Title: 18_3 Stationary Points
Course: HELM Workbooks 2023-2024 > Section: HELM 18: Functions of Several Variables

Stationary points

The calculation of the optimum value of a function of two variables is a common requirement in many areas of engineering, for example in thermodynamics. Unlike the case of a function of one variable we have to use more complicated criteria to distinguish between the various types of stationary point as a greater variety can occur.

This section focuses on stationary points of unconstrained functions.