MAXIMA and

MINIMA PROBLEMS
 OBJECTIV
ES:
identify the quantity to be maximized or
minimized,
apply the knowledge of derivatives and
critical points in solving maximum and
minimum problems and
solve maximum and minimum problems
with ease and accuracy.
A Procedure for Solving Applied Maximum
and Minimum Problems (p. 276)
problems.
1.If needed, draw the figure and indicate the
unknown parts by variables.
2.Make the necessary representation for the
variables used.
3.Determine the quantity, the dependent
variable, to be maximized or minimized.
4.Find a formula relating the variables.
5.Express the dependent variable in step 3 in
terms of a single variable, the independent
variable.
6.Differentiate the dependent variable in terms
of the independent variable.
7.Equate the derivative in step 6 to zero, for
maximum or minimum value, to find the critical
numbers.
Example 1
Divide 120 into two parts such that the product of
one part and the square of the other is a maximum.
Find
Let the x numbers.
be onepart
120- x be the otherpart
M be the productof onepartandthe squareof the otherpart
: M 120- x x2
Equation dM
0 240x- 3x2 0
M' 120- x 2x x2 1 dx
M' 240x- 2x2 x2 3x 0 x 0
3x 80- x 0
M' 240x- 3x2 80 x 0 x 80
d2M
Usingthe2ndderivative
test: 240 6x
dx2

d2M
whenx 80; 240 6 80 maximum
dx 2

d2M
whenx 0; 240 6 0 minimum
dx 2

answer: x 80 and 120- x 40

Example 2
A box is to be made from a piece of
cardboard 16in.x10in. by cutting equal squares
out of the corners and turning up the sides.
Find the volume of the largest box that can be
made this way.
x x
x x x x
x x
10-2x 10
x x
x x x x
x x
16-2x

16
 x

10-2x 16-2x
V LWh
Let L length 16- 2x
16- 2x 10 2x x
W width 10- 2x
160- 52x 4x2 x
h height x
V 160x- 52x2 4x3
dV
0 160-104x 12x2 0 dV
dx 160-104x 12x2
3x2 - 26x 40 0 dx
x- 2 3x 20 0 V 16 2(2) 10 2(2) 2
20 (12)(6)(2)
144in
3

x 2 and x 6.67
3
thusx 2 x must not be equal to
6.67 because 10-2x will
Example 3
Find the area of the largest rectangle that
can be inscribed in a circle of a given radius, R
= 10 inches.
2x

R R y
2y

x
Let L lengthof the rectangle
2x
W widthof the rectangle 2y
4x2
A LW 2x 2y A' 0 4 100 x 0
2

100 x 2

A 4xy
4x2 4 100 x2
since,R2 x2 y2 0
100 x 2

then y2 R2 x2 4x2 400 4x2 0

y R2 x2 8x2 400
ng y R2 x2 to A 4xy
substituti x2 50
we have, A 4x R2 x2 x 50 5 2 in.
A 4x 100- x2
, A 4 50 100 50
2
therefore

A' 4x
2x

100 x2

4 4 50 50
2 100 x
2
A 200in.2
4x2
A' 4 100 x2

100 x2
Example 4
Find the altitude of the largest circular
cylinder that can be inscribed in a circular cone
of radius R=5 and height H=10.

10-
y
H=1
0
y

x
R=5

Volumeof a rightcylinder
: dV
100 40y 3y2
V Bh R2 h dy 4
dV
V x2 y 0 100 40y 3y2 0
dy 4
x H y 3y2 40y 100 0
but,
R H 3y 10 y 10 0
x 10 y
3y 10 0 y 10 0
5 10
10
5 10 y 10 y y 3.33" y 10"
x 3
10 2 extraneous
2 checking :
10 y
hence , V y d2V
2 40 6y
dy 4
2

100 20y y
2

y 10 d2V 10
4 if y , 40 6
3 dy 4
2
3

V 100y 20y2 y3 d2V
5 max.
4 dy2
Example 5
A rectangular field of fixed area is to be
enclosed and divided into three lots by parallels
to one of the sides. What would be the relative
dimensions of the field to make the amount of
fencing a minimum?

L
Let P the amountof fenceneededto enclosethe lots
A areaof the field
A
P 2L 4W and A LW W
L
ng W in P 2L 4W;
substituti
A
then, P 2L 4
L dP 2L2 4A
0 0
2L2 4A dL L2
P
L 2L2 4A but, A LW
but A is constant, hence
2L2 4LW
dP L 4L 2L2 4A 1 1
, L 2W or W L
therefore
dL L2 2
dP 4L2 2L2 4A 2L2 4A

dL L2
L2
Example 6
Find the most economical proportions for a
quart can.

d
V r2h Volumeof cylinder

V
then, h 2
r
Solvingfor the Total SurfaceArea T :
T 2 r2 2 r h dT 2V
0 4r 2 0
dr r
V
2 r 2 r
2
2 2V
r 4r 2
r
V 2V V
T 2 r 2
2
r
3
but, V r2h
r 4 2
r2h
dT V 1 r
3

4 r 2 2
dr r
2

h d
dT 2V r since, r
4 r 2 2 2
dr r d h
d h
2 2
Example 7
Find the proportion of the circular
cylinder of largest volume that can be
inscribed in a given sphere.

r r
a
a h/2

C h 2a
Using Pythagorea n Theorem;dV 3 2
0 a h 0
2

h
2
dh 4
a r
2 2
3 2
2 a h
2

4
h2

a2 r2 4 h2

4 h2 a2 substituti
ng, a2 r2
3 4
h2

r2 a2 4 2 h2
4 h r
2

3 4
but, V Bh r2h
4 2 h2
h
2
h r
2
checking
:
a2 h 3 3
4 h2 4 2 d2V 3
h3 h r
2
2h
V a h2 3 3 dh2
4
4 3h2 h2 4 2
r d2V 3
3 3 h max.
dV dh 2
a2 3h2
2

2h2 4r2
dh 4
h2 2r2
dV 3
a2 h2 h
dh 4 h r 2 or r
2
 Example 8
A statue 10ft. high is standing on a
base 13ft. high. If an observers eye is 5ft.
above the ground, how far
should he stand from the base in order that
the angle between his lines of sight to the
top and bottom of the statue be a
maximum? Fromthe figure 2 1

x 1 x
cot2 2 cot
10 18 18
x x
cot1 1 cot1
8 8
2 x x
cot1 cot1

13 18 8
1 d 1 1 1 1
x 2 2
5 dx x 18 x 8
1 1 8
18
 1 1

d
18 2 8 0 9 64 x2 4 324 x2
2
dx x x
1 1 9 64 9x2 4 324 4x2
18 8
1 1 5x2 1296 576
18 8
2 2
18 8 5x2 720
x 18
2 2
x 8
2 2

1 2 1 2
18 8 x2 144 x 12
18 8 x 12
2 2
18 x 8 x
2 2

Therefore, the observer

must be 12 ft from the base
of the statue so that his line
of sight from top to bottom
of the statue is maximum.
2. The sum of two numbers is K. find the minimum
EXERCISES:
value of
the sum of their squares.
3. A rectangular field of given area is to be fenced off
along the bank of a river. If no fence is needed along
the river, what are the dimensions of the rectangle
that will require the least amount of fencing?
4. A Norman window consists of a rectangle
surmounted by a semicircle. What shape gives the
most light for a given perimeter?
5. A cylindrical glass jar has a plastic top. If the plastic
is half as
expensive as the glass per unit area, find the most
economical proportions for the glass.
6. Find the proportions of the circular cone of
maximum volume
inscribed in a sphere.
7. A wall 8 feet high and 24.5 feet from a house. Find
the shortest