saddle point

saddle point [′sad·əl ‚pȯint]

(geology)

col

(mathematics)

A point where all the first partial derivatives of a function vanish but which is not a local maximum or minimum.

For a matrix of real numbers, an element that is both the smallest element of its row and the largest element of its column, or vice versa.

For a two-person, zero-sum game, an element of the payoff matrix that is the smallest element of its row and the largest element of its column, so that the corresponding strategies are optimal for each player, given the strategy chosen by the other player.