Mathematics 55

Exercise 3 - Absolute Extrema and the Method of Lagrange Multipliers

I. Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the absolute extremum values of the following
functions subject to their respective constraint curves/surfaces.

1. f (x, y) = xy 2 , subject to the constraint 2x2 + y 2 = 2.

2. f (x, y) = x2 − x + y 2 , subject to the constraint 2x2 + y 2 = 1.

3. f (x, y) = xy, subject to the constraint x2 + 3y 2 = 6.

4. f (x, y) = xy, subject to the constraint x2 + 2y 2 = 4.

5. f (x, y) = 5x − y + 1, subject to the constraint 10x2 + y 2 = 56.

6. f (x, y) = 25 − x2 − y 2 , subject to the constraint x2 + y 2 − 4y = 0.

7. f (x, y, z) = 10x − 8y + 6z, subject to the constraint x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 50.

8. f (x, y, z) = 3x + 6y + 2z, subject to the constraint 2x2 + 4y 2 + z 2 = 72.

9. f (x, y) = 2x2 + 3y 2 − 4x − 5, subject to the constraint x2 + y 2 = 4.

10. f (x, y, z) = (x − 6)2 + (y + 3)2 + (z + 6)2 , subject to the constraint x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9.

II. Do as indicated.

1. Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the points on the ellipse 2x2 + y 2 = 18
which are closest to and farthest from the point (2, 0).

2. Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the shortest distance from the point
(1, 0, −2) to the plane x + 2y + z = 4.

3. Determine the dimensions of a rectangular box with an open top, having a volume of 32
square feet, which requires the least amount of material for its construction.

4. A circular metal wire with equation x2 + y 2 = 1 is heated so that the temperature at any
point (x, y) on the wire is T (x, y) = x2 − y 2 . Determine the hottest and coldest points on
the wire.

5. Show that the rectangular box with a given surface area S whose volume is maximum is
a cube.

6. Find the absolute extrema of the function f (x, y) = 1 + xy − x − y on the region bounded
by the graphs of y = x2 and y = 4.

7. A company has three factories, each manufacturing Pikachu mascot suits. If factory A
produces x units, factory B produces y units, and factory C produces z units, their total
manufacturing costs are (3x2 + 200) dollars, (y 2 + 400) dollars and (2z 2 + 300) dollars
respectively. If an order of 1100 mascot suits is to be filled, determine how many mascot
suits should each factory make to minimize the company’s total manufacturing cost.

Compiled from sample exams and other exercise sets /jpej