Calculating critical points and classifying them

In summary, the conversation discusses finding and classifying critical points for a given function. The suggested method is to use the second derivative test, and there may be a better way depending on the specific function.
  • #1
Gekko
71
0

Homework Statement



Find all critical points and classify them


Homework Equations



f(x,y) = sin(x)sin(y)sin(x+y)

0<=x,y<=Pi


The Attempt at a Solution



fx=sinysin(2x+y) and fy=sinxsin(2y+x)

Therefore critical points are at:

x=Pi/3(2n-m) , y=Pi/3(2m-n) where n>=1, m<=2, n,m belong to integer set (Z)

fxx = sin(2x+2y)-sin(2x)
fyy = sin(2x+2y)-sin(2y)
fxy = sin(2x+2y)

Now, to classify the critical points I was simply going to test for:

fxxfyy-fxy^2

If <0 it is a saddle point etc and substitute for x the definitions above to obtain the equation we can use to classify with

Is this correct? Is there a better way? Would greatly appreciate comments. Thanks
 
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  • #2
Yep, that's the second derivative test. So it's definitely correct (assuming you have that "etc" part right in your comment). As for a better way...there might be something intuitive about this function in particular that makes it special. I don't see anything, but I'm not sure. However, in general, the second derivative test is the way to go.
 

Related to Calculating critical points and classifying them

1. What are critical points in a mathematical function?

Critical points are the values where the derivative of a function is equal to zero or does not exist. They are important because they can help determine the behavior of a function, such as whether it has a maximum, minimum, or inflection point.

2. How do you calculate critical points?

To calculate critical points, you need to find the derivative of the function and set it equal to zero. Then, solve for the independent variable. This will give you the x-value of the critical point. To find the y-value, plug in the x-value into the original function.

3. What is the significance of classifying critical points?

Classifying critical points helps us understand the behavior of a function and make predictions about its graph. It also allows us to determine whether a critical point is a maximum, minimum, or inflection point.

4. How do you classify a critical point as a maximum, minimum, or inflection point?

To classify a critical point, you need to look at the behavior of the function around that point. If the derivative changes from positive to negative, the critical point is a local maximum. If the derivative changes from negative to positive, the critical point is a local minimum. If the derivative does not change sign, the critical point is an inflection point.

5. Can a function have multiple critical points?

Yes, a function can have multiple critical points. These points can be classified as local or global, depending on the behavior of the function around them. Local critical points only affect a small portion of the function, while global critical points affect the entire function.

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