Physics I / Optimization: Critical Points and Lagrange Multipliers
Practice question · True or false

At any point where fx=0f_x = 0 and fy=0f_y = 0, the function has a local maximum or minimum.

Hints
  1. Consider f(x,y)=x2y2f(x,y) = x^2 - y^2 at the origin.
  2. A saddle satisfies both conditions.
Show the answer

False

Why

False. Both partials vanish at a saddle point too, x2y2x^2 - y^2 at the origin is a minimum along xx and a maximum along yy. Classifying a critical point needs the second-derivative test, and where its discriminant is zero even that is inconclusive.

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