The derivatives \(f_x=2x-2\), \(f_y=2y-4\) vanish at \((1,2)\), which lies inside the square, and \(f(1,2)=2\). On the boundary \(f\) takes larger values (for instance \(f(0,2)=3\)), so the absolute minimum is \(2\).
The absolute extrema of a function \(f\) on a closed, bounded region \(D\) are the minimum \(m\) and the maximum \(M\) of the values \(f\) takes on \(D\).
\[m=\min_{D} f,\qquad M=\max_{D} f\]
More practice problems: absolute extrema on a region