Calculus: Optimisation (Maxima and Minima)

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5. The diagram below shows a rectangular sheet of metal 24 cm by 9 cm.

x cm

x cm

9 cm

24 cm

A square of side x cm is cut from each corner and the metal is then folded along the
broken lines to make an open box with a rectangular base and height x cm.

3
(a) Show that the volume, V cm , of liquid the box can hold is given by

3 2
V = 4x – 66x + 216x

dV
(b) (i) Find dx
2
(ii) Show that any stationary values of V must occur when x – 11x + 18 = 0
2
(iii) Solve the equation x – 11x + 18 = 0

(iv) Explain why there is only one value of x for which V is stationary.

d 2V
2
(c) (i) Find dx

(ii) Hence determine whether the stationary value is a maximum or minimum.

6. An open-topped box has height h cm and a square base of side x cm.

h cm

x cm
x cm
3
The box has capacity V cm . The area of its external surface, consisting of its horizontal
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base and four vertical faces, is A cm

(a) Find expressions for V and A in terms of x and h

(b) It is given that A = 3000.

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V  750x  x .
i) Show that 4
(
dV
0
(ii) Find the positive value of x for which dx , giving your answer in surd
form.

(iii) Hence find the maximum possible value of V, giving your answer in the
form p 10 , where p is an integer.
[You do not need to show that your answer is a maximum.]

7.

2x

The diagram shows an enclosure in the shape of a rectangle with dimensions 2x metres
by y metres joined to an isosceles right-angled triangle with hypotenuse 2x metres. The
enclosure has perimeter P metres and area A square metres.

(a) (i) Express A in terms of x and y.

(ii) Express P in terms of x and y.

(b) It is given that the perimeter of the enclosure is 100 metres.

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(i) Show that A = 100x – (1 + 22)x
 dA
0
Find the value of x for which dx
(ii)

(iii) Show that, when x has this value, the area of the enclosure is a maximum.

(iv) Find this maximum area, giving your answer to the nearest square metre.

8.