Lagrange multiplier

A Lagrangian multiplier is a constant, usually represented by the Greek symbol lambda (λ), which is part of the formula for finding an extreme value of a function f(x,y) subject to a constraint g(x,y). For example, the method of Lagrange multipliers can help determine the maximum area of a rectangle that can be fit inside a given circle represented by g(x,y) = x² + y².