

p2 125 .

Also,

P
P
P
6, B
10, C
6 . Consequently,
2
2
p1
p2
p1p2
2

D AB C 2 (6)(10) 62 0 .
Since D 0 and A 0 , the prices p1 110 and p2 125 will yield a maximum profit for
the company.
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