# Definiteness of Constrained Quadratics - HELP

• Aug 7th 2012, 08:34 AM
bublemjj
Definiteness of Constrained Quadratics - HELP
I am so stuck with these questions. Great appreciation for any help! Thanks

Determine the definiteness of the following constrained quadratic:
Q(x1,x2) = x12 +2x1x2 - x22 subject to x1 + x2 = 0
• Aug 7th 2012, 08:39 AM
richard1234
Re: Definiteness of Constrained Quadratics - HELP
Don't know what "definiteness" is (in a mathematical sense) but if you replace $x_2$ with $-x_1$ you obtain

$Q(x_1, x_2) = x_1^2 + 2x_1(-x_1) - (-x_1)^2$

$Q(x_1, x_2) = -2x_1^2$.
• Aug 7th 2012, 09:40 AM
tom@ballooncalculus
Re: Definiteness of Constrained Quadratics - HELP
If it's any use, you get a 'no, not positive definite' from testing by plugging the coefficients into the matrix shown in the result at the top of this pdf:

Also,

Positive definiteness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Aug 7th 2012, 09:55 AM
bublemjj
Re: Definiteness of Constrained Quadratics - HELP
Quote:

Originally Posted by tom@ballooncalculus
You get a 'no, not positive definite' from testing by plugging the coefficients into the matrix shown in the result at the top of this pdf: