Example: One variable. y:= (x-1)*(1-x)*(x-2); extrema(y,{},{x},'cp'); # Compute extreme value of y evalf(%); # Answer in decimal form cp; # Variable cp contains the critical points of y evalf(cp); # Print in decimal form Example: Two variables unassign('x','y'): z:= (1-x)*(2-y)*(1-y)^2; extrema(z,{},{x,y},'cp'); evalf(%); # Print in decimal form cp; # Print the critical points of z evalf(cp); # Print in decimal form Maximize and Minimize Functions These Maple functions find the minima and maxima and omit any other possible critical points. The functions have existed as part of the Maple kernel since Ver 7 of Maple. Examples: minimize(cos(x),x=1..3); # Answer cos(3) maximize(cos(x),x=1..3); # Answer cos(1) minimize(x^2-3*x+y^2+3*y+3, location); # Answer -3/2, {[{x = 3/2, y = -3/2}, -3/2]}