Calculus 8th Edition

Published by Cengage
ISBN 10: 1285740629
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-062-1

Chapter 14 - Partial Derivatives - 14.7 Maximum and Minimum Values - 14.7 Exercises - Page 1008: 14

Answer

Saddle points at $(\dfrac{\pi}{2}+p \pi,0)$, where $p$ is any positive integer.

Work Step by Step

Given: $f(x,y)=y \cos x$ This yields $f_x(x,y)=-y\sin x$ and $f_y(x,y)=\cos x$ gives no values of $x=\dfrac{\pi}{2}+n \pi, y=0$. To solve this problem we will take the help of Second derivative test that suggests the following conditions to determine the local minimum, local maximum and saddle points of $f(x,y)$ or $f(x,y,z)$. i) If $D(p,q)=f_{xx}(p,q)f_{yy}(p,q)-[f_{xy}(p,q)]^2 \gt 0$ and $f_{xx}(p,q)\gt 0$ , then $f(p,q)$ is a local minimum. ii) If $D(p,q)=f_{xx}(p,q)f_{yy}(p,q)-[f_{xy}(p,q)]^2 \gt 0$ and $f_{xx}(p,q)\lt 0$ , then $f(p,q)$ is a local maximum. iii) If $D(p,q)=f_{xx}(p,q)f_{yy}(p,q)-[f_{xy}(p,q)]^2 \lt 0$ , then $f(p,q)$ is a not a local minimum and local maximum or, a saddle point. For $(x,y)=(\dfrac{\pi}{2}+n \pi,0)$, we have $D(\dfrac{\pi}{2}+n \pi,0)=- \sin^2 x \lt 0$ This shows that Saddle points at $(\dfrac{\pi}{2}+p \pi,0)$, where $p$ is any positive integer.
Update this answer!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this answer.

Update this answer

After you claim an answer you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.