1. ## critcal points

find all the critical points of the function

f(x,y) = (x-2y)e^(x^2-y^2)

and classify them as local maxima, local minima or saddle points.

How is this differentiated?

2. Originally Posted by manalive04
find all the critical points of the function

f(x,y) = (x-2y)e^(x^2-y^2)

and classify them as local maxima, local minima or saddle points.

How is this differentiated?
You need to find where $\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x},\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\right) = 0$

To find $\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}$ differentiate $f(x,y)$ with respect to x holding y constant

To find $\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ differentiate $f(x,y)$ with respect to y holding x constant

3. Originally Posted by pickslides
You need to find where $\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x},\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\right) = 0$

To find $\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}$ differentiate $f(x,y)$ with respect to x holding y constant

To find $\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ differentiate $f(x,y)$ with respect to y holding x constant

Can you please explain this further - how is it differentiated i cant work it out

4. You need to use the product rule it is... $f = uv \Rightarrow f'=uv'+vu'$

Differentiating with respect to x (finding $\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}$ ) make

$u = x-2y \Rightarrow u' = 1$

$v = e^{x^2-y^2} \Rightarrow v' = 2x\times e^{x^2-y^2}$

Now apply $f = uv \Rightarrow f'=uv'+vu'$

After this you need to differentiate for y. (finding $\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}$ )

Then solve for $\left(\frac{\partial f}{\partial x},\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\right) = 0$