Section

4.6
Optimization Problems

Math 1a
Introduction to Calculus

March 19, 2008

Announcements
Problem Sessions Sunday, Thursday, 7pm, SC 310
Ofce hours Tues, Weds, 24pm SC 323

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.Image: Flickr user Lawrence OP
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Announcements

Problem Sessions Sunday, Thursday, 7pm, SC 310

Ofce hours Tues, Weds, 24pm SC 323
Please review the policy on late homeworks

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Outline

Lead by Example

The Text in the Box

More Examples
The Best Fencing Plan
The Shortest Fence
Norman Windows

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Leading by Example

Example
What is the rectangle of xed perimeter with maximum area?

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Leading by Example

Example
What is the rectangle of xed perimeter with maximum area?

Solution
Draw a rectangle.

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Leading by Example

Example
What is the rectangle of xed perimeter with maximum area?

Solution
Draw a rectangle.

.
.

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Leading by Example

Example
What is the rectangle of xed perimeter with maximum area?

Solution
Draw a rectangle.

. .w

.
.

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Solution (Continued)
Let its length be and its width be w. The objective function is
area A = w.

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Solution (Continued)
Let its length be and its width be w. The objective function is
area A = w.
This is a function of two variables, so we need to use the
constraint that the perimeter is xed. Since p = 2 + 2w, we have

p 2w
= ,
2

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Solution (Continued)
Let its length be and its width be w. The objective function is
area A = w.
This is a function of two variables, so we need to use the
constraint that the perimeter is xed. Since p = 2 + 2w, we have

p 2w
= ,
2
so
p 2w 1 1
A = w = w = (p 2w)(w) = pw w2
2 2 2

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Solution (Continued)
Let its length be and its width be w. The objective function is
area A = w.
This is a function of two variables, so we need to use the
constraint that the perimeter is xed. Since p = 2 + 2w, we have

p 2w
= ,
2
so
p 2w 1 1
A = w = w = (p 2w)(w) = pw w2
2 2 2
Now we have A as a function of w alone (p is constant). The
natural domain of this function is [0, p/2]. Both of these
endpoints would result in a degenerate rectanglea line
segmentof zero area.

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Solution (Concluded)
We have
dA 1
= p 2w,
dr 2
and the critical points are when

1 p
0= p 2w = w = .
2 4

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Solution (Concluded)
We have
dA 1
= p 2w,
dr 2
and the critical points are when

1 p
0= p 2w = w = .
2 4
Since this is the only critical point, it must be the maximum. In
p
this case = as well.
4

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Solution (Concluded)
We have
dA 1
= p 2w,
dr 2
and the critical points are when

1 p
0= p 2w = w = .
2 4
Since this is the only critical point, it must be the maximum. In
p
this case = as well. We have a square!
4

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Outline

Lead by Example

The Text in the Box

More Examples
The Best Fencing Plan
The Shortest Fence
Norman Windows

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?
2. Draw a diagram.

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce Notation.

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce Notation.
4. Express the objective function Q in terms of the other
symbols

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce Notation.
4. Express the objective function Q in terms of the other
symbols
5. If Q is a function of more than one decision variable, use
the given information to eliminate all but one of them.

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The Text in the Box

1. Understand the Problem. What is known? What is

unknown? What are the conditions?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce Notation.
4. Express the objective function Q in terms of the other
symbols
5. If Q is a function of more than one decision variable, use
the given information to eliminate all but one of them.
6. Find the absolute maximum (or minimum, depending on the
problem) of the function on its domain.

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Outline

Lead by Example

The Text in the Box

More Examples
The Best Fencing Plan
The Shortest Fence
Norman Windows

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Another Example

Example (The Best Fencing Plan)

A rectangular plot of farmland will be bounded on one side by a
river and on the other three sides by a single-strand electric
fence. With 800 m of wire at your disposal, what is the largest
area you can enclose, and what are its dimensions?

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?
2. Draw a diagram.

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce notation: Length and width are and w. Length of
wire used is p.

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce notation: Length and width are and w. Length of
wire used is p.
4. Q = area = w.

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce notation: Length and width are and w. Length of
wire used is p.
4. Q = area = w.
5. Since p = + 2w, we have = p 2w and so

Q(w) = (p 2w)(w) = pw 2w2

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Solution
1. Everybody understand?
2. Draw a diagram.
3. Introduce notation: Length and width are and w. Length of
wire used is p.
4. Q = area = w.
5. Since p = + 2w, we have = p 2w and so

Q(w) = (p 2w)(w) = pw 2w2

dQ p
6. = p 4w, which is zero when w = .
dw 4
(p) p p2 p2
Q =p 2 = = 80000m2
4 4 16 8
Since Q(0) = Q(p/2) = 0, this critical point is a maximum.
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Your turn

Example (The shortest fence)

A 216m2 rectangular pea patch is to be enclosed by a fence and
divided into two equal parts by another fence parallel to one of
its sides. What dimensions for the outer rectangle will require the
smallest total length of fence? How much fence will be needed?

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Your turn

Example (The shortest fence)

A 216m2 rectangular pea patch is to be enclosed by a fence and
divided into two equal parts by another fence parallel to one of
its sides. What dimensions for the outer rectangle will require the
smallest total length of fence? How much fence will be needed?

Answer
The dimensions of the fence are 12m 18m and amount of fence
required is 72m2 .

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Solution
Let the length and width of the pea patch be and w. The
amount of fence needed is f = 2 + 3w Since w = A, a constant,
we have
A
f(w) = 2 + 3w.
w
So
df 2A
= 2 +3
dw w

2A
which is zero when w = . Since lim f(w) and lim f(w)
3 w0+ w
are both , the critical point is a minimum.
So the area is

2A A 3A
minimized when w = = 12 and = = = 18. The
3 w 2
amount of fence needed is
( )
2A 2A 2A
f =2 +3 = 2 6A = 2 6 216 = 72 m.
3 2 3

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Example
A Norman window has the outline of a semicircle on top of a
rectangle. Suppose there is 8 + 4 feet of wood trim available.
Discuss why a window designer might want to maximize the area
of the window. Find the dimensions of the rectangle and
semicircle that will maximize the area of the window.

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Example
A Norman window has the outline of a semicircle on top of a
rectangle. Suppose there is 8 + 4 feet of wood trim available.
Discuss why a window designer might want to maximize the area
of the window. Find the dimensions of the rectangle and
semicircle that will maximize the area of the window.

Answer
The dimensions are 2ft by 4ft.
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Solution
We have to maximize A = w + (w/2)2 subject to the constraint
that 2 + w + w = p. Solving for in terms of w gives

= 12 (p w w)

So A = 12 w(p w w) + 14 w2 . Differentiating gives

w 1 1
A (w) = + (1 )w + (p w w)
2 2 2
p
which is zero when w = . If p = 8 + 4 , w = 4. It follows
2+
that = 2.

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