Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge / 2007 / Paper 2 / Section B / 9

Set $g(x,y)=y-(x-2{)}^2$. The gradient of $g$ never vanishes, so the Lagrange multiplier equations $\nabla f=\lambda \nabla g$ apply at a constrained stationary point. They are $4x=-2\lambda (x-2)$, $2y=\lambda$, and $y=(x-2{)}^2$. Eliminating $\lambda ,y$ givesWith $t=x-2$, this becomes $t^3+t+2=(t+1)(t^2-t+2)=0$. The quadratic factor is $(t-1/2{)}^2+7/4>0$, so the only real possibility is $t=-1$. ThereforeThe level curve through this point is the ellipse $2x^2+y^2=3$, meeting the coordinate axes at $(\pm \sqrt{3/2},0)$ and $(0,\pm \sqrt{3})$. Its tangent line at $(1,1)$ has slope $-2x/y=-2$, equal to the derivative $2(x-2)$ of the constraint parabola there. The two curves are tangent.

The parabola touches this ellipse from outside; every other point on the constraint lies on a larger contour. An exact check of this geometric argument iswith equality only at $x=1$. Thus the point is the unique constrained global minimum.