Lagrange Multipliers: Find Max of 8x2 + 4yz - 16z + 600

nhartung
Messages
56
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Assume that the surface temperature distribution of an ellipsoid shaped object given by 4x2 + y2 + 4z2 = 16 is T(x,y,z) = 8x2 + 4yz - 16z + 600.

Homework Equations


The Attempt at a Solution


I'm assuming we just have to find the maximum value of this function using the lagrange method.

I started by writing the equation like this:

8x2 + 4yz -16z + 600 - 4x2\lambda - y2\lambda - 4z2\lambda + 16\lambda.

Then I found the 4 partials and set them to 0:

fx = 16x - 8x\lambda = 0
fy = 4z - 2y\lambda = 0
fz = 4y - 16 - 8z\lambda = 0
f\lambda = -4x2 - y2 - 4z2 + 16 = 0

My problem comes next when I try to solve this system of equations.
When I solve them I get:
x = 1 (or 0?)
y = z = -(4/3)
\lambda = 2

These don't check out.

Does it looks like I'm going about this problem correctly? If so what am I doing wrong when solving the system of equations?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
ah nevermind it checks if I use x = 0.
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
Back
Top