[Math] Determining the critical points of a function subject to a constraint using Lagrange Multipliers

lagrange multipliermultivariable-calculusoptimizationsystems of equations

I'm having trouble figuring out the critical points using the Lagrange Multipliers method for the following exercise:

Using the method of Lagrange multipliers, determine the critical
points of the function $f(x,y) = x^2+24xy+8y^2$ subject to the constraint
$g(x,y) = x^2+y^2−25 = 0$

My work was as follows:

$$F = (x^2+24xy+8y^2) – \lambda(x^2+y^2-25)$$
$$F_x = 2x + 24y -2\lambda x = 0$$
$$F_y = 24x+16y-2\lambda y =0$$
$$F_{\lambda} = -x^2 – y^2 + 25 =0$$

Now, from here, I ran into problems trying to find $x,y$ and $\lambda$. I tried first substituting and solving:

From equation 1:
$$x = \frac{-24y}{(2-2\lambda)}$$
$$\implies y = 24\left(\frac{-24y}{(2-2\lambda)}\right)+16y-2\lambda y=0$$

And ended up with:

$$\left(\frac{-576y}{(2-2\lambda)}\right)+16y-2\lambda y =0$$
$$y\left(\left(\frac{-576}{(2-2\lambda)}\right) + 16 – 2\lambda)\right)=0$$

And.. here's where I get stuck, if this is even the right route. I can get an answer for lambda right now and have $y=0$ as a solution, making $x=0$ one as well, although I'm pretty sure that's wrong as is. Also, I haven't even used the third equation, which is usually where I find $\lambda$ and then subsequently $x,y$. What's going on here? How should I solve this?

Best Answer

I think you can get an answer for $\lambda$ from the equation you have, which gives $\lambda_1 = -8$, $\lambda_2 = 17$. Then if you put it in the equation that you found $x$, only by using the equation $x^2+y^2=25$ you can solve that one.

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