# Solving a profit maximization with Cobb-Douglas production function

I'm considering a typical profit-maximization problem:

\label{optimization1} \begin{aligned} & \underset{K,L}{\text{max}} & & P Y - r K - w L \\ \end{aligned}

where $$r$$ is the interest rate and $$w$$ is the wage rate.

The production function can be Cobb-Douglas,

$$Y=AK^{\alpha}L^{\beta}$$

where $$0\leq \alpha \leq 1$$ and $$0\leq \beta \leq 1$$. Or it can be a CES production function.

I would like to find the solution for $$K$$ and $$L$$ in either case of production function.

My code in the case of Cobb-Douglas, for example, is:

Y = A k^a L^b;
PROF = P Y - r k - w L;
z1 = D[PROF, k];
z2 = D[PROF, L];
Simplify[Solve[{z1 == 0, z2 == 0}, {k, L}], {0 <= a <= 1 && 0 <= b <= 1 &&
A > 0 && k > 0 && L > 0 && P > 0 && r > 0 && w > 0 && PROF > 0}]


And I get a very weird solution as follows.

Can anyone help in finding what went wrong? Thanks!

• Why are you so convinced that anything went wrong? However, you have inequality constraints on k and L, so ypu need to solve the full set of KKT conditions. And those can usually only be solved when numerical values for all parameters are given. – Henrik Schumacher Aug 10 '19 at 4:05
• @Henrik: You can sense that the solution is weird once you solve it manually and compare. (In fact, it is easy to find on the internet a note that describes the process of solving this kind of maximization problem.) – ppp Aug 12 '19 at 9:25
• The point is this: You have to make this problem intersting to other users, not me. It is unlikely that users perform long computations before they decide to help you or not. – Henrik Schumacher Aug 12 '19 at 13:11

Y = A k^a L^b;

• It's a bit nicer, imo, if we introduce another parameter c and add the assumption a + b + c == 1 to Simplify. (+1) – Michael E2 Aug 12 '19 at 15:28