Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

Q 1 : Find the minimum distance of any point from the origin

on the plane :
x + 2y + 3z = 14
Solution:
Let d =

x2 y2 z2

be the distance of any point from the origin.

(If a quantity is maximum or minimum, then its square or

square root is maximum or minimum.)
Let u = x2 + y2 +z2

(1)

with x + 2y + 3z = 14

(2)

Taking the total derivatives of equations (1) and (2)

du = 2x dx + 2y dy + 2 z dz
and dx + 2dy + 3 dz = 0
For stationary values du = 0

x dx + y dy + z dz = 0

(3)

dx + 2dy + 3 dz = 0

(4)

Equations (3) and (4) are identities. Multiplying equation (3)

by 1 and equation (4) by and adding vertically, equating the
coefficients of dx, dy, dz to zero, we get
1

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

x + = 0 or = x
y + 2 = 0 or =

y
2

z + 3 = 0 or =

z
3

Eliminating we get
x
1

y
2

z
3

Looking at the relation (2), use multipliers 1, 2, 3 to get

=

x 2y 3 z
12 2 2 3 2

x
1

= 1,

x = 1 , y = 2, z = 3

The stationary value is given by (1, 2, 3).

y
2

14
14

= 1,

z
3

= 1 from equation (2)

=1

Therefore the minimum distance is

d =

x2 y2 z2

12 2 2 3 2

14

units

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

Q 2 : Find the maximum and minimum distance of the point

(3, 4, 12) from the sphere
x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1
Solution:

The distance of any point (x, y, z) on the surface of sphere

from the point (3, 4, 12) is given by,
d=

(x 3)2 (y 4 )2 (z 12)2

Let u = (x 3)2+ (y 4)2 + (z 12)2

(1)

with x2 + y2 + z2 = 1

(2)

For maxima and minima, du = 0

Taking the total derivatives of equations (1) and (2).
du = 2 (x 3) dx + 2 (y 4) dy + 2 (z 12) dz = 0

du = (x 3) dx + (y 4) dy + (z 12) = 0

(3)

also 2x dx + 2y dy + 2z dz = 0
or

x dx + y dy + z dz

=0

(4)

Multiplying equation (3), by 1, equation (4) by and adding

3

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

vertically equating to zero the coefficients of dx, dy, dz we get

(x 3) + x = 0 or (1 + ) x 3 = 0

1 + = 3 or
x

1
1

x
3

(y 4) + y = 0

similarly,
gives 1 = y
1

(z 12) + z = 0 gives

and

Eliminating

1
1

x
3

z
12

y
4

1
1

z
12

we get

using the relation (2), and the multipliers x, y, z we get

x
3

= y=z =

Also, d

12

x2 y2 z2
3 2 4 2 12 2

1
13

x=

3
13

, y =

4
13

,z=

12
13

(x 3)2 x 4 )2 z(z 12)2

For x =

3
13

i.e. d =

3
4
12
( 3)2 ( 4 )2 ( 12)2
13
13
13

,y=

4
13

,z=

12
13

Maxima and Minima

=
=

Problems on 3 variables

2
2
2 2
1 {3 4 1 }
13

12
13

. 13 = 12

and for x= 3 , y = 4 , z =
13

d=
=

Solved Problems

13

12
13

3
4

12

3
4
12

13
13

13

1 {3 2 4 2 12 2 }

13

14
13

. 13

= 14

Q 3 : Find the least distance from the origin of any point on

the surface
z2 = 1 + xy from origin by using Lagranges method.
Solution :
Let
with

d=

x2 y2 z2

Let u = x2 + y2 + z2

(1)

z2 1 xy = 0

(2)

For maximum or minimum, we have du = 0.

Taking the total derivatives of equations (2) and (3).
5

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

du = 2x dx + 2y dy + 2z dz = 0
or

x dx + y dy + z dz = 0

(3)

y dx x dy + 2z dz = 0
or

y dx + x dy 2z dz = 0

(4)

Multiply equation (3) by 1 and equation (5) by and add

vertically equating to zero the coefficients of dz, dy, dz to get
x + y = 0 or =

x
y

y + x = 0 or =

y
x

z 2 z = 0 or z (1 2) = 0

z 0, =

x
y

1
2

1
2

or 2x = y or 2x y = 0

also, y =

1
2

or 2y = x or 2y x = 0

This is possible only if x = 0, y = 0.

From z2 = 1 + xy, z2 = 1 or z = 1

Thus the point of minimum are (0, 0, 1)

The least distance is given from equation (1)
d=

0 0 1

= 1 unit

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

Q 4 : Divide the number 12 into three parts such that the sum
of their products taken two at a time will be maximum.
Solution.:
Let the three parts of the number 12 be x, y, z so that
x + y + z = 12
We want the maximum of
u = yz + zx + xy

(1)

with x + y+ z = 12

(2)

Taking the total derivatives of equation (1) and equation

(2)
du = (z +y) dx + (z +x) dy + (y + x) dy
for maximum du = 0

(y +z) dx + (z +x) dy + (x +y) dz = 0 (3)

and dx + dy + dz = 0

(4)

Multiply equation (3) by 1, equation (4) by and add vertically

to get
equation to zero the coefficients of dx, dy, dz to get
y + z + = 0 or = y + z
z +x+ = 0 or = y + x
7

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

x +y+ = 0 or = x + y
Eliminating we get
y+z=z+x=x+y
or

yz
1

zx
1

x y
1

Using constant relation

yzzx x y
1 1 1

2
3

2(x y z )
3

(12) = 8

y + z = 8, z + x = 8, x + y = 8

Solving we get x = y = z = 4

5) Find the numbers x, y,z such that x + y + z = 48 and xyz is

minimum.
Solution:- Let f (x, y, z) = xyz
g(x, y, z) = x+ y + z 48
write (, , ) = f (x, y, z) + g(x, y, z)
= xyz + ( x+ y + z 48)
8

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

= 0 yz + = 0 (1)
= 0 xz + = 0 (2)
= 0 xy + = 0 (3)
also g(x, y, z) = 0 + + =
()
()
()
()

=1 =
=1 =

x=y=z
(4) + + = 48
3x = 48
x = 16 = y = z
f is max at x = y = z = 16
= ()

()

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

6) If f(x, y, z) =
g(x, y, z) = x + y + z 9
Find extreme values of x subject to given condition.
Solution:- = 0 + = 0 (1)
= 0 + = 0 (2)
= 0 + = 0 (3)
()
()

= =

()
()

= =

(4) +

+ +

=9

=9

10

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

++

llly =

++

z = ++

= ++++

7) Show that stationary value of

f(x,y,z) = + +

g(x, y, z) = +

-1

ax = by = cz = a + b + c
Solution:- Let f(x, y, z) = + +

g(x, y, z) = +

(, , ) = f(x,y,z) + g(x, y, z)

= + + + { +

11

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

= 0

g=0

()

()

()
()

=0

=0

(2)

=0

(3)

=1

(4)

ax = by
=

by = cz
= =

(4)

++

(1)

=1

12

Solved Problems

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

a + b +c = ax = by = cz

8) Find dimension of rectangular paralellopiped of maximum

volume p whose sides are parallel to co-ordinate axes and
which can be inscribed in ellipsoid.
Solution:- f(x, y, z) = (2x) (2y) (2z) = 8xyz

g(x, y, z) = +

=1

(,,) = f(x, y, z) + g(x, y, z)

= 8xyz + { +

= 0
g=0

= 0 +
= 0 +

=0

(1)

=0

(2)

=0

(3)

13

=1

Maxima and Minima

()
()

()

(4)

Solved Problems

()

Problems on 3 variables

x =

similarly

y =

z =

9) Find the points on the sphere + + = farthest

from the point(2, 1, 2).
Solution:- Let x, y, z be the farthest point from (2, 1, 2)
14

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

Solved Problems

f(x, y, z) = ( ) + ( ) + ( )
g(x, y, z) = + +
(,,) = (, , ) + (, , )
= ( ) + ( ) + ( ) + ( + +
)
= 0 ( ) + = 0

(1)

= 0 ( ) + =
= 0 ( ) + = 0
g=0
()
()

()
()

+ + =

xy - 2y = xy x

x = 2y

15

(2)
(3)
(4)

Maxima and Minima

Problems on 3 variables

=
z = 2y
x = 2y = z
(4)

+ () + =

9 =

y==
z=

={ ,

which is farthest from point(2, 1, 2)

16

Solved Problems