Table of Contents

Title..................................................................................................................................................2
Problem Statement...........................................................................................................................2
Mathematical Formulation...............................................................................................................3
Problem Solution.............................................................................................................................5
Application of Solution....................................................................................................................6
Discussion........................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8

Title: Minimizing the cost of a storage container to hold a given volume of screws.

Problem Statement: You and two friends have started a business of making boxes
for a company which manufactures screws.
In a meeting it was decided that each box made should hold 0.03m3 of screws.
The box should have a square base. Cardboard costs $0.40 per square meter.
1) Create a mathematical model for the stated problem and list any assumptions in this model.
2) (a) What would be the most economical size of box to make?
(b) What is the cost associated with making the box of this size?

Mathematical Formulation
Figure 1 showing the box, with height, h and a square base with side, x.
Volume, V of box = 0.03m3
x

As seen from Figure 1, the box has a height, h and a square base. This means that it is a cuboid.
The volume of the box must fit 0.03m3 of screws. To find the surface area of the box, the area of
each face on the cube must be found, refer to Figure 2.

Figure 2 showing the net of the box, and the surface area of the box.
h
x

Area = xh

Area = x2

Area = xh

Area = x2

Area = xh

Area = xh

Assume that the volume of screws will fit exactly in the box of volume 0.03m3
The area of the box will be = x2 + x2 + xh + xh + xh + xh (from Figure 2)
= 2x2 + 4xh
The cost of the box = Area $0.40
Cost = (2x2 + 4xh) 0.4
= 0.8+ 1.6xh

Problem Solution
If the Volume, V of the box is = x x h
Since volume is 0.03, let: 0.03 = x2h
0.03
x2

h=

So now substitute h =

Cost = 0.8x2 + 1.6x(

0.03
x2

0.03
x2

into the cost.

= 0.8x2 + 0.048x-1
To find the cost, differentiate C and then equate the equation to 0.
Differentiate the equation =>

dc
=(1.6 x0.048 x2)
dx

Equate the equation to 0 =>

1.6 x0.048 x2 =0

1.6 x=

2
Carry across the 0.048 x
=>

0.048
x2

1.6 x =0.048

To get rid of x2 we multiply both sides by x2 =>

x 3=

Then to get rid of 1.6 we divide both sides =>

x=

Now to find for x, find the cube root =>

0.048
1.6

0.048
1.6

x=0.31

Application of Solution
To see if the value of x is a maximum of minimum value, the second derivative of C is found.
d2 c
d x2

3
= 1.6+0.096 x

( x=0.31 )= 1.6+0.096 ( 0.31 )3

=> 4.82
Since the value obtained is positive that meant the x is the minimum value of the cost.
Since x = 0.31, the height can be found.

h=

0.03
( 0.31 )2

h=0.31 m

To find the cost associated with making a box of 0.03m3:

2
Cost = 0.8 x +1.6 x h

Since h=0.31mx =0.31 m it is substituted into the formula and the cost is found.
2

c=0.8 ( 0.31 ) +1.6 ( 0.31 ) ( 0.31 )

c = $0.23064

=> $0.24

The price is increased to the nearest cent so it would cover the cost for additional allowances
when making the boxes, and will prevent the company from losing money. Therefore $0.24 is
just the MINIMUM cost the make a box, and not the ACTUAL cost to make the box.

Discussion
As seen from the results obtained via the calculations, both the height of the box and the length
of one side were found to be the same. Hence the assumption that the box is a cuboid was proven
to be incorrect.
Another assumption was that the screws would fit exactly into the box. This is physically
impossible since the screws would not be neatly placed and organized into the box, but rather the
will all be in random positions. This means that there will be spaces between the screws.
Therefore the box needs to be made slightly larger to accommodate the screws. However the
base of the box must be a square.
Since the boxes will be stacked on each other while being transported, the cardboard on the top
and bottom will be required to be made thick so the boxes will not burst due to the weight of the
screws. This means that the price needed to make one box will increase.
The exact cost to make one box is $0.23064 but the cost is raised to $0.24. This is to account for
additional allowances. Some such allowances include; the cost of labour, maintenance of
machinery, the cost of gas used by transport vehicles and the cost of fuel for machinery. This
means that $0.24 is the MININUM cost to make one box, but not the ACTUAL cost.

Conclusion
The minimum cost to manufacture a box to hold 0.03m 3 of screws was found to be $0.24. In
order for the box to hold .03m3 of screws, the height and sides should be a minimum of 0.31m.

10