# Math Help - multivarible extremum point

1. ## multivarible extremum point

Let f(x,y)=((x^(2)y^(2))/(x^(2)+y^(2))), classify the behavior of f near the critical point (0,0).

2. Originally Posted by bobby77
Let f(x,y)=((x^(2)y^(2))/(x^(2)+y^(2))), classify the behavior of f near the critical point (0,0).
I don't know how you are supposed to approach this on your course,
but the following works:

Along the $x \,$ and $y\,$ axes the function is a constant equal to zero. Along
any other ray through the origin we may put $y=\lambda x\,$, when:

$f(x,\lambda x)=\frac{\lambda^2 x^2}{1+\lambda^2}\,$

which has a quadratic like mininum at $x=0\,$.

A surface plot shows what this looks like (see attachment)

(this assumes that we give the function a value of $0\,$ at $x=y=0\,$)

RonL

3. Originally Posted by CaptainBlank
I don't know how you are supposed to approach this on your course,
but the following works:
I think he wants it done through the second partials test.

4. Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker
I think he wants it done through the second partials test.
In this case that will be inconclustve (I think, I haven't checked)

RonL

5. Originally Posted by CaptainBlack
In this case that will be inconclustve (I think, I haven't checked)

RonL

I agree with that, because by different views (planes) the point is both a maximum and minimum. Hence it is neither.

6. Originally Posted by ThePerfectHacker