four. Applications of Derivatives
four.7 Applied Optimization Issues
Learning Objectives
- Ready and solve optimization problems in several applied fields.
1 common awarding of calculus is calculating the minimum or maximum value of a office. For example, companies often want to minimize production costs or maximize revenue. In manufacturing, information technology is often desirable to minimize the corporeality of textile used to package a product with a certain volume. In this section, nosotros show how to fix upward these types of minimization and maximization problems and solve them by using the tools developed in this chapter.
Solving Optimization Bug over a Closed, Bounded Interval
The basic idea of the
optimization problems
that follow is the aforementioned. Nosotros have a particular quantity that nosotros are interested in maximizing or minimizing. However, nosotros also accept some auxiliary condition that needs to be satisfied. For case, in (Effigy), nosotros are interested in maximizing the area of a rectangular garden. Certainly, if we proceed making the side lengths of the garden larger, the area volition continue to get larger. However, what if we take some restriction on how much fencing we tin can use for the perimeter? In this example, we cannot brand the garden as big as we like. Let’southward await at how we tin can maximize the area of a rectangle subject to some constraint on the perimeter.
Maximizing the Area of a Garden
A rectangular garden is to exist synthetic using a rock wall as one side of the garden and wire fencing for the other iii sides ((Figure)). Given 100 ft of wire fencing, make up one’s mind the dimensions that would create a garden of maximum area. What is the maximum surface area?
Solution
Let
denote the length of the side of the garden perpendicular to the stone wall and
denote the length of the side parallel to the rock wall. Then the expanse of the garden is
We want to find the maximum possible surface area discipline to the constraint that the total fencing is
From (Figure), the total amount of fencing used volition exist
Therefore, the constraint equation is
Solving this equation for
we have
Thus, nosotros tin can write the expanse equally
Earlier trying to maximize the surface area part
we need to determine the domain under consideration. To construct a rectangular garden, we certainly need the lengths of both sides to be positive. Therefore, we need
if
Therefore, we are trying to make up one’s mind the maximum value of
for
over the open interval
We do not know that a function necessarily has a maximum value over an open interval. Withal, nosotros do know that a continuous function has an absolute maximum (and absolute minimum) over a closed interval. Therefore, let’s consider the function
over the airtight interval
If the maximum value occurs at an interior indicate, so nosotros have found the value
in the open up interval
that maximizes the area of the garden. Therefore, we consider the following trouble:
Maximize
over the interval
Every bit mentioned earlier, since
is a continuous function on a closed, divisional interval, by the extreme value theorem, it has a maximum and a minimum. These extreme values occur either at endpoints or disquisitional points. At the endpoints,
Since the area is positive for all
in the open interval
the maximum must occur at a critical signal. Differentiating the function
we obtain
Therefore, the only disquisitional point is
((Effigy)). We conclude that the maximum area must occur when
Then we take
To maximize the area of the garden, let
ft and
The surface area of this garden is
Determine the maximum expanse if nosotros want to make the same rectangular garden as in (Effigy), but nosotros have 200 ft of fencing.
Solution
The maximum expanse is
Now let’s await at a general strategy for solving optimization problems similar to (Figure).
Trouble-Solving Strategy: Solving Optimization Problems
- Introduce all variables. If applicable, draw a figure and label all variables.
- Decide which quantity is to be maximized or minimized, and for what range of values of the other variables (if this can be determined at this time).
- Write a formula for the quantity to be maximized or minimized in terms of the variables. This formula may involve more one variable.
- Write whatsoever equations relating the independent variables in the formula from step 3. Use these equations to write the quantity to be maximized or minimized every bit a function of ane variable.
- Identify the domain of consideration for the office in stride 4 based on the concrete trouble to be solved.
- Locate the maximum or minimum value of the role from footstep 4. This stride typically involves looking for critical points and evaluating a role at endpoints.
Now let’s utilize this strategy to maximize the volume of an open-pinnacle box given a constraint on the amount of textile to be used.
Maximizing the Volume of a Box
An open-tiptop box is to exist made from a 24 in. past 36 in. piece of cardboard by removing a square from each corner of the box and folding up the flaps on each side. What size square should exist cut out of each corner to get a box with the maximum volume?
Solution
Pace ane: Let
exist the side length of the square to be removed from each corner ((Figure)). Then, the remaining four flaps can be folded up to class an open-top box. Permit
be the volume of the resulting box.
Step ii: We are trying to maximize the volume of a box. Therefore, the trouble is to maximize
Step three: As mentioned in step 2, are trying to maximize the book of a box. The volume of a box is
where
are the length, width, and height, respectively.
Pace 4: From (Effigy), we see that the height of the box is
inches, the length is
inches, and the width is
inches. Therefore, the volume of the box is
Footstep 5: To determine the domain of consideration, let’s examine (Figure). Certainly, we demand
over the open interval
Since
is a continuous function over the closed interval
nosotros know
volition accept an absolute maximum over the closed interval. Therefore, nosotros consider
over the airtight interval
and check whether the accented maximum occurs at an interior point.
Step 6: Since
is a continuous function over the airtight, bounded interval
must have an absolute maximum (and an absolute minimum). Since
at the endpoints and
the maximum must occur at a disquisitional point. The derivative is
To notice the critical points, nosotros need to solve the equation
Dividing both sides of this equation by 12, the problem simplifies to solving the equation
Using the quadratic formula, we find that the critical points are
Since
is not in the domain of consideration, the only critical point we demand to consider is
Therefore, the volume is maximized if we allow
The maximum book is
equally shown in the following graph.

Maximizing the volume of the box leads to finding the maximum value of a cubic polynomial.
Watch a video about optimizing the volume of a box.
Minimizing Travel Time
An island is
due north of its closest bespeak along a straight shoreline. A visitor is staying at a cabin on the shore that is
west of that bespeak. The visitor is planning to get from the cabin to the island. Suppose the company runs at a rate of
and swims at a rate of
How far should the visitor run earlier swimming to minimize the time it takes to attain the isle?
Solution
Step 1: Permit
be the distance running and let
exist the distance swimming ((Figure)). Let
be the time it takes to get from the cabin to the island.
Step ii: The trouble is to minimize
Footstep 3: To find the time spent traveling from the motel to the island, add together the time spent running and the time spent pond. Since Altitude
Rate
Time
the time spent running is
and the time spent swimming is
Therefore, the total time spent traveling is
Stride iv: From (Figure), the line segment of
miles forms the hypotenuse of a right triangle with legs of length
and
Therefore, by the Pythagorean theorem,
and we obtain
Thus, the total time spent traveling is given past the part
Step 5: From (Figure), we come across that
Therefore,
is the domain of consideration.
Stride half-dozen: Since
is a continuous function over a airtight, bounded interval, information technology has a maximum and a minimum. Allow’southward begin past looking for any disquisitional points of
over the interval
The derivative is
If
then
Therefore,
Squaring both sides of this equation, nosotros come across that if
satisfies this equation, and so
must satisfy
which implies
We conclude that if
is a critical point, then
satisfies
Therefore, the possibilities for critical points are
Since
is not in the domain, it is not a possibility for a critical indicate. On the other mitt,
is in the domain. Since nosotros squared both sides of (Figure) to arrive at the possible critical points, it remains to verify that
satisfies (Effigy). Since
does satisfy that equation, we conclude that
is a critical bespeak, and it is the only one. To justify that the time is minimized for this value of
we just need to check the values of
at the endpoints
and
and compare them with the value of
at the critical point
We find that
and
whereas
Therefore, nosotros conclude that
has a local minimum at
mi.
In business organisation, companies are interested in
maximizing revenue. In the following case, we consider a scenario in which a company has collected information on how many cars information technology is able to lease, depending on the price it charges its customers to rent a car. Let’s employ these data to determine the cost the visitor should charge to maximize the amount of money information technology brings in.
Maximizing Acquirement
A automobile rental company charges its customers
dollars per twenty-four hour period, where
It has found that the number of cars rented per day can be modeled by the linear function
How much should the company charge each client to maximize acquirement?
Solution
The visitor should charge
per car per day.
Maximizing the Surface area of an Inscribed Rectangle
A rectangle is to be inscribed in the ellipse
What should the dimensions of the rectangle exist to maximize its area? What is the maximum area?
Solution
Footstep 1: For a rectangle to exist inscribed in the ellipse, the sides of the rectangle must exist parallel to the axes. Allow
be the length of the rectangle and
be its width. Let
be the surface area of the rectangle.

Nosotros want to maximize the area of a rectangle inscribed in an ellipse.
Pace 2: The problem is to maximize
Footstep three: The surface area of the rectangle is
Step four: Let
exist the corner of the rectangle that lies in the outset quadrant, as shown in (Effigy). Nosotros tin can write length
and width
Since
and
Therefore, the area is
Step 5: From (Figure), we see that to inscribe a rectangle in the ellipse, the
-coordinate of the corner in the first quadrant must satisfy
Therefore, the trouble reduces to looking for the maximum value of
over the open interval
Since
volition have an absolute maximum (and absolute minimum) over the closed interval
we consider
over the interval
If the absolute maximum occurs at an interior bespeak, then we have institute an absolute maximum in the open interval.
Pace six: Equally mentioned earlier,
is a continuous function over the closed, divisional interval
Therefore, it has an accented maximum (and accented minimum). At the endpoints
and
For
we obtain
To observe disquisitional points, we need to find where
We can run into that if
is a solution of
then
must satisfy
Therefore,
Thus,
are the possible solutions of (Figure). Since nosotros are considering
over the interval
is a possibility for a critical point, just
is not. Therefore, we cheque whether
is a solution of (Figure). Since
is a solution of (Figure), we conclude that
is the only critical bespeak of
in the interval
Therefore,
must have an absolute maximum at the critical indicate
To determine the dimensions of the rectangle, we need to find the length
and the width
If
then
Therefore, the dimensions of the rectangle are
and
The expanse of this rectangle is
Modify the expanse office
if the rectangle is to exist inscribed in the unit of measurement circle
What is the domain of consideration?
Solution
The domain of consideration is
Solving Optimization Problems when the Interval Is Not Airtight or Is Unbounded
In the previous examples, we considered functions on airtight, bounded domains. Consequently, past the farthermost value theorem, we were guaranteed that the functions had absolute extrema. Let’southward now consider functions for which the domain is neither airtight nor divisional.
Many functions still have at to the lowest degree i absolute extrema, even if the domain is not closed or the domain is unbounded. For example, the role
over
has an absolute minimum of 4 at
Therefore, nosotros tin still consider functions over unbounded domains or open intervals and decide whether they take whatsoever absolute extrema. In the next instance, we effort to minimize a part over an unbounded domain. We will come across that, although the domain of consideration is
the function has an accented minimum.
In the following example, we look at amalgam a box of least surface area with a prescribed volume. It is non hard to show that for a closed-elevation box, by symmetry, amongst all boxes with a specified volume, a cube volition have the smallest surface surface area. Consequently, we consider the modified trouble of determining which open up-topped box with a specified volume has the smallest expanse.
Minimizing Expanse
A rectangular box with a square base of operations, an open superlative, and a volume of 216 in.3
is to be constructed. What should the dimensions of the box be to minimize the surface area of the box? What is the minimum surface expanse?
Solution
Footstep 1: Draw a rectangular box and introduce the variable
to represent the length of each side of the square base; let
represent the elevation of the box. Allow
denote the surface surface area of the open up-elevation box.

We want to minimize the surface area of a square-based box with a given volume.
Step 2: We demand to minimize the surface area. Therefore, we need to minimize
Step 3: Since the box has an open height, we need only make up one’s mind the area of the four vertical sides and the base. The area of each of the four vertical sides is
The area of the base is
Therefore, the surface area of the box is
Pace 4: Since the volume of this box is
and the volume is given as
the constraint equation is
Solving the constraint equation for
we have
Therefore, we can write the surface area as a part of
only:
Therefore,
Step 5: Since we are requiring that
nosotros cannot have
Therefore, we need
is allowed to have any positive value. Note that every bit
becomes big, the peak of the box
becomes correspondingly small then that
Similarly, as
becomes small-scale, the peak of the box becomes correspondingly large. We conclude that the domain is the open up, unbounded interval
Notation that, dissimilar the previous examples, we cannot reduce our problem to looking for an absolute maximum or absolute minimum over a closed, bounded interval. Notwithstanding, in the next step, we discover why this function must take an absolute minimum over the interval
Stride half dozen: Note that as
As well, as
Since
is a continuous function that approaches infinity at the ends, information technology must have an accented minimum at some
This minimum must occur at a critical indicate of
The derivative is
Therefore,
when
Solving this equation for
nosotros obtain
then
Since this is the simply critical point of
the accented minimum must occur at
(meet (Figure)). When
Therefore, the dimensions of the box should be
and
With these dimensions, the area is

We can use a graph to determine the dimensions of a box of given the volume and the minimum surface area.
Key Concepts
- To solve an optimization problem, begin by drawing a picture and introducing variables.
- Find an equation relating the variables.
- Discover a role of one variable to draw the quantity that is to be minimized or maximized.
- Look for critical points to locate local extrema.
For the following exercises, answer by proof, counterexample, or explanation.
1.
When you lot find the maximum for an optimization trouble, why exercise you need to bank check the sign of the derivative around the critical points?
Solution
The critical points tin be the minima, maxima, or neither.
2.
Why do y’all need to check the endpoints for optimization problems?
3.
True or Faux. For every continuous nonlinear function, yous can find the value
that maximizes the office.
Solution
False;
has a minimum only
four.
True or False. For every continuous nonconstant function on a closed, finite domain, there exists at least one
that minimizes or maximizes the part.
For the following exercises, set up and evaluate each optimization problem.
five.
To carry a suitcase on an airplane, the length
height of the box must be less than or equal to
Assuming the height is fixed, show that the maximum book is
What superlative allows yous to have the largest volume?
Solution
in.
6.
You lot are amalgam a cardboard box with the dimensions
You lot so cut equal-size squares from each corner so you may fold the edges. What are the dimensions of the box with the largest book?
7.
Find the positive integer that minimizes the sum of the number and its reciprocal.
8.
Detect 2 positive integers such that their sum is x, and minimize and maximize the sum of their squares.
For the post-obit exercises, consider the construction of a pen to enclose an expanse.
nine.
Y’all have
of fencing to construct a rectangular pen for cattle. What are the dimensions of the pen that maximize the area?
Solution
10.
You lot have
of fencing to brand a pen for hogs. If yous accept a river on one side of your property, what is the dimension of the rectangular pen that maximizes the expanse?
11.
You need to construct a contend around an area of
What are the dimensions of the rectangular pen to minimize the corporeality of fabric needed?
Solution
12.
Two poles are connected by a wire that is as well connected to the basis. The starting time pole is
tall and the second pole is
tall. There is a distance of
between the 2 poles. Where should the wire be anchored to the ground to minimize the amount of wire needed?
13. [T]
Yous are moving into a new apartment and notice there is a corner where the hallway narrows from
What is the length of the longest particular that can be carried horizontally around the corner?
Solution
fourteen.
A patient’s pulse measures
To make up one’s mind an accurate measurement of pulse, the doctor wants to know what value minimizes the expression
What value minimizes it?
xv.
In the previous problem, assume the patient was nervous during the third measurement, so nosotros only weight that value half equally much as the others. What is the value that minimizes
Solution
xvi.
You tin run at a speed of 6 mph and swim at a speed of 3 mph and are located on the shore, 4 miles due east of an island that is 1 mile north of the shoreline. How far should y’all run west to minimize the fourth dimension needed to reach the island?
For the post-obit problems, consider a lifeguard at a circular pool with diameter
He must reach someone who is drowning on the exact opposite side of the pool, at position
The lifeguard swims with a speed
and runs around the pool at speed
17.
Find a part that measures the total amount of time it takes to attain the drowning person as a part of the swim angle,
Solution
xviii.
Notice at what angle
the lifeguard should swim to accomplish the drowning person in the to the lowest degree amount of time.
19.
A truck uses gas as
where
represents the speed of the truck and
represents the gallons of fuel per mile. At what speed is fuel consumption minimized?
Solution
For the following exercises, consider a limousine that gets
at speed
the chauffeur costs
and gas is
20.
Find the cost per mile at speed
21.
Find the cheapest driving speed.
Solution
approximately
For the post-obit exercises, consider a pizzeria that sell pizzas for a revenue of
and costs
where
represents the number of pizzas.
22.
Notice the profit function for the number of pizzas. How many pizzas gives the largest profit per pizza?
23.
Assume that
and
How many pizzas sold maximizes the profit?
24.
Presume that
and
How many pizzas sold maximizes the turn a profit?
For the following exercises, consider a wire
long cut into two pieces. One piece forms a circle with radius
and the other forms a square of side
25.
Choose
to maximize the sum of their areas.
26.
Choose
to minimize the sum of their areas.
For the following exercises, consider 2 nonnegative numbers
and
such that
Maximize and minimize the quantities.
27.
28.
29.
Solution
Maximal:
minimal: none
xxx.
For the following exercises, depict the given optimization problem and solve.
31.
Discover the volume of the largest right circular cylinder that fits in a sphere of radius one.
Solution
32.
Find the volume of the largest right cone that fits in a sphere of radius ane.
33.
Discover the area of the largest rectangle that fits into the triangle with sides
and
34.
Notice the largest volume of a cylinder that fits into a cone that has base radius
and height
35.
Observe the dimensions of the closed cylinder volume
that has the to the lowest degree amount of surface area.
Solution
36.
Detect the dimensions of a right cone with surface area
that has the largest volume.
For the following exercises, consider the points on the given graphs. Utilise a calculator to graph the functions.
37. [T]
Where is the line
closest to the origin?
Solution
38. [T]
Where is the line
closest to betoken
39. [T]
Where is the parabola
closest to point
Solution
forty. [T]
Where is the parabola
closest to point
For the following exercises, ready, simply practice not evaluate, each optimization problem.
41.
A window is composed of a semicircle placed on elevation of a rectangle. If you have
of window-framing materials for the outer frame, what is the maximum size of the window you can create? Utilise
to represent the radius of the semicircle.
Solution
42.
You have a garden row of 20 watermelon plants that produce an average of 30 watermelons apiece. For any additional watermelon plants planted, the output per watermelon plant drops by one watermelon. How many actress watermelon plants should you plant?
44.
Y’all are building v identical pens adjacent to each other with a total area of
as shown in the following figure. What dimensions should you utilise to minimize the corporeality of fencing?
45.
You are the manager of an apartment complex with l units. When you gear up rent at
all apartments are rented. Every bit yous increase rent by
one fewer apartment is rented. Maintenance costs run
for each occupied unit of measurement. What is the rent that maximizes the total amount of profit?
Solution
Glossary
- optimization problems
- problems that are solved by finding the maximum or minimum value of a function
Source: https://opentextbc.ca/calculusv1openstax/chapter/applied-optimization-problems/