Calculus Applications of Derivatives 2

1 - Optimization Problems

Example 1: Find two positive numbers whose product is 10 000 and whose sum is a minimum.

Step 1: Express the quantity that is to be optimized (i.e. maximized or minimized) as a

function.

Optimization Function: S(x, y) = x + y

Step 2: Express the constraint as an equation.

Constraint Equation: xy = 10 000

Step 3: Isolate a variable in the constraint equation and substitute it into the optimization
function.

The goal is to express the optimization function as a function of a single variable.

y = 10 000 Þ S(x) = x + 10 000

x x

Step 4: Find the critical numbers of the optimization function.

Do this by finding the first derivative of the optimization function and setting it
equal to zero, then solving.

S’(x) = 1 - 10 000 Þ critical numbers: x = 0 and 100

x2

Step 5: Verify that the critical number gives the desired minimum or maximum.

***Check the domain boundaries of the optimization function for extrema.

Reject x = 0 since the required numbers must be positive (i.e. x > 0).

Therefore x = 100 gives a minimum value.

The two numbers are 100 and 100

Example 2: A rectangle has a perimeter of 100 cm. What length and width should it have so that its
area is a maximum?

Step 1: Let x = width and y = length

Optimization Function: A(x, y) = xy

Step 2: Constraint Equation: 2x + 2y = 100

Simplify: x + y = 50

Step 3: y = 50 - x Þ A(x) = x ( 50 - x )

A(x) = -x2 + 50x

Step 4: A’(x) = -2x + 50 Þ critical number: x = 25 (only 1 critical number)

Step 5: The rectangle should be a square with a side of 25 cm

Example 3: A cylindrical can is to be made to hold a litre of oil. Find the radius of the can that will
minimize the cost of the material required to make the can. Assume that cost is
proportional to surface area.

Step 1: Let r = radius and h = height

Optimization Function: C(x, y) = 2pr2 + 2prh

Step 2: Constraint Equation: pr2h = 1000 (1 L = 1000 cm3)

Step 3: h = 1000 Þ C(r) = 2pr2 + (2pr) 1000

pr2 pr2

C(r) = 2pr2 + 2000

r

Step 4: C’(r) = 4pr - 2000 Þ critical number: r = (500/p)1/3

r2

Step 5: The can should have a radius of 5.4 cm

Example 4: A Norman window has the shape of a rectangle topped by a semicircle. If the perimeter
of a particular window is 8 m, find the width of the window that will admit the greatest
amount of sunlight. Assume that the amount of sunlight admitted is proportional to area.

Step 1: Let r = radius h = height Þ width of rectangle = 2r

Optimization Function: A(x, y) = pr2 + 2rh

2

Step 2: Constraint Equation: 2pr + 2r + 2h = 8

2

Step 3: h=8-r(2+p) Þ A(r) = -r2( 2 + p/2 ) + 8r

2

Step 4: A’(r) = -2r( 2 + p/2 ) + 8 Þ critical number: r = 8 / ( 4 + p )

Step 5: The window should have a width of 16 / (4 + p) m = 2.24 m

(note that width = 2r )

Practice Exercises

1. Find two numbers whose difference is 150 and whose product is a minimum.

2. Find two positive numbers with product 200 such that the sum of one of the numbers and twice
the other is a minimum.

3. A box with a square base and open top must have a volume of 4000 cm3. Find the dimensions
of the box that minimize the amount of material used.

4. The lifeguard at a public beach has 400 m of rope available to lay out a rectangular swimming
area, using the straight shoreline as one side of the swimming area. If she wants to maximize
the swimming area, what should the dimensions of the rectangle be?

5. A farmer wants to fence an area of 750 000 m2 in a rectangular field and divide it in half with a
fence parallel to one of the sides of the rectangle. How can this be done so as to minimize the
cost of the fence?

6. A piece of wire 40 cm long is cut into two pieces. One piece is bent into the shape of a square
and the other is bent into the shape of a circle. How should the wire be cut so that the total
area enclosed is a) a maximum ? b) a minimum ?

Answers: 1) 75, -75 2) 20, 10 3) 20 x 20 x 10 cm 4) 100 x 200 m 5) 707.1 m x 1060.7 m

6a) all the wire for the circle b) 160/(4 + p) cm = 22.4 cm for the square