Exercise · ZW-SECOND-DERIVATIVE-TEST-009 · ★★★ Advanced

At a critical point of \(f\) we find \(D>0\) and \(f_{xx}<0\). What kind of point is it?

Choose one option.

Show answer
  • B. Local maximum

Explanation

\(D>0\) rules out a saddle and the sign of \(f_{xx}\) decides: negative means downward curvature, that is, a local maximum.

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Review the concept: Second derivative test

The second derivative test classifies a critical point of \(f\) as a minimum, maximum or saddle according to the sign of the discriminant \(D\) and of \(f_{xx}\) at that point.

\[D=f_{xx}f_{yy}-\left(f_{xy}\right)^{2}\]

More practice problems: second derivative test

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