Definition 1.1.

56 (Saddle Point)
Given the function z = f (x, y), the point (x0 , y0 , f (x0 , y0 )) is a saddle point if
both fx (x0 , y0 ) = 0 and fy (x0 , y0 ) = 0, but f does not have a local extremum at
(x0 , y0 ).

Definition 1.1.57 (Second Derivative Test)

Let z = f (x, y) be a function of two variables for which the first - and second-
order partial derivatives are continuous on some disk containing the point
(x0 , y0 ). Suppose fx (x0 , y0 ) = 0 and fy (x0 , y0 ) = 0. Define the quantity

D = fxx (x0 , y0 )fyy (x0 , y0 ) − (fxy (x0 , y0 ))2 .

1 If D > 0 and fxx (x0 , y0 ) > 0, then f has a local minimum at (x0 , y0 ).
2 If D > 0 and fxx (x0 , y0 ) < 0, then f has a local maximum at (x0 , y0 ).
3 If D < 0, then f has a saddle point at (x0 , y0 ).
4 If D = 0, then the test is inconclusive.
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Figure 9: The second derivative test can often determine whether a function of two
variables has local minima (a), local maxima (b), or a saddle point (c).

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Definition 1.1.58 (Problem-Solving Strategy: Using the Second Deriva-
tive Test for Functions of Two Variables)
Let z = f (x, y) be a function of two variables for which the first - and second-
order partial derivatives are continuous on some disk containing the point
(x0 , y0 ). To apply the second derivative test to find local extrema, use the fol-
lowing steps:
1 Determine the critical points (x0 , y0 ) of the function f where fx (x0 , y0 ) =
fy (x0 , y0 ) = 0. Discard any points where at least one of the partial deriva-
tives does not exist.
2 Calculate the discriminant D = fxx (x0 , y0 )fyy (x0 , y0 ) − (fxy (x0 , y0 ))2 for
each critical point of f .
3 Apply the four cases of the test to determine whether each critical point is
a local maximum, local minimum, or saddle point, or whether the theorem
is inconclusive.

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Example 1.1.59
Find the critical points for each of the following functions, and use the second
derivative test to find the local extrema:
1 f (x, y) = 4x2 + 9y2 + 8x − 36y + 24
2 g(x, y) = 13 x3 + y2 + 2xy − 6x − 3y + 4

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(1)
Step (1) of the problem-solving strategy involves finding the critical
points of f . To do this, we first calculate fx (x, y) and fy (x, y), then set each
of them equal to zero:
fx (x, y) = 8x + 8
fy (x, y) = 18y − 36.
Setting them equal to zero yields the system of equations
8x + 8 = 0 18y − 36 = 0.
The solution to this system is x = −1 and y = 2. Therefore (−1, 2) is a critical
point of f .
Step (2) of the problem-solving strategy involves calculating D. To do this, we
first calculate the second partial derivatives of f :
fxx (x, y) = 8
fxy (x, y) = 0
fyy (x, y) = 18.
Therefore, D = fxx (−1, 2)fyy (−1, 2) − (fxy (−1, 2))2 = (8)(18) − (0)2 = 144.
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Step (3) states to apply the four cases of the test to classify the function’s
behavior at this critical point.
Since D > 0 and fxx (−1, 2) > 0, this corresponds to case 1. Therefore, f has a
local minimum at (−1, 2) as shown in the following figure.

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Figure 10: The function f(x,y) has a local minimum at (-1,2,-16). Note the scale on
the y-axis in this plot is in thousands.

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(2)
For step (1), we first calculate gx (x, y) and gy (x, y), then set each of them
equal to zero:
gx (x, y) = x2 + 2y − 6
gy (x, y) = 2y + 2x − 3.
Setting them equal to zero yields the system of equations
x2 + 2y − 6 = 0
2y + 2x − 3 = 0.
3−2x
To solve this system, first solve the second equation for y. This gives y = 2 .
Substituting this into the first equation gives
x2 + 3 − 2x − 6 = 0
x2 − 2x − 3 = 0
(x − 3)(x + 1) = 0.
Therefore, x = −1 or x = 3. Substituting these values into the equation
y = 3−2x 5 3



2 yields the critical points −1, 2 and 3, − 2 .
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Step 2 involves calculating the second partial derivatives of g:

gxx (x, y) = 2x
gxy (x, y) = 2
gyy (x, y) = 2.

Then, we find a general formula for D:

D(x0 , y0 ) = gxx (x0 , y0 )gyy (x0 , y0 ) − (gxy (x0 , y0 ))2

= (2x0 )(2) − 22
= 4x0 − 4.

Next, we substitute each critical point into this formula:

 
5
D −1, = (2(−1))(2) − (2)2 = −4 − 4 = −8
2
 
3
D 3, − = (2(3))(2) − (2)2 = 12 − 4 = 8.
2

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In step (3), we note that, applying Note to point −1, 25 leads to case 3, which

means that (−1, 52 ) is a saddle point. Applying the theorem to point 3, − 32

leads to case 1 , which means that 3, − 23 corresponds to a local minimum as

shown in the following figure.

Figure 11: The function g(x,y) has a local minimum and a saddle point.
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Example 1.1.60
Use the second derivative test to find the local extrema of the function

f (x, y) = x3 + 2xy − 6x − 4y2 .

Hint
Follow the problem-solving strategy for applying the second derivative test.
Answer
4 1 3 3



3 , 3 is a saddle point, − 2 , − 8 is a local maximum.

Example 1.1.61
Use the second derivative test to find the local extrema of the function

f (x, y) = 2x4 + 2y4 − 8xy + 12

Hint: Solution for x = −y3 are (0, 0), (1, 1) and (−1, −1).
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Lagrange Multipliers

The method of Lagrange multiplier is a very powerful technique enabling us to

maximize or minimize a function that is subject to a constraint. Such kinds of
problems frequently arise in engineering and applied mathematics, eg, design-
ing the dimensions of a box to maximize its volume subject to a certain fixed
amount of building materials (and cost).

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Example 1.1.62
Maximize the function f (x, y, z) = x2 + 2y − z2 subject to the constrains:

g1 (x, y, z) = 2x − y = 0; (37)
g2 (x, y, z) = y + z = 0 (38)

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Define the Lagrangian function

Lf = f − [λ1 g1 + λ2 g2 ]
= x2 + 2y − z2 − λ1 (2x − y) − λ2 (y + z)

and calculate the critical points of h. We form and solve:

Lx = 2x − 2λ1 = 0, So x = λ1 (39)
Ly = 2 + λ1 − λ2 = 0, (40)
1
Lz = −2z − λ2 = 0, So z = − λ2 (41)
2

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 Equation (37) ⇒ 2x − y = 0 ⇒ y = 2x (42)
Equation (39) ⇒ x = λ1 (43)
Equation (42) and (39) ⇒ y = 2x = 2λ1 (44)
Equation (38) ⇒ y + z = 0 ⇒ z = −y (45)
Equation (44) ⇒ z = −2λ1 (46)
1
Equation (41) ⇒ z = − λ2 (47)
2
−λ2
Equation (46) ⇒ −2λ1 =
2
λ2
λ2 = 4λ1 ⇒ λ1 =
(48)
4
Equation(40) and (48) ⇒ 2 + λ1 − λ2 = 0 ⇒ 2 + λ1 − (4λ1 ) = 0
2
λ1 =
  3
2 8
Equation (48) ⇒ λ2 = 4 = (49)
3 3
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 2
Equation (43) ⇒ x = λ1 = (50)
3
4
Equation (44) ⇒ y = 2λ1 = (51)
3
4
Equation (45) ⇒ z = −y = − (52)
3
Thus:
2 8 2 4 4
λ1 = λ2 = x= ; y= ; z=− .
3 3 3 3 3
Our f has a maximum value at 23 , 34 , −4


subject to our constraints. The max-

34
imum value of f will be f 32 , 43 , −4
3 = 3 .

Lf (x, y, z) = x2 + 2y − z2 − λ1 (2x − y) − λ2 (y + z)
 
2 4 −4 4
Lf , , =
3 3 3 3

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