I'm having trouble understanding how to check the second order conditions for my unconstrained maxim

Theresa Archer

Theresa Archer

Answered question

2022-06-21

I'm having trouble understanding how to check the second order conditions for my unconstrained maximization problem.

This is the entire problem: Alicia wants to maximize her grade, which is a function of the time spent studying ( T) and the number of cups of coffee ( C) she drinks. Her grade out of 100 is given by the following function.
G ( T , C ) = 50 + 10 T + 16 C ( T 2 + 2 T C + 2 C 2 )
In the first order conditions, I find the partial derivatives and set them equal to zero. I get the following two equations:

10 2 T 2 C = 0 and 16 2 T 4 c = 0. The first equation was the partial derivative with respect to T and the second equation was the partial derivative with respect to C. Solving these two equations, I find that C = 3 and T = 2.

Now, I need to check the second order conditions. I know that the second partial derivative with respect to both T and C should be negative. This checks out. I get -2 from the first equation (with respect to T) and I get -4 from the second equation (with respect to C). The last thing I need to do with the second order condition is multiply these two together (which yields 8) and then subtract the following:
( δ 2 G δ T δ C ) 2
Please forgive me if this formula isn't displaying correctly. I tried using the laTex equation editor, but I'm not sure if it worked. Anyway, I need to know how to derive this. What is it asking for? I know that this part should be -2 squared, which is 4. Then, 8-4=4, which is positive and tells me that the second order conditions are met.

But where is the -2 coming from? I know within both of the equations, there are a few -2's. But, I'm not sure exactly where this -2 comes from.

Answer & Explanation

Marlee Norman

Marlee Norman

Beginner2022-06-22Added 18 answers

The second-order condition for a maximum of G ( x 1 , , x n ) says that the Hessian matrix
H i j = 2 G x i x j
is negative semidefinite. So for the case of two variables you need the diagonal elements H 11 = 2 G / T 2 and H 22 = 2 G / C 2 to be 0, and the determinant H 11 H 22 H 12 2 0.
Karina Trujillo

Karina Trujillo

Beginner2022-06-23Added 4 answers

Second order equations can always be simplified. In this case the original equation can be rewritten: 84 ( C + T 5 ) 2 ( C 3 ) 2 . So, an absolute maximum of 84 at C=3 and T=2.

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