15.

4 Constrained Maxima and Minima

Question 1: How do you find the relative extrema of a surface when the values of the
variables are constrained?
Question 2: How do you model an optimization problem with several variables subject
to a constraint?
In an earlier chapter, you learned how to optimize functions developed from
applications. These problems were solved by forming a table. The table helped you to
write the function to be maximized or minimized. The function could be optimized using
the first and second derivatives.
Many of these objective functions may be written as multivariable functions with the
variables constrained. In this section, youll learn how to apply Lagrange multipliers to
solve these types of optimization problems.

Question 1: How do you find the relative extrema of a surface when the values of the
variables are constrained?
In Section 12.3, you learned how to find the relative maximum or relative minimum on a
surface. Now we will find relative maximum and minimum along a specific portion of the
surface defined by a constraint.
Suppose we want to find the relative maximum of the surface f x, y 2 x 2 3x 2 15
subject to x y 4 . This means we want to find points on the surface that are higher
than the other nearby points where the plane x y 4 intersects the surface.
x y 4

z 2 x 2 3x 2 15

Figure 1 - The plane intersects the surface along the path traced
by the black curve.

The relative maximum is found by defining a new function called F in terms of the
surface and the constraint. If there are any relative extrema along the path, they will
occur at critical points of this new function.

Lagrange Multiplier Method

Suppose a surface is given by z f x, y and that the
surface is subject to a constraint g x, y 0 . The relative
extrema of the surface on the portion corresponding to the
constraint is found by following the steps below.
1. Define the function F x, y, f x, y g x, y .
2. Set all first partial derivatives of F x, y, equal to zero,

Fx x, y, 0, Fy x, y, 0, F x, y, 0
3. Find the critical points of F x, y, by solving the resulting
system of equations.
Any relative extrema along the portion of the surface defined
by the constraint is at these critical points. The variable is
called a Lagrange multiplier.

We have a surface f, but not a constraint matching g. To get g, we need to write the
constraint so that zero appears on one side. Subtract 4 from both sides of the constraint
to give

x y 4 0

g x, y

The other side of the constraint is g. Once the constraint is in the proper format, we
apply the steps above to find the relative maximum.

Example 1

Maximize the Constrained Function

Maximize f x, y 2 x 2 3 y 2 15 subject to the constraint g x, y 0
where g x, y x y 4 .
Solution Define the function F using the Lagrange multiplier,
F x, y, 2 x 2 3 y 2 15 x y 4

f x, y

g x, y

2 x 2 3 y 2 15 x y 4
The partial derivatives are
Fx x, y, 4 x
Fy x, y, 6 y
F x, y, x y 4
The critical points are found by solving the system of equations,
4 x 0
6 y 0
x y40

The first and second equation are easy to solve for . Solve each for
and them set them equal to eliminate ,
4x 6 y
x 64 y

Solve for x by dividing both sides by 4

After solving for one of the variables (in this case x), substitute the
resulting equation into the third equation,

6
4

y y40
10
4

Replace x with

6
4

y40

Combine like terms

y4

Add 4 to both sides

y 16
10 1.6

Multiply both sides by

10
4

4
10

and simplify.

Since x 64 y , the corresponding x value is

x 64 1.6 2.4

The critical point is 2.4,1.6 , but we dont know whether this point is a
relative maximum or relative minimum. We can decide this by
examining a table of values for the function.
x

2.4

1.6

f x, y 2 x 2 3 y 2 15

-14

-5

-4.2

-6

-17

In each column, the x and y values satisfy the constraint x y 4 0 .

The function is largest at the critical point so it must correspond to a
relative maximum. If a graph is available, we can also use it to identify
that the critical point is a maximum.

(2.4, 1.6)

In practice, the most difficult part of the Lagrange Multiplier Method is solving the
system of equations. A good strategy is to solve Fx x, y, 0 and Fy x, y, 0 for .
Setting these equations equal to each other eliminates from the system. Then we can
use the resulting relationship in F x, y, 0 to find the critical point.

Example 2

Minimize the Constrained Function

Minimize f x, y x 2 y 2 subject to x 2 y 1 .
Solution The constraint must be written in the form g x, y 0 . If we
move all of the terms to the left hand side, we have
x 2 y 1 0

g x, y

Well find the critical points of

F x, y, x 2 y 2 x 2 y 1

f x, y

g x, y

using the partial derivatives

Fx x, y, 2 x
Fy x, y, 2 y 2
F x, y, x 2 y 1
Set each partial derivative equal to zero and solve the resulting system
for x and y.

2 x 0 2 x
2 y 2 0 y

y 2x

Solve each equation for and

then set equal to each other

x 2 2x 1 0

Substitute y 2 x into the third

equation in the system and solve for x

x 4x 1 0
3 x

1 0
3 x 1
x 13

Using y 2 x , the corresponding y value is y 2 13 or

point is

2
3

. The critical

13 , 32 . To determine whether this is a maximum or a minimum,

lets look at a table of values near the critical point.

x 2 y 1

-3

-1

1
3

-1

2
3

f x, y x 2 y 2

13

The x and y values in the table must be picked in the table so that they
satisfy the constraint. In this case, values of y are picked near

2
3

and

then the constraint is used to find the corresponding y value. The lowest
value of the function occurs at the critical point so 13 is the minimum
value of the function. It occurs at

13 , 32 .
Portion of surface
corresponding to constraint

f x, y x 2 y 2

1
3

2
3

Question 2: How do you model an optimization problem with several variables subject
to a constraint?
In Chapter 12 we developed objective functions for optimization problems. In those
problems, we utilized constraints in the problems to help us identify the function to be
optimized. In this question, we model the optimization problems with several variables
and a constraint. This allows us to apply the Lagrange Multiplier Method to find the
maximum or minimum of the objective function.

Example 3

Minimize Cost of Materials

A farmer is fencing a rectangular area for two equally sized pens. These
pens share a divider that will be constructed from chicken wire costing
$0.60 per foot. The rest of the pen will be built from fencing costing
$1.10 per foot.

All other sides cost $1.10

per foot

Divider cost $0.60 per foot

If the pens should enclose a total of 400 square feet, what overall
dimensions should the pens have to minimize fencing costs?
Solution Identify the variables in the problem. Since the problem asks
us to find the overall dimensions of the pens, define the width of the
enclosure as w and the length as l. These are label on the diagram.

All other sides cost $1.10

per foot

Divider cost $0.60 per foot

Since we know the cost per foot for each side, we will use that
information to write down the cost in terms of l and w,

C l , w 2 1.10l 2 1.10 w
0.6l

cost of left
and right sides

cost of top
and bottom sides

cost of
divider

This simplifies to
C l , w 2.80l 2.20 w

The pens must enclose 400 square feet. In terms of the variables, the
area is lw so we have the constraint
lw 400

In the proper format for the Lagrange Multiplier Method, this becomes
lw 400 0

The Lagrange function is

F l , w, 2.80l 2.2 w lw 400

The partial derivatives of this function are

Fl l , w, 2.8 w
Fw l , w, 2.2 l
F l , w, lw 400
Well find the critical points by solving the system of equations,
2.8 w 0
2.2 l 0
lw 400 0

The first two equations are solved for to yield

2.8 w 0

2.8
w

2.2 l 0

2.2
l

Set the equations equal to each other to eliminate ,

2.8
2.2

w
l

You can solve for either variables, but in this case well solve for l to
give

2.2 w
2.8

Substitute this expression into the third equation and solve for w:

10

 2.2w

w 400 0
2.8

Replace l with

2.2 w2
400
2.8

Isolate w

2.2 w
2.8

2.8
w2 400

2.2
2.8
w 400

2.2

Square root both sides of the equation

w 22.56
Only the positive value makes sense as a dimension of the enclosure.
The corresponding length is found from the constraint lw 400 . Solving
for l and sustituting the width gives

lw 400 l
l

400
w
400
17.73
22.56

A table of values formed from the constraint and objective function

verifies that the critical point is a minimum.
l 400
w
w
C l , w 2.80l 2.20 w

40
10
134

20
20
100

17.73
22.56
99.28

10
40
116

The enclosure that costs the least is approximately 22.56 feet long and
17.73 feet wide and costs $99.28.

Example 4

Maximize Volume
Most airlines charge to check baggage on flights. To avoid these
charges, passengers pack as much as possible into their carry-on bags.
However, airlines also limit the size of these bags. American Airlines

11

limits the linear dimensions (defined as the sum of the length, width and
height) to 45 inches.
A manufacturer wishes to produce a carry-on bag whose linear
dimensions are 45 inches. The shape of the bag is a rectangular solid,
like the one pictured, below whose ends are squares.

What are the dimensions of the bag if its volume is to be as large as

possible?
Solution As in Example 3, start by labeling the dimensions of the bag.
Since the ends are square, the width and height must be the same.
Well use the letter w for both of these dimensions and l for the length of
the bag.

l
w

In terms of these variables, the volume to be maximized is

V l , w l w2

However, we must make sure the the sum of the length, width and
height is 45. This gives the constraint

12

l 2 w 45

Subtract 45 from each side to put the constraint in the proper format,
l 2 w 45 0

We want to maximize V l , w l w2 subject to the constraint

l 2 w 45 0 . The strategy in the Lagrange Multiplier Method indicates

that maximum of the objective function is at the critical point of

F l , w, lw2 l 2 w 45

The partial derivatives are

Fl l , w, w2
Fw l , w, 2lw 2
F l , w, l 2 w 45
The critical points are the solution to the system of equations,

w2 0
2lw 2 0
l 2 w 45 0
Solve each of the first two equations for :

w2 0 w2
2lw 2 0 lw
Set these equation equal to each other to find a relationship for the
variables,

13

 w2 lw
w2 lw 0

Add lw to both sides

w w l 0

Factor w from each term

w 0 or w l

Set each factor to zero and solve for w

A width of zero is certainly not going to maximize the volume. Well

ignore the critical point corresponding to w 0 . Now let w l in the
third equation to find the other critical point,
l 2l 45 0
3l

45 0
3l 45
l 15

Since the constraint indicates that l 2 w 45 , the corresponding with

must be
15 2 w 45
2 w 30
w 15

Lets look at a table to see if this critical point is a maximum.

l 45 2 w

35

25

15

10

15

20

V l , w lw2

875

2500

3375

2000

The largest volume is 3375 cubic inches and occurs when the lenghth,
width and height are all 15 inches.

14

Example 5

Maximize Production
Production in the United States from 1899 through 1922 is described by
the Cobb-Douglas production formula,
Q C , L 1.01C 0.25 L0.75

where C is the number of units of capital and L is the number of unit of

labor. Maximize production if the total amount of capital and labor is 100
units.
Solution In this problem, we want to maximize Q C , L 1.01C 0.25 L0.75
subject to C L 100 . Before we can apply the Lagrange Multiplier
Method, we need to rewrite the constraint as
C L 100 0

We use this constraint to define the function

F C , L, 1.01C 0.25 L0.75 C L 100

The partial derivatives are

FC C , L, 1.01 0.25C 0.75 L0.75

FL C , L, 1.01 0.75C 0.25 L0.25
F C , L, L C 100
The solution to the system

1.01 0.25C 0.75 L0.75 0

1.01 0.75C 0.25 L0.25 0
L C 100 0
gives the critical points of F. Solve the first two equation for to yield

15

1.01 0.25C 0.75 L0.75 0 1.01 0.25C 0.75 L0.75

1.01 0.75C 0.25 L0.25 0 1.01 0.75C 0.25 L0.25

Eliminate by setting the two equations equal to each other,

1.01 0.25C 0.75 L0.75 1.01 0.75C 0.25 L0.25

A few steps of algebra allows us to write L in terms of C:
C 0.75 L0.75 3C 0.25 L0.25
L0.75 3CL0.25
L 3C

Divide each side by 1.01 0.25

Multiply each side by C

0.75

0.25

Multiply each side by L

by adding exponents
by adding exponents

Use this expression in the third equation to eliminate L:

3C C 100 0
4C

100 0

Replace L with 3C
Simplify and solve for C

4C 100
C 25

Since C L 100 , the corresponding value of L is 75.

C

75

50

25

25

50

75

100

Q C , L 1.01C 0.25 L0.75

33.23

50.5

57.56

Based on the table, the critical point at C 25 and L 75 leads to the

highest amount of production at approximately 57.56 units.

16