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I am looking for a differentiable function, thats its partial derivatives equals 0 along $|y|=|x|$ I have thought about $u(x,y)=\frac{(x-y)^2(x+y)^2}{2}$ but I am looking for another one

if anyone has a method/tips of "building" functions like that I'd be happy to learn...

Thank you!

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    I know that! :) I am looking for something different if possible2012-11-17

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A source of examples is $u(x,y)=(x^2-y^2)^n$ where $n \ge 2$. Then the $x$ partial is $n(x^2-y^2)^{n-1} \cdot 2x$, which vanishes on $|x|=|y|$, and similarly for the $y$ partial. (Note this was inspired by did's answer.)

EDIT: Actually as did basically suggested, if $W(t)$ satisfies $W'(0)=0$ then the function $u(x,y)=W(x^2-y^2)$ is an example, since on $x^2=y^2$ its partial wrt $x$ say is $W'(x^2-y^2)\cdot 2x$ which is zero provided $x^2=y^2$ since $W'(0)=0$.

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    great! thank everyone2012-11-17
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For any function $U$ such that $U'(0)=0$, $u:(x,y)\mapsto U(x^2-y^2)$.

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    hmm you sure? I cant see why :\ we will need to demand that $U_(x^2-y^2)=0$ ? (derivative of U at ... )2012-11-17