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Section Lagrange Multipliers

Worksheet DC-5 Reading

All of the readings for this course come from the OpenStax Calculus Volume 3 textbook, which is available for free online at https://openstax.org/details/books/calculus-volume-3. You can read the textbook online or download a PDF version. The textbook is also available in print from various retailers if you prefer a physical copy.
For this lesson, you should read sections 4.8 Lagrange Multipliers. You should read through the sections carefully, making sure to understand the definitions, examples, and key ideas. You should also work through the exercises at the end of each section to test your understanding and practice applying the concepts. Some of the exercises at the end of the section are assigned in the WP assignments.

Worksheet DC-5 Videos

Lagrange Multipliers

Worksheet DC-5 Written Practice

INFORMATION ABOUT ALL WRITTEN PRACTICE (WP) ASSIGNMENTS:
THE WP ASSIGNMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE QUIZZES AND ASSESSMENTS
  • Work on every problem on every assignment.
  • If you get stuck or do not understand a solution, ask questions.
  • For each problem, try it once or twice before looking at solutions or asking for help.
  • Mark the problems you did correctly on the first try.
  • Highlight problems where you got help (using solutions, videos, a tutor, etc) -These are the problem types that you will need more practice on to be ready for the assessments.
  • Understand that just copying the solutions instead of working through the problems will greatly reduce your chances of success in this class.
Lagrange Multipliers: Complete problems 359, 369, 381
In addition to these problems, on separate paper complete the following exploration. This link Lagrange Multiplier Activity will take you to the exploration. On the right side of the screen, you will be given some instructions and questions to answer. Follow the instructions and write out your answers to each of the questions.

Worksheet DC-5 Sample Outcomes

For the quiz on this outcome you would be given 40 minutes to complete 1 problem. Here are samples of the types of problems you will encounter:

1.

Use Lagrange multipliers to find the maximum and minimum values for the function \(f(x,y)=x^2-y^2\) with the constraint \(x+6y=4\text{.}\)
Hint.
To use Lagrange multipliers, set up the equations \(\nabla f = \lambda \nabla g\) and \(g(x,y) = 0\text{,}\) where \(g(x,y) = x + 6y - 4\text{.}\)
Answer.
The maximum value is \(\frac{16}{37}\) and the minimum value is \(-\frac{16}{37}\text{.}\)
Solution.
Let \(f(x,y) = x^2 - y^2\) and \(g(x,y) = x + 6y - 4\text{.}\) Then,
\(\nabla f = (2x, -2y)\)
\(\nabla g = (1, 6)\)
Setting up the Lagrange multiplier equations:
\(2x = \lambda\)
\(-2y = 6\lambda\)
\(x + 6y = 4\)
From the first equation, we have \(\lambda = 2x\text{.}\) Substituting this into the second equation:
\(-2y = 12x\)
\(y = -6x\)
Substituting this into the third equation:
\(x + 6(-6x) = 4\)
\(x - 36x = 4\)
\(-35x = 4\)
\(x = -\frac{4}{35}\)
Then, \(y = -6(-\frac{4}{35}) = \frac{24}{35}\text{.}\)
The critical point is at \(\left(-\frac{4}{35}, \frac{24}{35}\right)\text{.}\)
Now we can evaluate the function at this critical point:
\(f\left(-\frac{4}{35}, \frac{24}{35}\right) = \left(-\frac{4}{35}\right)^2 - \left(\frac{24}{35}\right)^2 = \frac{16}{1225} - \frac{576}{1225} = -\frac{560}{1225} = -\frac{16}{37}\)
To find the maximum value, we can also evaluate the function at the endpoints of the constraint. The endpoints occur when \(x + 6y = 4\) is satisfied.
When \(y = 0\text{,}\) we have \(x = 4\text{,}\) and \(f(4,0) = 16\text{.}\)
When \(x = 0\text{,}\) we have \(y = \frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}\text{,}\) and \(f(0, \frac{2}{3}) = -\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2 = -\frac{4}{9}\text{.}\)
Comparing the values, we find that the maximum value is \(\frac{16}{37}\) and the minimum value is \(-\frac{16}{37}\text{.}\)

2.

Find the maximum value of the surface \(f(x,y,z)=x+2y+3z\) on the curve of intersection of the plane \(x-y+z=1\) and the cylinder \(x^2+y^2=1\text{.}\)
Hint.
Set up the function and constraints for Lagrange multipliers.
Answer.
The maximum value is \(3 + \sqrt{29}\text{.}\)
Solution.
Let \(f(x,y,z) = x + 2y + 3z\text{,}\) \(g(x,y,z) = x - y + z - 1\text{,}\) and \(h(x,y,z) = x^2 + y^2 - 1\text{.}\) Then,
\(\nabla f = (1, 2, 3)\)
\(\nabla g = (1, -1, 1)\)
\(\nabla h = (2x, 2y, 0)\)
Setting up the Lagrange multiplier equations:
\(1 = \lambda \cdot 1 + \mu \cdot 2x\)
\(2 = \lambda \cdot (-1) + \mu \cdot 2y\)
\(3 = \lambda \cdot 1 + \mu \cdot 0\)
\(x - y + z = 1\)
\(x^2 + y^2 = 1\)
To solve this system, we can express \(\lambda\) from the third equation as \(\lambda = 3\text{.}\) Substituting this into the first two equations gives us:
\(1 = 3 + \mu \cdot 2x\)
\(2 = -3 + \mu \cdot 2y\)
From the first equation, we have \(\mu \cdot 2x = -2\text{,}\) which gives us \(\mu = -\frac{1}{x}\text{.}\) Substituting this into the second equation gives us:
\(2 = -3 - \frac{2y}{x}\)
\(5 = -\frac{2y}{x}\)
\(y = -\frac{5x}{2}\)
Substituting this into the cylinder equation gives us:
\(x^2 + \left(-\frac{5x}{2}\right)^2 = 1\)
\(x^2 + \frac{25x^2}{4} = 1\)
\(\frac{29x^2}{4} = 1\)
\(x^2 = \frac{4}{29}\)
\(x = \pm \frac{2}{\sqrt{29}}\)
Substituting back to find \(y\) and \(z\) for both values of \(x\) gives us \(y = -\frac{5}{2} \cdot \frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} = -\frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}\) and \(z = 1 - x + y = 1 \pm \frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} \pm \frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}\)
So \(z=1 - \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\) and \(z=1 + \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\text{.}\)
Now we can evaluate the function at these points:
\(f\left(\frac{2}{\sqrt{29}}, -\frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}, 1 - \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\right) = \frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} + 2\left(-\frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}\right) + 3\left(1 - \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\right)\)
\(= \frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} - \frac{10}{\sqrt{29}} + 3 - \frac{21}{\sqrt{29}} = 3 - \frac{29}{\sqrt{29}} = 3 - \sqrt{29}\)
\(f\left(-\frac{2}{\sqrt{29}}, \frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}, 1 + \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\right) = -\frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} + 2\left(\frac{5}{\sqrt{29}}\right) + 3\left(1 + \frac{7}{\sqrt{29}}\right)\)
\(= -\frac{2}{\sqrt{29}} + \frac{10}{\sqrt{29}} + 3 + \frac{21}{\sqrt{29}} = 3 + \frac{29}{\sqrt{29}} = 3 + \sqrt{29}\)
Comparing the values, we find that the maximum value is \(3 + \sqrt{29}\) and the minimum value is \(3 - \sqrt{29}\text{.}\)