Maxima and Minima

Lagranges Theorem

Theory

Introduction :

Let u = f (x, y, z) be a function of x, y, z.

We wish to find the maxima and the minima on the solid

u = f (x, y, z).

Here we use Lagranges undermined multipliers.

All the first order partial derivatives must be zero.

u
x

That is,

= 0,

u
y

= 0,

u
z

= 0.

Now let, u = f (x, y, z)

(1)

Let the associated restrictions be given by,

f1 (x, y, z) = 0

(2)

f2 (x, y, z) = 0

(3)

Taking the total derivatives of equations (1), (2), (3) we get

f
x

du =

dx +

f
y

dy +

f1
x

dx +

f1
y

dy +

f1
z

f2
x

dx +

f2
y

dy +

f2
z

f
z

=0

(4)

dz

=0

(5)

dz

=0

(6)

dz

Maxima and Minima

Lagranges Theorem

Theory

Multiplying the relation obtained from u always by 1 i.e.

equation (4) and the subsequent
relations equations (5) and (6) by and respectively, and
adding vertically equations to
zero, we get.
f
x

f1
x

f2
x

=0

(7)

f
y

f1
y

f2
y

=0

(8)

f
z

f1
z

f2
z

=0

(9)

and are called Lagranges undetermined multipliers.

Solving equations (7), (8), (9) with the help of equations (1),
(2), (3) we can eliminate and . This will give the stationary
points on u = f (x, y, z).