Review of Optimization Problems

Computational Steps:
1. Write a primary equation for the quantity that is to be maximized or minimized.
2. If the primary equation is not already expressed in a single independent variable, use
substitution with a secondary equation to modify the primary equation so that it has a single
independent variable.
3. Compute the first derivative of the primary equation.
4. Find the critical numbers of the first derivative. Reject any critical numbers that do not make
sense.
5. Use the Second Derivative Test to determine if the critical number you found will produce the
desired maximum or minimum.

1. An open box is to be made from a square piece of material, 12 inches on a side, by cutting
equal squares from the corners and turning up the sides. Find x, the length of a side of each small
corner square, that will produce a box with maximum volume.
2. Find the length L and width W of a rectangle of maximum area if the perimeter P is 200.
3. A farmer plans to fence a rectangular pasture adjacent to a river. The pasture must contain
360,000 square meters. What dimensions (x = horizontal and y = vertical) would require the least
amount of fencing if no fencing is needed along the river?
4. A box with a square base and an open top is to be constructed with a surface area of 400
square inches. Determine the dimensions (x = length of a side of the base and y = height of the
box) that will produce a maximum volume of the box.
5. A rectangular page is to contain 36 square inches of print. The margins at the top and bottom
1
of the page are to be 1 2 inches, and the margins on the left and right are to be 1 inch. What
should the dimensions of the page be so that the least amount of paper is used?

6. A semicircle in quadrants I and II has the equation 𝑦 = √16 − 𝑥 2 . A rectangle is inscribed in

the semicircle so that the upper two corners touch the semicircle, and the base of the rectangle
lies on the x-axis. Determine the length and width of the rectangle so that its area is a maximum.
Use the First Derivative Test to justify that the dimensions will produce a maximum area.

7. Find the point on the graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 that is closest to the point (9, 0).
8. A cylindrical container with a closed top is to be constructed with a volume of 96π cubic
inches. Determine the dimensions (r = radius and h = height) that will require the least amount of
surface area.
Area of the base = πr2. Lateral area = 2 πrh. Volume = πr2h.
9. At noon, ship A is 50 km due east of ship B. Ship A is sailing west at 15 km per hour and ship
B is sailing south at 12 km per hour. If t = hours, after how many hours will the distance between
the ships be a minimum? Express the answer as a fraction in simplest form.
10. A box is to be constructed such that the base length is 3 times the base width. The material
used to build the top and bottom costs $10/ft2, and the material used to build the sides costs
$6/ft2. If the box must have a volume of 50ft3, determine the dimensions that will minimize the
cost to build the box.