Theorem Let f be a function with two variables with continuous second order partial derivatives f,x, fyy and fxy at a critical point (a,b). Let D = fyx(a.b) fyy(a,b) - fyy2(a,b) a) If D > 0 and f yx (a,b) > 0, then f has a relative minimum at (a,b). b) If D > 0 and f yx (a,b) < 0, then f has a relative maximum at (a,b). c) IfD <0, then f has a saddle point at (a,b). d) If D = 0, then no conclusion can be drawn. Determine the critical points and locate any relative minima, maxima and saddle points of function f defined by f0%, y) = 2x2 + Qxy + 2y? - 6x Solution to Example 1: Find the first partial derivatives f, and fy. f(X%,y) = 4x + 2y - 6 fy(x,y) = 2x + dyThe critical points satisfy the equations f,(x,y) = 0 and fy(x,y) = 0 simultaneously. Hence. 4x + 2y-6=0 2x + 4y=0 The above system of equations has one solution at the point (2,-1). We now need to find the second order partial derivatives f,x(x,y), fyy(%.y) and fyy(x,y). fax(XY) = 4 fyy(xy) = 4 fylxy) = 2We now need to find D defined above. D = fy(2,-1) fyy(2,-1) ~ fyy?(2,-1) = (4 (4) - 22 = 12 Since D is positive and f,,(2,-1) is also positive, according to the above theorem function f has a local minimum at (2,-1).