Minimum under an equality constraint

Problem

Minimize x2+y2x^2+y^2 subject to x+y=1x+y=1 using a Lagrange multiplier. Report the optimizer, multiplier for L=x2+y2+λ(x+y−1)L=x^2+y^2+\lambda(x+y-1), and minimum value.

Reveal answer or reference solution

Stationarity gives 2x+λ=02x+\lambda=0, 2y+λ=02y+\lambda=0, and x+y=1x+y=1. Hence x=y=1/2x=y=1/2 and λ=−1\lambda=-1. The minimum value is

x2+y2=14+14=12x^2+y^2=\frac14+\frac14=\frac12

The objective is strictly convex and the constraint is affine, so this feasible stationary point is the unique global minimum.

Outcome

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