Two independent variables x1 and x2 are related to a third variable t by
x1=a+αt,x2=b+βt,
where a,b,α and β are constants. Let f be a smooth function of x1 and x2, and let F(t)=f(x1,x2). Show, by using the Taylor series for F(t) about t=0, that
f(x1,x2)=f(a,b)+(x1−a)∂x1∂f+(x2−b)∂x2∂f+21((x1−a)2∂x12∂2f+2(x1−a)(x2−b)∂x1∂x2∂2f+(x2−b)2∂x22∂2f)+…
where all derivatives are evaluated at x1=a,x2=b.
Hence show that a stationary point (a,b) of f(x1,x2) is a local minimum if
H11>0,detHij>0
where Hij=∂xi∂xj∂2f is the Hessian matrix evaluated at (a,b).
Find two local minima of
f(x1,x2)=x14−x12+2x1x2+x22