Introduction:

A cake tin manufacturer will be producing cake tins of various sizes ranging from “tiny” to “gigantic”. The materials
used to make the cake tins are square and rectangular tin plates. The manufacturer is assumed to have different
lengths for each type of tin plate. Under all circumstances, they want to maximize the volume of each cake tin so
that the materials can be used most efficiently, resulting in less wastage for the manufacturer. Differential calculus
and the quadratic theory are two methods that can be used to optimize the volume of the cake tin. Furthermore,
optimization is a section of differential calculus that finds the maximum and minimum values of a function at an
interval (Paul's Online Notes, 2022). Hence, this method will also be applied to calculations. This investigation has
two parts dedicated to finding the maximum volume, one for the square tinplate and the other for the rectangular
tinplate. In order to find the maximum volume, functions will be developed for each shape and the derivative of
those functions will be found. The derivative of a function shows the function’s instantaneous rate of change at
any desired point (Khan Academy n.d.). The method to find the derivative of the function will be discussed further
in the investigation. After derivatives are found, optimization will be used to find the maximum values of the
derivative function. From the calculations, conjectures will be made and proven. The manufacturer can then apply
the conjectures in their decision-making and production process. In addition, there is a third part to this report
where knowledge from the previous two parts will be utilized to provide someone advice on the dimensions of a
cake tin that they will be using. All the answers will be kept to appropriate significant figures.

Mathematical Investigation:

Part A

The first part of this investigation involves a square piece of tinplate with side lengths l cm as shown below:

l cm

x cm

l cm
The x cm in the diagram above illustrates the side length of the four squares on the corners of the tinplate. The
four squares will be cut out to form an open-top cake tin. Note that the tinplate is the structure before cutting the
squares out and the open cake tin is the structure after the four squares have been cut out. The open-top cake tin
looks like the one below:

To find the maximum volume of the cake tin that will be formed, first, the length will be assumed to be 5 cm.
When the length is 5 cm, the height of the cake tin is unknown and hence is x cm. When the length of the tinplate
is 5 cm and the squares have been cut out, 2 x cm is cut from each length of the tinplate. As a result, the length of
the cake tin will be 5-2 x cm. Since the shape is a cube, the width and length are the same.

height =x cm

The volume of a cube is length × width×height . In this situation, the height is x cm and the length is 5-2 x cm.

From the measurements, the volume of the cake tin is:

V =x ( 5−2 x ) (5−2 x )
2
V =x (5−2 x)
2
V =x (25−20 x +4 x )
2 3 3
V =25 x−20 x +4 x cm
This is the function for the volume of a square based open-top cake tin. The next step is to find the derivative of
this function. The derivative of a function gives the slope of the line tangent to the function’s graph at a desired
point (Khan Academy n.d.). By finding the derivative, the gradient function can be found. It can be calculated by
using one of the derivative rules called the power rule. The power rule states that:
n ' n−1
If f ( x )=x , then f ( x )=n x
In this case, V is f ( x ) and so, the derivative can be arranged by multiplying each x ’s exponents by the coefficient
and subtracting one from each x ’s exponent values. This is easier to understand when calculated as follows:
' 0 2
V ( x ) =( 1 ) 25 x −( 2 ) 20 x+ ( 3 ) 4 x

V ' ( x ) =12 x 2−40 x +25

Now, the derivative function is known. As mentioned earlier, the derivative function will provide the slope of the
line tangent to the function’s graph at any point. In this problem, the maximum and minimum values of x need to
be found. At a function’s maximum and minimum values, the slope of the tangent to that function’s graph is 0. As a
result, since the derivative is the gradient function, it has to equate to zero. After equating there should be two
values for x , one is the maximum and the other is the minimum:
2
12 x −40 x+ 25=0

( x− 52 )( x− 56 )=0
5 5
∴ x= ∨
2 6
 5 5
The maximum and minimum values for x when the length of the square tinplate is 5 cm are cm and cm.
2 6
While the values are known, which is the maximum and which is the minimum is still unknown. To find that out,
the graph of the function V ( x ) can be drawn as follows:

From the graph, the maximum and minimum points

5 5
can be clearly seen. For the x values of cm and
2 6
cm, the volume of the cake tin is at its maximum
and minimum respectively. Furthermore, the x
5
value of cm results in the maximum volume of
6
the cake tin. In other words, this value is the
5
maximum while cm is the minimum. Hence, the
2
maximum value of x whenl , the length of the

Since the manufacturer has different sizes of square tin plates, it can be assumed that they have different lengths
of 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, and 7 cm. When the same method and calculations are applied for the different lengths, their
maximum values of x are obtained:

When l = 3 cm, When l=4 cm , When l=6 cm,

2 2 2
V ( x )=x ( 3−2 x ) V ( x )=x ( 4−2 x ) V ( x )=x ( 6−2 x )
3 2 3 2 3 2
V ( x )=4 x −12 x +9 x V ( x )=4 x −16 x +16 x V ( x )=4 x −24 x +36 x
' 2 ' 2 ' 2
V ( x ) =12 x −24 x +9 V ( x ) =12 x −32 x+ 16 V ( x ) =12 x −48 x +36
2 2 2
12 x −24 x+ 9=0 12 x −32 x +16=0 12 x −48 x+ 36=0
3 1 2 ∴ x=3∨1
∴ x= ∨ ∴ x=2∨
2 2 3
When the function is graphed, it When the function is graphed, it When the function is graphed, it
can be found that the maximum is: can be found that the maximum is: can be found that the maximum is:
1 2 x=1 cm
x= cm x= cm
2 3

The same procedure can be applied to the length of 7 cm as well. The results can be organized from tiny to large
cake tins with the length l and the corresponding maximum value of x :

l (cm) x (cm)
3 1
2
4 2
3
5 5
6
6 1
7 7
6
The results show a relationship between the lengths of the square tinplate, l , and the values of x which will
maximize the volume of the resulting open-top cake tin. When each of the values of l is divided by 6, the
corresponding value of x is obtained. For instance, the x value when the length of the square tinplate is 3cm, from
1
the calculations is cm. When we divide the value of l by 6, the value of x is:
2
l
x=
6
3
x=
6
1
x=
2
The value of x is the same as the one obtained from the calculations. As a result, the relationship is the conjecture
to finding the value of x for any value of l to maximize the volume of the cake-tin to be produced. The conjecture
is:

l
x= cm
6
This conjecture can be proved using differential calculus and the quadratic formula. With differential calculus, the
general function that was used to calculate the values of x is x (l−2 x ) ( l−2 x ). The derivate of this function was
calculated by substituting different values of l . Hence, finding the derivative of this general function will provide
the general value of x which is the conjecture that was stated above:
2
V ( x )=x ( l−2 x )

V ( x )=4 x3 −4 x 2 l+ x l 2
' 2 2
V ( x ) =12 x −8 xl+l
∴ ( 2 x−l ) ( 6 x−l )
l l
∴ x= ∨x=
2 6
l
There are two general values of x here. When the first value of is applied to, for example, the length 4 cm, the
2
value of x is 2, which was the minimum value (refer to the results table). In other words, the value of x , which will
l
minimize the volume of the open-top cake tin can be obtained by using the general value, . However, the
2
investigation aims to find the value of x which will result in the maximum volume of the cake tin. Hence, the
l
conjecture for the square tinplate has been proved and is given by cm. Similarly, the conjecture could also be
6
proved using the quadratic formula as follows:
 −b ± √ b2−4 ac
x=
2a

−(−8l)± √ (−8 l)2−4 ×12 ×l 2

x=
2 ×12
l l
∴ x= ∨x=
2 6
l
Since the first value minimizes the volume of the cake tin, the second value cm is the solution, as well as, our
6
proven conjecture. The manager can use the conjecture stated and proven above to produce and maximize the
volume of their open-top cake tins.

The conjecture can be tested with a value of l , other than the ones used to develop the conjecture. The calculation
When l =50below To test the conjecture, the calculation will be carried out using the
cm, will calculate the x value when the length of the square tin plate is 50 cm and the conjecture will be tested
conjecture. As the value of l is 50 cm, the value of x is:
through that: 2
V ( x )=x ( 50−2 x )
l
x=
3 2
V ( x )=4 x −200 x +2500 x 6
' 2
V ( x ) =12 x −400 x +2500 50
x=
6
2
12 x −400 x+ 2500=0
25
x= cm
25 3
∴ x=25∨
3
The values match, proving the conjecture correct.
When the function is graphed, the value of x that

maximizesPart
the volume
B of the cake-tin is

The second part consists of the rectangular piece of tinplate. Similar to part A, four squares from each corner of
the rectangular tinplate will be cut to form an open-top cake tin. The rectangle has a length r cm and a width s cm:

r cm

s cm

It is assumed that the length r and the width s are in a ratio r :s . If it is also assumed that they are in a ratio 2 :1,
then the length of the rectangle tin plate is 2 cm and the width is 1 cm. The volume for a retangular prism, in this
case the open-top cake tin, is length × width×height . The height is unknown, hence it is x cm while the length
is 2−2 x and the width is 1−2 x . With the assumed lengths, a function can be constructed for the volume of the
cake-tin, similar to how it was done in part A with a square tinplate:
 V ( x )=x ( 2−2 x ) ( 1−2 x )
3 2
V ( x )=4 x −6 x +2 x

'
V ( x ) =( 3 ) 4 x
3−1
−( 2 ) 6 x
2−1
+( 1 ) 2 x
1−0 Again, similar to part A, the derivative of this function has to be found.
The derivative will give the gradient function of the functionV ( x ). Since
' 2
V ( x ) =12 x −12 x+ 2 the desired value of x has to maximize the volume of the rectangular-
based cake tin, the exact point on the function where the gradient is 0
has to be found. To find that point, and hence the x value, the derivative
2 function has to equate to zero. After the calculations, the result will be
12 x −12 x +2=0
two values of x , one will be the maximum and the other will be the
−b ± √ b2−4 ac minimum (refer to the calculations beside):
x=
2a As the maximum and minimum values are known, the function V ( x )
will be graphed to figure out which one is the maximum value:
−(−12)± √ (−12)2−4 ×12 ×2 3−√ 3
x= The graph has a maximum at the x value of cm while the
2× 12 6
3+ √ 3 3−√ 3 3+ √ 3
minimum has the x value of cm. Hence, when the ratio of the
∴ x= ∨ 6
6 6
length and width of a rectangle tinplate is 2 :1, the value of x which
3−√ 3
maximizes the volume of the cake tin is cm. Since the
6
manufacturer has different sizes of the rectangular tin plates, it can be
assumed that they have the ratios of 3 :1 , 4 :1 ,5 :1 and6 :1. The
same method that was applied to the ratio of 2 :1, can be applied to
the rest of the ratios to find out their respective values of x that
maximizes the volume of the resulting open-top cake tin. The functions
will be developed for each of the ratios and the derivatives have to be
When the ratio is 3:1, When the ratio is 4:1,
V ( x )=x ( 3−2 x ) ( 1−2 x ) V ( x )=x ( 4−2 x ) ( 1−2 x )
3 2 3 2
V ( x )=4 x −8 x +3 x V ( x )=4 x −10 x +4 x
' 2 ' 2
V ( x ) =12 x −16 x +3 V ( x ) =12 x −20 x +4
2 2
12 x −16 x +3=0 12 x −20 x + 4=0
4+ √ 7 4−√ 7 5+ √ 13 5−√ 13
∴ x= ∨ ∴ x= ∨
6 6 6 6
When the function is graphed, When the function is graphed, the
As can be seen from the calculations, there is a relationship
When
the the ratiois is4−√
maximum 5:1, 7 cm. When the is
maximum
5−√
ratio 3
is 6:1,
cm.
between the ratio and the value of x . The ratio r :s is comprised of
V ( x )=x ( 5−2 x6) ( 1−2 x ) 6 x )( 1−2 x )
V ( x )=x ( 6−2
the length of the rectangular tinplate r and the width of the tin 3 2 3 2
plate s. Hence, it can be stated that there is a relationship between
V ( x )=4 x −12 x +5 x V ( x )=4 x −14 x +6 x
' 2 ' 2
the length and width of the rectangular tin plate and the value of x V ( x ) =12 x −24 x +5 V ( x ) =12 x −28 x +6
2 2
that maximizes the volume of the open-top cake tin. The 12 x −24 x+ 5=0 12 x −28 x +6=0
relationship formed from the calculations is: 6 +√ 21 6−√ 21 7+ √ 31 7−√ 31
∴ x= ∨ ∴ x= ∨
6 6 6 6
r + s− √r 2+ s 2−rs When the function is graphed, When the function is graphed, the
x= cm
6 6− √ 21 7− √ 31
the maximum is cm. maximum is cm.
This relationship is the conjecture, for any rectangular tin plate with
6 6
length r cm and width s cm, to finding the value of x that will
result in the maximum volume of the open-top cake tin. The
conjecture can be proven by finding the derivative of the general
function. For the rectangular tin plate, the general function that
was used for any length and width was x ( r−2 x )( s−2 x ) . In the
 The maximum and minimum values from the calculation are
r +s + √ r 2 +s 2−rs and r +s – √ r 2 +s 2−rs cm. When the first
cm
6 6
value is calculated by substituting
When the ratio is assumed to be 50:1, the values of r and s, the The
valuesolutions
of x from both
Now,types of method
in order gives
to to test the the same results.
conjecture, Hence,
the value of rthe testing
could
of the
obtained minimizes the volume of the cake tin. For example, when the conjecture is successful. The stated conjecture can be used by the
be made 50 and the value of s would be 1:
V ( x )=x ( 50−2 x ) ( 1−2 x ) 4+ √manufacturer
7 to produce open-top cake tins from rectangular tin plates of any size.
ratio 3:1 is used, the value of x for minimum volume is cm .
3 2 6 Part C
V ( x )=4 x −102 x +50 x
Similarly, when the first value from the derivative of the general function
The third and last part of this investigation is to advise Ms. France, who will
2 of x for the ratio 3:1, the solution is
is used to calculate ' the value
V ( x ) =12 x −204 x +50 participate in the Darwin Show, on the optimal dimensions of a cake tin best suited
4+ √7 for thethe
cake she will bake for next year’s Darwin Show. The cake has to be the set
cm. Since the 2 manufacturer wants the maximum volume,
6 12 x −204 x+ 50=0 recipe sultana cake. There are, however, some requirements set by the Darwin

first value √
r +s + ∴r 2x=16.8∨0.2
+s 2−rs will not be used but rather theShow Chapter that she has to abide by:
other value,
6 1. The total volume of all ingredients to be used is 3000 mL
By graphing the function V ( x ), it is found that 0.2 cm
2. The cake needs to rise by a maximum of 30%
maximizes the volume of the cake-tin.
3. The cake needs to be a square-based prism
Using the conjecture:
In order to get to the dimensions of the cake tin, first, the dimensions of the cake
have to be found. If the total volume of all the ingredients is 3000mL, it can also be
r + s− √ r + s −rs
2 2
x= expressed as 3000 cm3. As the cake is a square-based prism and the volume for
6
square-based prisms is height ×length ×length , the dimensions, in this case, is
50+1− √ 502 +12−( 50 ×1 ) x × x × x . Since the volume of the cake is known, the dimensions of the cake are:
x=
6 height ×length ×length=volume
x=0.2 x × x × x =3000
Both the procedures result in the same solutions where 3
x =3000

x=√ 3000
3

The length and height of the cake is 14.42 cm. Moving on to the cake tin, the height of the cake tin has to be 30%
more for the cake to rise by a maximum of 30%. Since the cake will rise by a maximum of 30%, making the height
of the cake tin 30% larger than the cake’s dimensions will ensure the cake rises and fits within the cake tin. For a
more accurate value, 14.42cm will not be used but rather √ 3
3000 cm will be used which is also 14.42 when
converted to decimals. The height of the cake tin is then:
 h=30 % of 14.42+14.42
30
× ( √ 3000 ) +( √ 3000)
3 3
h=
100
h=18.75 cm(2 d . p .)
The height of the cake tin has to be 18.75 cm for the baked cake to fit into it. While the height of the cake tin will
increase to accommodate for the increased height of the cake, the length of the cake tin will stay the same. This is
because the volume of the ingredients of the cake is not changing. The volume stays the same but the baking soda
in the cake will help increase the cake's height. Again, decimal values will not be used in the calculations for a more
accurate solution. If the cake tin is a square-based prism, the volume of the cake tin will be:

height ×length ×length=volume

18.75 cm ×14.42 cm× 14.42cm=volume

[ 30
100 ]
× ( √3 3000 ) + ( √3 3000 ) ¿ × [ ( √3 3000) ] ¿ ¿ 2 cm3=3900 cm3

The volume of the cake tin is larger than the volume of the cake as 3900 cm3 >¿3000 cm3. After the cake rises by
a maximum of 30% , the cake will still fit in the cake tin properly. Even if the cake rises by less than 30%, the cake
tin can still hold the cake into place. The volume found from the calculations is also an addition of 30% to the
provided volume of 3000 cm3:
3
30 % of 3000+ 3000=3900 cm
This confirms the volume calculated from the previous calculation of the volume of the cake tin. In conclusion, it
will be best for Ms. France to use a square cake tin with dimensions 18.75 cm ×14.42 cm× 14.42cm .

Limitations and Assumptions:

The first limitation in this investigation can be found in Part A. The lengths that were used to develop the
conjecture were: 3 cm, 4 cm, 6 cm, and 7 cm. These measurements, however, are not realistic. If the value of x is 3
cm, for example, the resulting open-top cake tin is going to have a volume of 27 cm3. This volume is very small and
in real life, the manufacturer would not benefit from producing a cake tin so tiny. Despite the measurements used,
the conjecture is still correct and whichever value the manufacturer puts, they will achieve the maximum volume
of the cake tin. An assumption concerns part B where the ratios for the rectangular tin plate were assumed. The
ratios that were used to develop the conjecture were all integers (2:1, 5:1). The manufacturer might not always
work with integer values for the ratios. Decimal values were not considered when carrying out the calculations to
make the development of the conjecture more convenient and simple. The second limitation is in part C, where
the length of the cake and the height of the cake tin were decimals. Their values extended to more than 2 decimal
places if done in a calculator. To ensure accurate results, all of the decimal places were considered when doing
calculations. This is not possible in real life since Ms. France cannot buy a cake tin with a height of 18.74942….. cm.
She either has to buy a cake tin with a height of 18 cm or 19 cm. When rounded values are used, it remains unsure
whether the cake tin’s optimal dimensions have been used.

Conclusion:

Both parts A and B focused on maximizing the volume of open-top cake tins produced from square and rectangular
tin plates. Two conjectures were developed for each type of tinplate to assist the producer with maximizing the
volume of the cake tin, waste less materials, and achieve an efficient production process. Part C comprised
calculations to help Ms. France decide the size of the cake tin that she would be using for her cake. She was
advised of the optimal dimensions of the cake tin that she would purchase. Overall, the investigation was
successful with all the conjectures being tested and proven, in addition to providing Ms. France with a correctly
calculated and carefully considered dimension for her cake tin.

Bibliography:

Khan Academy n.d., Derivatives: Definition and Basic Rules, Khan Academy, viewed 16 September 2023,
<https://www.khanacademy.org/math/differential-calculus/dc-diff-intro#:~:text=The%20derivative
%20of%20a%20function>.

Paul's Online Notes 2022, Calculus I - Optimization, tutorial.math.lamar.edu.