TITLE: To determine the most efficient dimensions for the fuel tank of a

Boeing 737-800 aircraft using differential calculus.

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 Table of Contents

Title 3

Problem Statement 4

Mathematical Formulation 5

Problem Solution 6

Diagram 9

Application of Solution 10

Discussion of Findings 11

Conclusion 11

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 Title
To determine the most efficient dimensions for the fuel tank of a Boeing 737-
800 aircraft using differential calculus.

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 Problem Statement
Global warming is an issue plaguing the modern world, caused significantly by
the consumption of fossil fuels, to which airplanes contribute 11% of CO2 in
the US alone.

This project, through the use of differential calculus and maximization

techniques, will serve to help minimize the dimensions of a standard, square
based fuel tank of a Boeing 737-800, thereby minimizing the amount of fuel
used by this type of airplane in an attempt to save fuel (a non-renewable
resource).

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 Mathematical Formulation
1. As the tank is a cuboid with a square base, the volume for area derived
will be so that the height and width of the cuboid is equal, therefore:

Equation 1: - (𝐕 = 𝐱 𝟐 × 𝒍)

2. To find length, l, make it the subject of the formula.

𝐕
Equation 2: - (𝒍 = )
𝐱𝟐

3. A formula for surface area was derived.

Equation 3: - (𝐀 = 𝟐𝐱 𝟐 + 𝟒𝐱𝒍)

4. Substitute length, l into Equation 3.

𝑑𝐴
5. Find
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝐴
6. Let equal to zero as stationary points are equal to zero.
𝑑𝑥

7. Substitute x into Equation 2 and solve for l.

𝑑2𝐴
8. Find
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑2𝐴
9. Substitute x into to determine if it is maximum or minimum point.
𝑑𝑥 2

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 Problem Solution
The shape of the fuel tank was assumed to be a square-based cuboid which
allowed for simple calculations, using differential calculus, in order to
determine the appropriate dimensions of the materials. It was assumed that
the thickness of the material used to construct the fuel tank was negligible
because the thickness would affect the fuel holding capacity of the tank. It was
also assumed that the fuel tank was completely covered so that there were no
openings for the fuel to escape in the environment causing danger due to its
flammability and volatility.
Where:
𝑉 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒
𝑋 = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡/𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ
𝑙 = 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ

𝑈𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑉 = 30𝑚3
30
=𝑙
𝑥2

𝐴 = 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑙
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎, 𝐴 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑜𝑖𝑑
𝐴 = 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥𝑙
30
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑙 = 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒
𝑥2
30
𝐴= 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 ( 2 )
𝑥
120
𝐴= 2𝑥 2 +
𝑥

𝑑𝐴
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝐴
= 4𝑥 − 120𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥
120
= 4𝑥 −
𝑥2

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𝐴𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠, 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = 0
𝑑𝐴
=0
𝑑𝑥
120
4𝑥 − =0
𝑥2
4𝑥 120
= 2
1 𝑥
4𝑥(𝑥 2 ) = 120
4𝑥 3 = 120
÷ 4] 𝑥 3 = 30
𝑥 = ∛30
= 3.107𝑚 (𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑠)
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒:
30
𝑙=
3.1072
30
𝑙=
9.653
𝑙 = 3.108𝑚
𝑑2𝐴
2
= 4 + 240𝑥 −3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2𝐴
3
𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑥 = √30 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚
𝑑𝑥 2
1 −3
= 2 + 240 [ (30 ) ] 3

= 2 + 240 ( 30 )−1
240
=2+
30

=2+8
= 10

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 10 > 0
𝑑2𝐴
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒.
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑥 = 3.107𝑚 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙 = 3.108𝑚 are minimum values of x and l.

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 Diagram of Fuel Tank

1.
9
9
5X
L 7
𝑙 = 3.108𝑚

𝑥 = 3.107𝑚

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 Application of Solution
Since 𝑉 = 𝑥 2 𝑙, it was determined that the length , 𝑙 = 3.108𝑚 and height and

width 𝑥 = 3.107𝑚

𝑉 = 𝑥 2𝑙

Where 𝑉 = 30 𝑚3

Proof:

𝑉 = 𝑥 2 𝑙 = 30𝑚3

𝑉 = (3.107)2 (3.108)

= 30.0029 (𝑡𝑜 3 𝑑. 𝑝. )

Graphical Confirmation:

Hence, the solution is relevant to the problem since the volume obtained
after calculations were 30𝑚3 , when approximated to three (3) decimal places.
The calculations of the height, length and width were approximated to three
decimal placesresulting in less accurate outcomes due to early truncation;
however, it made calculations easier and allows for real-life application.

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 Discussion of Findings
Differential calculus was used to minimize the size of the tank with the given
specifications.
𝑥2
A volume of area 𝑉 = and l was made the subjective of the formula to get
𝑙
𝑉 30𝑚3
𝑙= 2
using V as 30m3 to give . A formula for surface area was derived
𝑥 𝑥2
30
giving A = 2x2 + 4xl substituting 𝑙 = 2 to give a formula of A = 2x2+4x (30/x2).
𝑥
After these formula were submitted to calculation it gave the result
A= 2x2 + 120x-1.
𝑑𝐴 120
The gradient function was applied to give = 4𝑥 − , which was then
𝑑𝑥 𝑥2
120
equated to zero, at the stationary value, so therefore 4𝑥 − 2 = 0. After
𝑥
calculation the value of x came to be 3.107m (to 3 d.p.) which gave the value of
x.
30
This value of x was substituted into calculation giving 𝑙 = , which gave l
3.1072
𝑑2𝐴
to be 3.108m. The second differential of 2 = 4 + 240𝑥 in which the −3
𝑑𝑥
answer was 10 and since 10 was greater than zero, which is positive, the
graph provided gave a minimum point, which was confirmed with the graph.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the dimensions found for a tank with which entailed a
volume of and a square base were a length and width of 3.107m and a height
of 3.108m. This was found using the method of Differential Calculus and
would allow us to maximize the materials used and minimize the cost.

Future Analysis
This data can be used in the future and also improved by using the square
based tank for multi-purposes. Some examples may be: fuel tanks for aircrafts,
trucks, spaceships etc. The fuel tank can also be reshaped for other vehicles
and can benefit the automotive industry by holding more fuel and also get

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persons from one destination to another by the use of this container to carry
this non-renewable source.

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