<s>[INST] Find min & max of $f(x,y) = x + y + x^2 + y^2$ when $x^2 + y^2 = 1$ Problem: Find the maximum and minimal value of $f(x,y) = x + y + x^2 + y^2$ when $x^2 + y^2 = 1$.
Since $x^2 > x$ (edit $x^2 \geq x$) for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$, $f$ is bowl-ish with a minimal value in the bottom.
This is a critical point which means that we can set partial derivatives of $f$ equal to $0$ and try to solve for $x$ and $y$ 
$\nabla f = (1+2x, 1+2y) = (0,0) \implies (x,y) = (\frac{-1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2})$
So we get the minimal value $f(\frac{-1}{2}, \frac{-1}{2}) = \frac{-1}{2} + \frac{-1}{2} + (\frac{-1}{2})^2 \frac{-1}{2})^2 = -\frac{1}{2}$
But how about the maximal value? How does $x^2 + y^2 = 1$ restrict $f$? 
 [/INST] $$2(x^2+y^2)-(x+y)^2=(x-y)^2\ge0\iff(x+y)^2\le2(x^2+y^2)=?$$
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