Exercise · ZW-LAGRANGE-MULTIPLIERS-001 · ★☆☆ Basic

Find the maximum value of \(f(x,y)=x+y\) on the circle \(x^2+y^2=2\).

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  • C. 2

Explanation

From \(1=2\lambda x\) and \(1=2\lambda y\) we get \(x=y\); then \(2x^2=2\) and the points are \((1,1)\) and \((-1,-1)\). The maximum is \(f(1,1)=2\).

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Review the concept: Lagrange multipliers

The method of Lagrange multipliers finds the extrema of a function \(f\) on the curve \(g=k\) among the points where the gradient of \(f\) is a multiple \(\lambda\) of the gradient of \(g\).

\[\nabla f=\lambda\,\nabla g,\qquad g=k\]

More practice problems: lagrange multipliers

ZW-LAGRANGE-MULTIPLIERS-002 →