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04 07 032 Optimization Problems
04 07 032 Optimization Problems
04 07 032 Optimization Problems
7, #32
Optimization Problems
A right circular cylinder is inscribed in a cone with height h and base radius r. Find the largest possible
volume of such a cone.1
Volumecylinder = x2 heightcylinder
= x2 (h y)
2
h
= x h x
r
3
x h
= x2 h
r
so
h 3
V (x) = x2 h x
r
Now we compute the derivative, find the critical points and determine if the critical points give a local
maximum or local minimum.
Continued =
Calculus I
Optimization Problems
h 3
V (x) = x2 h x
r
so
3h 2
V (x) = 2xh x
r
3
= xh 2 x
r
so
2
x=0 or x = r
3
6h
V (x) = 2h x
r
and if x = 23 r,
2 6h 2
V r = 2h r
3 r 3
= 2h 4h
= 2
<0
so by the second derivative test, the critical value x = 32 r gives a maximum volume of
2 3
2 2 h 2
V r = r h r
3 3 r 3
4 2 h 8 3
= r h r
9 r 27
12 8
= r2 h r2 h
27 27
4 2
= r h
27
4 2
Thus the maximum volume of a cylinder inscribed in a cone of radius r and height h is 27 r h.