Vector Calculus Independent Study Path

Unit 4: Maximization and Minimization

• How to find the critical points of a scalar valued function.
• How to use Lagrange multipliers to solve constrained min/max problems.
• How to use the Hessian matrix to determine if critical points are local max, local min, or saddle points.

Suggested Procedure

• Read and do some problems from
  • Rogers Chapters 12 and 13,
  • Marsden and Tromba 3rd edition chapter 4,
  • Marsden and Tromba 4th edition chapter 3, or
  • Simmons, sections 19.7 and 19.8.
  • World Web Math pages regarding
    • The critical point test,
    • The Hessian,
    • Constrained min/max,
    • Lagrange multipliers, and
    • Graphing with Min/Max.
• Take the Sample Test, Xdvi or PDF.
• Take a unit test.