Absolute extrema of functions of two variables calculator


These lessons are part of a series of free online Calculus Video Lessons.




Share this page to Google Classroom

Related Pages
Derivatives Highlights of Calculus (Part 1)
More Lessons for Calculus
Math Worksheets

Absolute Maximum/Minimum Values of Multivariable Functions - Part 1 of 2
To find absolute max/min values of a continuous function g on a closed bounded set D:

  1. Evaluate f at the critical points of f in D.
  2. Find the extreme values of f on the boundary of D.
  3. Pick the largest and smallest.

Example: Find the absolute maximum and minimum of:

f(x,y) = 3 + xy - x - 2y; D is the closed triangular region with vertices (1,0), (5,0), (1,4).

Absolute Maximum/Minimum Values of Multivariable Functions - Part 2 of 2



Try the free Mathway calculator and problem solver below to practice various math topics. Try the given examples, or type in your own problem and check your answer with the step-by-step explanations.

Absolute extrema of functions of two variables calculator



We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.


Get better grades,
effortlessly.

Forget about deadlines, with top 2% experts across the board. Your high school and college homework assignments are not your problem anymore.

It refers to the most extensive and smallest values of a function. For instance, the highest profit a company can make, the least quantity of cement needed to complete a building, and much more. Knowing how to find absolute extrema of a function is a daunting task to many students. In order to make the process easier for you, we've prepared this calculator - feel free to use it online.

How To Use The Absolute Extrema Calculator

Finding the absolute extrema is very easy with our calculator. All you need to do is to:

  • Identify the critical numbers, and
  • Enter them into the function on the calculator
  • As simple as that, and you have your answer!

However, are you aware that there is a way to find absolute extrema without a calculator?

So first, let us look at some of the comparisons of absolute extrema.

Local vs. Absolute Extrema

An absolute maximum occurs at the x value where the function is the biggest. In contrast, a local maximum occurs at an x value if the function is more prominent than points around it (i.e., an open interval around it).

A local minimum occurs at an x value if the function is smaller than the points around it. In contrast, an absolute minimum occurs at the x value where the function is the smallest (i.e., an open interval around it).

Absolute vs. Relative Extrema

The absolute extrema will refer to the absolute minimums and maximums, while the relative extrema will refer to the relative minimums and maximums. Note that relative extrema do not occur at the endpoints of a domain. Unlike the absolute extrema, they only occur interior to the domain.

Formula For Absolute Extrema Calculator With Interval

For absolute extrema, we should first have a continuous function, f(x), on an interval [a, b]. Therefore, using the function, we can be able to find the absolute extrema in the following steps:

  • First, verify that the function is continuous
  • Then find all the critical points of f(x) that are in the interval [a, b] 
  • Evaluate the function at the critical points derived from step 2 and the endpoints
  • Finally, identify the absolute extrema

You can see that the procedure above does not take much professional writing help. Provided you have the critical points and evaluate them, finding the absolute extrema becomes easy-peasy. 

Now, there are other ways of finding the absolute extrema:

How To Find the Absolute Extrema of the Function on the Closed Interval Calculator

Using this method requires you to compute a derivative. Below is how to go about this process:

  • Identify all critical numbers of f within the interval i.e. f'(x) = 0,
  • Solve for x 
  • Consider only those solutions of x that satisfy a ≤ x ≤ b.
  • Enter the values into the function f(x).
  • Enter the endpoints, a and b, into the function f(x).

The immense value becomes the absolute maximum from the results you get, while the smallest value becomes the absolute minimum. You can use the absolute extrema calculator on interval to arrive at your answer.

How To Find Absolute Extrema on a Graphing

Once you’ve found all the critical numbers of f within the interval [a, b], you can move on to plug the values on your graph paper. Draw the graph to arrive at your absolute minimum and maximum points. 

    

Example:

Find the absolute extrema for:

g (t)=2t3+3t2−12t+4 on [−4,2]

Solution:

g′ (t) =6t2+6t−12=6(t+2) (t−1)

t = −2 and t = 1

Therefore:

g (-2) = 24

g (-4) = -28

g (1) = -3

g (2) = 8

Pay Someone To Do My Math

Are you saying, “I want somebody to do my math homework for me?” We offer professional help with math homework at cheap rates.

Try our expert online service today!

Your input: find the local and global minima and maxima of $$$f=x e^{- x}$$$

Critical Points

$$$\left(x, f \left(x \right)\right)=\left(1,e^{-1}\right)\approx \left(1,0.367879441171442\right)$$$

Global (Absolute) Minima

No global minima.

Global (Absolute) Maxima

$$$\left(x, f \left(x \right)\right)=\left(1,e^{-1}\right)\approx \left(1,0.367879441171442\right)$$$

Local Minima

No local minima.

Local Maxima

$$$\left(x, f \left(x \right)\right)=\left(1,e^{-1}\right)\approx \left(1,0.367879441171442\right)$$$

Graph

For graph, see graphing calculator.

Your Input

Find and classify the critical points of $$$f{\left(x,y \right)} = 2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2$$$.

Solution

The first step is to find all the first-order partial derivatives:

$$$\frac{\partial}{\partial x} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right) = 4 x \left(y - 1\right)$$$ (for steps, see partial derivative calculator).

$$$\frac{\partial}{\partial y} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right) = 2 x^{2} + 3 y^{2} - 4 y$$$ (for steps, see partial derivative calculator).

Next, solve the system $$$\begin{cases} \frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = 0 \\ \frac{\partial f}{\partial y} = 0 \end{cases}$$$, or $$$\begin{cases} 4 x \left(y - 1\right) = 0 \\ 2 x^{2} + 3 y^{2} - 4 y = 0 \end{cases}$$$.

The system has the following real solutions: $$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, 0\right)$$$, $$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, \frac{4}{3}\right)$$$, $$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)$$$, $$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)$$$.

Now, let's try to classify them.

Find all the second-order partial derivatives:

$$$\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right) = 4 \left(y - 1\right)$$$ (for steps, see partial derivative calculator).

$$$\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial y\partial x} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right) = 4 x$$$ (for steps, see partial derivative calculator).

$$$\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial y^{2}} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right) = 6 y - 4$$$ (for steps, see partial derivative calculator).

Define the expression $$$D = \frac{\partial ^{2}f}{\partial x^{2}} \frac{\partial ^{2}f}{\partial y^{2}} - \left(\frac{\partial ^{2}f}{\partial y\partial x}\right)^{2} = - 16 x^{2} + 24 y^{2} - 40 y + 16.$$$

Since $$$D{\left(0,0 \right)} = 16$$$ is greater than $$$0$$$ and $$$\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right)|_{\left(\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, 0\right)\right)} = -4$$$ is less than $$$0$$$, it can be stated that $$$\left(0, 0\right)$$$ is a relative maximum.

Since $$$D{\left(0,\frac{4}{3} \right)} = \frac{16}{3}$$$ is greater than $$$0$$$ and $$$\frac{\partial^{2}}{\partial x^{2}} \left(2 x^{2} y - 2 x^{2} + y^{3} - 2 y^{2} + 2\right)|_{\left(\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, \frac{4}{3}\right)\right)} = \frac{4}{3}$$$ is greater than $$$0$$$, it can be stated that $$$\left(0, \frac{4}{3}\right)$$$ is a relative minimum.

Since $$$D{\left(- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},1 \right)} = -8$$$ is less than $$$0$$$, it can be stated that $$$\left(- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)$$$ is a saddle point.

Since $$$D{\left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},1 \right)} = -8$$$ is less than $$$0$$$, it can be stated that $$$\left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)$$$ is a saddle point.

Answer

$$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, 0\right)$$$A, $$$f{\left(0,0 \right)} = 2$$$A

Relative Minima

$$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(0, \frac{4}{3}\right)\approx \left(0, 1.333333333333333\right)$$$A, $$$f{\left(0,\frac{4}{3} \right)} = \frac{22}{27}\approx 0.814814814814815$$$A

Saddle Points

$$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)\approx \left(-0.707106781186548, 1\right)$$$A, $$$f{\left(- \frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},1 \right)} = 1$$$A

$$$\left(x, y\right) = \left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2}, 1\right)\approx \left(0.707106781186548, 1\right)$$$A, $$$f{\left(\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2},1 \right)} = 1$$$A