# Find points on surface nearest to origin

1. Jan 14, 2010

### ImAnEngineer

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
Find the points on the surface: z²-xy=1 nearest to the origin

2. Relevant equations
f(x,y,z)=z²-xy (?)
g=(0,0,0) (?)

3. The attempt at a solution
grad(f)=(-y, -x, 2z)= lambda (0,0,0) = (0,0,0)
-y=0 => y=0
-x=0 => x=0
2z=0 => z=0

But (x,y,z)=(0,0,0) doesn't satisfy f(0,0,0)=1.

2. Jan 14, 2010

### Dick

No. You want to minimize distance to the origin. Minimize f=x^2+y^2+z^2. Your constraint g is z^2-xy-1.

3. Jan 14, 2010

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
The "f" you are using is the left side of $z^2- xy= 1$, the equation of the surface. But where have you used the function you want to minimize, the distance from the point (x,y,z) to the origin? "g= (0,0,0)" makes no sense because that is a point, not a function!

The function you want to minimize is the distance from (0,0,0). That is $\sqrt{x^2+ y^2+ z^2}$. But because you know distance is always positive, that is the same as minimizing the square of distance, $x^2+ y^2+ z^2$. Your "f" is that: $f(x,y,z)= x^2+ y^2+ z^2$.

The "constraint" you are given is that $g(x,y,z)= z^2- xy= 1$. Geometrically, the shortest line from (0,0,0) to that surface will be perpendicular to that surface. And, if we think of g(x,y,z)= 1 as a "level surface" of the function g(x,y,z), its gradient will be perpendicular to the surface. That is, the shortest distance will be when grad f and grad g are parallel vectors which means one is a multiple of the other: $grad f= \lambda grad g$.

As I said, use $f(x,y,z)= x^2+ y^2+ z^2$ and $g(x,y,z)= x^2- xy$.

4. Jan 14, 2010

### ImAnEngineer

Thanks a lot, I get it now :) !

I get the following system of equations:
2x-ly = 0
2y-lx = 0
z(2+2l) = 0
z²-xy = 1

And when I solve this I get (x,y,z)=(0,0,+/-1).

5. Apr 30, 2011

### Cevris

While searching for finding a solution to my problem, I came across with this thread. It would be nice if someone could explain to me geometrically what kind of vector is the $grad f=(2x,2y,2z)$.
I mean, I can understand that $grad g$ is perpendicular to the surface, but I can't get why $grad f$ and $grad g$ are parallel vectors, since the distance $x^2 + y^2 + z^2$ is already a vector that passes through that point of the surface and the origin.

6. Apr 30, 2011

### Cevris

My mistake... $x^2 +y^2 + z^2$ is actually a number and not a vector.
But I still can get this problem solved.
I have a surface $x^2 + y^2 -z =2$ and I need to find the shortest distance from the origin. The gradient of the distance is $grad(d)=(2x,2y,2z)$ and the gradient of the the surface is $gradf(x,y,z)=(2x,2y,-1)$.

Shouldn't I use lagrange multipliers? But then I have $2x= \lambda 2x$ and $2y= \lambda 2y$ and if $\lambda =1$ then I have only two equations with 3 variables which means infinite solutions.
Could anyone help me out with the solution?

Last edited: Apr 30, 2011
7. Apr 30, 2011

### Dick

There are an infinite number of solutions. The lagrange equations only determine z. What is it? Then you can use the contraint to find x^2+y^2. There are an infinite number of points lying on a circle that are the same distance from the origin. How far?

8. Apr 30, 2011

### Cevris

Oh, yes, so I have $x^2 + y^2=5/2$. So the distance is root(5/2)?

The other case is to have $x=0$ and $y=0$ and I get z=-2 from the equation of the surface. Since the length of the vector (0,0,-2) is 2 then this is the shortest distance from the surface. Is that right?

Last edited: Apr 30, 2011
9. Apr 30, 2011

### Dick

Distance to the origin from (x,y,z) is sqrt(x^2+y^2+z^2), right? And tell me what z is first.

10. Apr 30, 2011

### Cevris

z=-1/2 if I am right since λ=1.

11. Apr 30, 2011

### Dick

Ok, I'm ok with that. But then if x^2+y^2-z=2, what's x^2+y^2?

12. May 1, 2011

### Cevris

My fault... It's 3/2 then :)
Have I dealt with the other case correctly?

13. May 1, 2011

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Think of it this way: the gradient, $\nabla f$ always points in the direction of fastest increase so if you objective is to maximize f, you should move in the direction of f. If your objective is to minimize f, move opposite to f. In either case, move parallel to f.

Here, the objective is to minimize the the distance to (0, 0, 0). The gradient of the square of the distance is <2x, 2y, 2z>= 2<x, y, z>. If you want to maximize distance, move in the direction of <x, y, z>, directly away from <0, 0, 0>. If you want to minimize distance, move in the direction of -<x, y, z>, directly toward <0, 0, 0>. That makes sense!

You keep doing that until there is no "direction" to $\nabla f$- until is is 0 which happens when you are at (0, 0, 0). But if you are restricted to a given surface, you cannot alway move parallel to $\nabla f$. The best you can do look at the projection of $\nabla f$ onto the surface and follow that- if $\nabla f$ is a little to the right of perpendicular, go that way. You can do that until $\nabla f$ does NOT have a "projection" onto the surface- until it is perpendicular to the surface. But if the surface is given by G(x, y, z)= constant, then $\nabla G$ is perpendicular to the surface. That is, you can go no further on that surface toward your maximum of minimum of f(x,y,z) when $\nabla f$ is perpendicular to the surface which means it is in the same direction as $\nabal G$- $\nabla f$ and $\nabla G$ are parallel there which means one is a multiple of the other: [iitex]\nabla f= \lambda\nabla G[/itex].