Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
In a test frame modelled by the unit square
0 < x < 1 ,
0 < y < 1 ,
the potential field is
V (x, y) =
48xy – 32x3 –
24y2
Find the absolute minimum and absolute maximum values of the
potential field on the unit square
and the locations of the points where these absolute
extrema occur.
In general, there are four categories of critical points
to consider:
The potential function is a polynomial function of x and y , which guarantees continuity and differentiability everywhere in the domain. Therefore only the first and last types of critical points need to be investigated in this example.
V (x, y) =
48xy – 32x3 –
24y2 |
Left edge: Bottom edge: Right edge: |
Top edge:
V (x, 1) =
48x – 32x3 – 24
The derivative of this function (with respect to x) is
V ' (x, 1) =
48 – 96x2 =
48(1 – 2x2)
The cubic function therefore has two real, distinct critical
points,
a minimum at
and a maximum at
Only the maximum lies inside the domain.
V (0, 1) = –24 , a local minimum for this edge.
a local maximum for this edge.
V (1, 1) = 48 – 32 – 24 = –8 ,
a local minimum for this edge.
Therefore, for 0 < x < 1 ,
–24 < V (x, 1) < –1.37 .
Therefore, on the boundary, |
V (x, y) =
48xy – 32x3 –
24y2 |
V (x, y) =
48xy – 32x3 –
24y2
y = x
x – 2x2 = 0
x(1 – 2x) = 0
(x, y) = (0, 0) or (0.5, 0.5)
However, (0, 0) is on the boundary.
Therefore the only critical point in the interior is (0.5, 0.5).
This is greater than any value on the boundary.
It must therefore be the absolute maximum (for the unit square
domain).
One may also use the second derivative test to verify that
the point
[Also note that if the domain were all real (x, y), then the only other critical point would be a saddle point at the origin, and that there would be no absolute extrema at all.]
Maple plot of z =
48xy – 32x3 –
24y2,
viewed from θ = 75°, φ = 300°:
–32 < V (x, y)
< +2
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