Math 20 Pure Chapter 3 MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM PROBLEMS

Example: The cost of a ticket to a hockey arena seating 800 people is $3. At
this price every ticket is sold. A survey indicates that if the price is
increased, that attendance will fall by 100 for every $1 increase.
What ticket price results in the greatest revenue? What is the
greatest revenue?
Solution: Step 1: Develop an equation from:

The quantity to be maximized is the total revenue R dollars from the
tickets to be sold.
Let dollars be the increase in ticket price. Then:
( )( )
( )( )

Step 2: Complete the square to find the vertex. (The vertex will
always be either the maximum or minimum point on a quadratic
equation.)

)
(

)
(

Step 3: Interpret what this equation is telling us.
( ) (

) or ( ). This means that when

there is a ticket increase of $2.50, revenue will be maximized at
$3025. Therefore ticket prices should be raised to $5.50 each.


Exercizes:
1. Two numbers have a difference of 8. Find the numbers if their product is a
minimum.




2. The sum of two natural numbers is 12. If their product is a maximum, find
the numbers.




3. The sum of two numbers is 60. Find the numbers if their product is a
maximum.




4. Two numbers have a difference of 20. Find the numbers if the sum of
their squares is a minimum.



5. The sum of two numbers is 16. Find the two numbers if the sum of
their squares is a minimum.

6. The sum of two numbers is 28. Find the two numbers if the sum of
their squares is a minimum.



7. The sum of a number and three times another number is 18. Find the
numbers if their product is a maximum.



8. Two numbers have a difference of 16. Find the numbers if the result
of adding their sum and their product is a minimum.



9. A rectangular lot is bordered on one side by a stream and on the
other three sides by 600m of fencing. Find the dimensions of the lot if
its area is a maximum.





10. A lifeguard marks off a rectangular swimming area at a beach with
200m of rope. What is the greatest area of water she can enclose?



11. Eighty metres of fencing are available to enclose a rectangular play area.
a) What is the maximum area that can be enclosed?
b) What dimensions produce the maximum area?






12. A theatre seats 2000 people and charges $10 per ticket. At this price
all of the tickets can be sold. A survey indicates that that if the ticket
price is increased, the number sold will decrease by 100 for every $1
of increase. What ticket price would result in the greatest revenue?






13. What is the maximum area of a triangle having 15 cm as the sum of its
base and height?










Answer Key: 1. 4 and 4 2. 6 and 6 3. 30 and 30 4. 10 and -10 5. 8 and 8 6. 14 and 14 7. 9 and 3 8. 7 and -9 9. 150m by 300m 10. 5000m
11. a) 400 m b) 20m x 20m 12. $15.00 13. 28.125 cm