Maxima and Minima

Problems on numbers
1, Find the two numbers whose sum is 240 and whose product is as large as possible.
2. Find two numbers x andy such that x +y = 60 and xy is maximum.
3. Find two+ve numbers whose sum is 14 and the sumof whose square is minimum.
4. Divide 64 into two parts such that the sum of cubes of two part is minimum.
5. The sum of three +ve numbers is 26. The second number is thrice as large as the first. Ifthe sum
of the squares of these numbers is least, find the numbers.
Problems on geometry
1. Show that the rectangle of maximum perimeter which can be inscribed in a circle of radius 'a' is
a square of side v2 a.
2. Show that all the rectangles with agiven perimeter, the square has the targest area.
3. Show that of allthe rectangles inscribed in a given circle, the square has the maximum area.
4. Show that of allthe rectangles of given area, the square has the smallest perimeter.
5. The perimeter of a sector of a circle is constant. What will be the angle of a sector if the area of
the sector were to be maximum?
6. Prove that the area of rt.angled triangle of given hypotenuse is maximum when the triangle is
0sosceles.
7. Show that the triangle of maximum area that can be inscribed in a given circle is an equilateral
triangle.
8. If the sum of the lengths of the hypotenuse and a side of a rt.angled triangle is given, show that
the area of the triangle is maximum when the angle between them is 3
9. Two sides of a triangle have lengths 'a' and (b' and the angle between them 6. What value of 6
will maximize the area of the triangle?
10. ABCis a rt.angled triangle of given area S. Find the sides of the triangle for which the area of the
circumscribed circle is least.
11. A
figure consists of a semi-circle with a rectangle on its diameter. Given the perimeter of the
figure, find its dimensions in order that the area may be maximum.
12. Áseciion of a window consists. of d rectangle surnmounted by an eguilateral triangle. If the
perimeter is given to be 16m, find the width of the window in order that the maximum amount
of light may be admitted.
13. Awire of length 36m is to be cut into twO pieces. One of the pieces is to be made into a square
and the other into a circle. What should be the lengths of the two pieces, so that the combined
area of the square and the circle is minimum
14. Awire of length'a' is cut into twWo parts which are bent respectively in the form of a square and
a?
a circle. Show that the least value of the sum of the areas so formed is 4(r+4)
15. The graph of y= ax-b has a turning point P(2,-1). Find the values of 'a' and b' and show
(*-1)(*-4)
that y is maximum at P.
roblems on Mensuration
1. Find the volume of the largest cylinder that can be inscribed in a sphere of radius '
2. Show that the cylinder of a given volume which is open at top, has minimum T.S.A, provided its
height is equal to the radius of its base
3. Show that the height of the cosed cylinder of given surface and maximum volume, is equal to
the diameter of its base.
Showthat the height of the cylinder,which is open at the top, having a given surface and
areatest volurme, is egual to the radius of its base.
5. Show that the height of the cylinder of maximum volume that can be inscribed ina sphere of
2a
radius 'a' is
is
6. Show that the semi-vertical angle of a cone of maximum volume and given slant height
tan-/2
maximum
7. Show that the semi-vertical angle of right circular cone of given surface area and
volume is sin-13
8
sphere of radius R is of
8. Show that the volume of the largest cone that can be inscribed in a
the voiume of the sphere.
surface which can be
9. Prove that the radius of the right circular cylinder of greatest curved
inscribed in a given cone is half of that cone.
 10, Show that the volume of the greatest cylinder
whichcan be inscribed in a cone of height h' and
semivertical anglea is 27 h' tan a.
11. Asquare piece of tinof side 24cm is to be made into a boxX
without top by cutting a square from
each corner and folding up the flaps to form a box. What should be the side
of the square to be
cut-off so that the volume of the box is maximum? Also find this maximum volume.
12. An open box with a square base is to be made out of a given quantity of card
board of area
c sq.unit. Showthat the maximum volume of the box is c cu.units
6V3
Board Questions
2010
Aclosed right circular cylinder has volume 539
2 cubic units. Find the radius and height of the cylinder so
that the total surface area is minimum.
2009
Awire of length 20m is available to fence off a flower bed in the form of a
sector of acircle. What must
be the radius of the circle, if we wish to have a flower bed with the greatest possible
2008 &2002 area?
An open box with a square base is to be made out of a given quantity of card board of
area csq.unit.
Show that the maximum volume of the box is
6V3 cu.units.
2007
Show that the semi-vertical angle of a cone of maximum volume and given slant height is
tany2
2006
Find the volume of the largest cone that can be inscribed in a sphere of radius R.
2005
Prove that the area of rt.angled triarngle of given hypotenuse is maximum when the triangle is
isosceles.
2004
Aclosed circular cylinder has a volume of 2156 cm°.What will be the radius of its base so that its total
surface area is minimum? Find the height of the cylinder when its total surface area is minimum.
2003
Three numbers are given whose sum is 18O and the ratio of the first two of them is 1:2. If the product of
the number is greast, find the nunibers.
2001
ABC 0s a rt.angled triangle of given area S. Find the sides of the triangle for which the area of the
circumscribed circle is least.
2000
Ihe sum of three positive numbers is 26. The second number is 3 times as large as the first. If the sum oT
the squares of these numbers is least, find the
numbers.