Activity

Optimization Problems

April 7, 2024
Strict instructions:
Write (isulat) your work on a clean sheet of yellow/white paper.
Then, submit it as a PDF (not jpeg, etc.).

Deadline: Until class time ends.

Problem 1
A farmer has 2400 ft of fencing and wants to fence off a rectangular
field that borders a straight river. He needs no fence along the river.
What are the dimensions of the field that has the largest area?

Show COMPLETE solution:

(a) (3 pts) Draw a diagram that illustrates the problem. Introduce
notation and label the diagram with your symbols.
(b) (3 pts) Write a formula, A(x), for the area of the rectangular field.
Find the domain of your formula for the problem situation.
(c) (4 pts) Finish solving the problem.
Problem 2
You are planning to make an open rectangular box from an
8-in.-by-15-in. piece of cardboard by cutting congruent squares from the
corners and folding up the sides. What are the dimensions of the box of
largest volume you can make this way, and what is its volume?

Show COMPLETE solution:

(a) (2 pts) Draw a diagram that illustrates the problem. Introduce
notation and label the diagram with your symbols.
(b) (4 pts) Write a formula for the volume, V (x), of the rectangular
box. Find the domain of your formula for the problem situation.
(c) (4 pts) Finish solving the problem.