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Topics: Global and Local Extrema. Finding Stationary points of f (x, y) and classifying each as local
maximum/minimum or saddle point via discriminant D = fxx fyy − fxy fyx . Lagrange Multiplier
Method. Finding Global Extreme Values.
−1 −1 −1
fxx = 2
+ 2, fxy = fyx = 2
, fyy =
(x + y) (x + y) (x + y)2
At (−1/2, 3/2), we have
and
D = fxx fyy − fxy fyx = 1(−1) − 1 = −2 < 0.
The point (−1/2, 3/2) is a saddle point.
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2. Locate all critical points of f and classify whether they are local (relative) maximum, local
(relative) minimum, and saddle points.
At (0, 0), D(0, 0) = −16 < 0. This says that (0, 0) is a saddle point.
At (1, 1) and (−1, −1), both D(1, 1) = D(−1, −1) > 0, and fxx (1, 1) = f (−1, −1) = 12 >
0. Therefore, both points (1, 1) and (−1, −1) are local minimum.
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3. Let f (x, y) = (2x − x2 )(y 2 − 4y) and S = (x, y) : x2 + y 2 > 4 . Classify all stationary points
(x = 1 or y = 0 or y = 4) and (x = 0 or x = 2 or y = 2)
(0, 0) 6∈ S
(2, 0) 6∈ S
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4. Find the global (absolute) maximum and minimum of f (x, y) = xy − x − 3y on the triangular
region R with vertices (0, 0), (0, 4), and (5, 0).
(Hint: Locate all critical points of f in the interior of the region, and locate points on boundary
where f has local extrema. Lastly compare values of f .)
[Solution] Note that the triangular region R is closed and bounded, and f is continuous. Thus,
the function f has global (absolute) maximum and minimum on this region.
To find the global (absolute) extrema of a function f on a region D, we proceed as follows:
(a) Find all critical points (singular and stationary points) of f in the interior of D.
(b) Find all possible candidate for extreme values of f on the boundary of D.
(c) Compute the value of f at each point obtained in Steps 1 and 2.
The largest value is the global (absolute) maximum value while the smallest value is the
global (absolute) minimum value.
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Step 1. To find critical points (singular and stationary points) of f in the interior of the
triangular region R.
fx = y − 1 and fy = x − 3.
Therefore, there is no singular point and (3, 1) is the only stationary point and it is in the
interior of R the critical point and f (3, 1) = 3 − 3 − 3 = −3.
Step 2. The boundary of the triangular region may be divided into three segments L1 ,L2 and
L3 .
Step 3: From Steps 1 and 2, the absolute (global) maximum is f (0, 0) = 0 and the absolute
(global) minimum is f (0, 4) = −12 in the triangular region.
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5. Use Lagrange Multipliers to find the maximum volume of a rectangular box with three faces
on the positive coordinate planes (i.e., xy-, xz-, yz-planes and x, y, z ≥ 0) and a vertex on the
plane x + y + z = 1.
[Solution] The problem is equivalent to maximizing V (x, y, z) = xyz subject to the constraints:
x + y + z = 1, x ≥ 0, y ≥ 0, and z ≥ 0.
Note that the constrained set is a closed and bounded triangle. Thus global maximum of
V (x, y, z) = xyz exists.
In the interior of the triangle, we shall use the method of Lagrange Multipliers with g (x, y, z) =
x + y + z.
We shall solve for x, y, z and λ such that ∇V = λ∇g and g (x, y, z) = 1. This gives
Vx = λgx
yz =λ − − − − (1)
Vy = λgy xz =λ − − − − (2)
which become
Vz
= λgz
xy =λ − − − − (3)
x+y+z =1 x+y+z =1 − − − − (4)
xyz = λx (5)
xyz = λy (6)
xyz = λz (7)
Thus
λx = λy = λz.
As the points are in the interior of the triangle, we have xyz > 0 so that λ 6= 0 (from (1), (2),
(3)).
Since λ 6= 0, using (1) = (2) = (3), we have x = y = z.
Therefore by Equation (4),
1
x=y=z=
3
1 1 1 1
Hence we conclude that Vmax = V 3, 3, 3 = 27 .
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6. A cardboard box without a lid is to have a volume of 32,000 cm3 . Use the method of Lagrange
multipliers to find the dimensions which minimizes the amount of cardboard used. Here, we
assume that the global minimum exists.
[Solution] Let x, y, and z denote the length, the width and the height respectively of the box.
The problem is equivalent to minimizing A (x, y, z) = xy + 2yz + 2xz subject to the constraint
g (x, y, z) = xyz = 32, 000.
Using the method of Lagrange Multipliers, we solve for x, y, z and λ such that ∇A = λ∇g and
g (x, y, z) = 32, 000. This gives
y + 2z = λyz − − − − (1)
x + 2z = λxz − − − − (2)
2x + 2y = λxy − − − − (3)
xyz = 32, 000 − − − − (4)
Since λ 6= 0 (otherwise x = y = z = 0, which will contradict (4)), we have from (5) and (6),
xy + 2xz = xy + 2yz,
which gives xz = yz. Since z 6= 0 (otherwise V = 0), so x = y. From (6) and (7) we have
which gives xy = 2xz and so y = 2z (since x 6= 0). Thus we have x = y = 2z. Substituting this
into Equation (4) we have
4z 3 = 32, 000
Hence z = 20 and x = y = 40.
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7. Use Lagrange multipliers to discuss how to construct a closed cylindrical metal can with a
given volume V in a way that minimizes the surface area (the amount of metal used). (Assume
that the minimum value exists.)
[Solution] Let r be the radius and h the height and A the surface area of the cylindrical can.
Then
V = πr2 h, and A = 2πr2 + 2πrh.
Our aim is to minimize A = 2πr2 + 2πrh subject to the constraint V = πr2 h, where V is a
given volume. Let g(r, h) = πr2 h.
Using the method of Lagrange Multipliers, we need to look for r > 0, h > 0 and λ such that
∇A = λ∇g and πr2 h = V . This gives
Ar = λgr ; i.e., 4πr + 2πh = λ(2πrh)
Ah = λgh ; i.e., 2πr = λπr2
πr2 h = V
2r + h = λrh − − − − (1)
2
which become r = − − − − (2)
λ
2
πr h =V − − − − (3)
2(2/λ) 4
h= = − − − (4).
2−1 λ
2
2 4 16π
Using (3), we have V = π = 3 .
λ λ λ
r
3 16π
Thus, we have λ = .
V
r r
3 V V
From (2) and (4), we have r = and h = 2 3 .
2π 2π
And, the minimum area
r !2
3 V
A = 6π .
2π
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8. A space probe in the shape of the ellipsoid
4x2 + y 2 + 4z 2 = 16
enters Earth’s atmosphere and its surface begins to heat. After one hour, the temperature at
the point (x, y, z) on the probe’s surface is
2λ
2z = λ (4 + 2zλ) , which gives z = . − − − (5).
1 − λ2
Hence,
4
y= . − − − (6).
1 − λ2
In view of equation 1, we shall proceed to discuss the problem on two cases:
• Case 1 λ = 2
−4 −4
From (5) and (6) we have z = and y = .
3 3
4
Substituting into (4) gives x = ± .
3
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• Case 2 λ 6= 2.
Then x = 0, and, from (4), we have y 2 + 4z 2 = 16.
Substituting (5)and (6) into the above gives
2 2
4 2λ
+4 = 16,
1 − λ2 1 − λ2
which gives
1 + λ2 = (1 − λ2 )2 = 1 − 2λ2 + λ4 .
√
From which, we have λ2 (λ2 − 3) = 0. Hence we have, λ = 0 or λ = ± 3.
λ = 0: x = 0, y = 4, z = 0.
√ √
λ = 3: x = 0, y = −2, z = − 3
√ √
λ = − 3: x = 0, y = −2, z = 3
Comparing values of T :
√ √ √ √
T (0, 4, 0) = 600, T (0, −2, 3) = 600 − 24 3, T (0, −2, − 3) = 600 + 24 3,
4 4 4 2
T (± , − , − ) = 642 .
3 3 3 3
4 4 4
Therefore, the hottest point on the probe’s surface is at (± , − , − ).
3 3 3
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9. (Optional.) Find the point closest to the origin on the line of intersection of the planes y + 2z =
12 and x + y = 6. (Answer: (2, 4, 4))
p
[Solution 1] The distance from a point (x, y, z) to the origin is given by d(x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 .
However, the minimum value of d(x, y) occurs at the same point as the function f (x, y, z) =
x2 + y 2 + z 2 . Therefore, we shall find the minimum value of f (x, y).
Our aim is to minimize f (x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 subject to two constraints y + 2z = 12 and
x + y = 6. Let g(x, y, z) = y + 2z and h(x, y, z) = x + y.
Using the method of Lagrange Multipliers, we need to look for x, y, z, λ and µ such that
∇f = λ∇g + µ∇h , g(x, y, z) = 12, and h(x, y, z) = 6, which are
µ
2x =µ i.e., x = − − − − (1)
2
λ+µ
2y = λ + µ i.e., y = − − − − (2)
2
2z = 2λ i.e., z = λ − − − − (3)
− − − − (4)
y + 2z = 12
x+y =6 − − − − (5)
λ+µ
+ 2λ = 12, i.e., 5λ + µ = 24. − − − −(6)
2
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Substituting (1) & (2) into (5):
µ λ+µ
+ = 6, i.e., λ + 2µ = 12. − − − −(6)
2 2
[Solution 2]
Note that the two planes intersect on a line. From y + 2z = 12 and x + y = 6, we have
1
z = (12 − y) and x = 6 − z. Thus, the equation of the line is
2
1
x = 6 − t, y = t, z = (12 − t) .
2
Note that the composite function f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) is a single variable function.
2
2 2 1
f (x(t), y(t), z(t)) = (6 − t) + t + (12 − t) = 72 − 18t + 9t2 /4.
2
df d2 f
We have = −18 + 9t/2, and 2 = 9/2, which is concave upward.
dt dt
df
We find the values of t at which = 0, which gives t = 4. Hence we have x = 2, y = 4, andz =
dt
4.
df
Alternatively, we may use chain rule to find t at which = 0, as follows,
dt
df ∂f dx ∂f dy ∂f dz
= + +
dt ∂x dt ∂y dt ∂z dt
df 1
i.e., = 2x(−1) + 2y(1) + 2z(−1/2) = −2(6 − t) + 2(t) − (12 − t) = −18 + 9t/2.
dt 2
df
Thus, = 0, gives t = 4. Hence x = 2, y = 4 and z = 4.
dt
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