Lagrange multiplier

Lagrange multiplier
A notional variable introduced to help in finding constrained maxima and minima. Suppose that a function y = f(x, z) has to be maximized subject to the constraint that g(x, z) ≤ k. One approach to this problem is to locate a stationary value of the expression L = f(x, z) − λ[g(x, z) − k]. Where f x denotes ∂f(x, z)/∂x, etc, L takes a stationary value where L x  = L z  = 0; but L x  = f x  − λg x and L z  = f z  − λg z . If the constraint is not binding, λ = 0 and y is maximized...

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