Name:_____________________________ Pre-Calculus Honors

Optimization: Maximum Area & Volume

Solving Optimization Problems: 1) A metal sheet is 20 inches wide, and is to be made into
a gutter by turning up sides of equal length perpendicular
1. Read the problem. Read the problem
to the metal sheet. Find the length that must be turned
until you understand it. What is given?
up to produce a gutter with a maximum cross-sectional
2. Draw a picture. Label any part that area. What is the maximum cross sectional area?
may be important to the problem.

3. Introduce variables. List every

relation in the picture and in the problem
as an equation or algebraic expression,
and identify the unknown variable.

When maximizing
area of a quadratic
function we use
the formula for the
axis of symmetry.

2) A rectangular field is to be enclosed

with 500 feet of fencing along 3 sides
and by a straight stream on the 4th side.
Let x be the length of each side
perpendicular to the stream. 3) Suppose you have 62 meters of fencing with which to
make two side-by-side rectangular enclosures against an
(a) Draw a picture representing this existing wall. If the rectangular enclosures are adjacent
situation. Make sure to label all sides. and of the same depth, what is the maximum area that can
be enclosed? [Hint: Draw a picture].

(b) Express the area of the field of the

stream in terms of x.

(c) What is the largest area that can be

enclosed in this fencing?

(d) What are the dimensions of the

rectangular field that produces the
largest area?

TOMEI
4) A rectangle is inscribed with its base on the 5) Suppose that you wanted to make an open-
𝑥-axis and its upper corners on the parabola topped box out of a flat piece of cardboard that
𝑦 = 16 − 4𝑥 2 . For each of the questions below, is 25 inches long by 20 inches wide. You cut a
show all relevant sketches of graphs that helped square out of each corner, all of uniform length,
you arrive to your final answer. 𝑥, and then fold up the flaps to form the box.
For each of the questions below, show all
(a) Write an equation that could represent the
relevant sketches of graphs that helped you
maximum area for the rectangle described above
arrive to your final answer.

(a) Create a picture illustrating the above

scenario and state an appropriate equation for
the volume, 𝑉(𝑥) for the open-topped box.

(b) What are the dimensions of such a rectangle

with the greatest possible length and width? (b) State the maximum volume, rounding to the
(Round to the nearest thousandth). nearest thousandth.

(c) State the maximum area of the rectangle

(c) State the domain of x-values, rounding to the
inscribed under the parabola (Round to the nearest
nearest tenth, for which 𝑉(𝑥) is at most 500
thousandth).
cubic inches.

6) A rectangle is inscribed with its base on the 𝑥-axis and its upper corners on the parabola in order to
maximize the rectangle’s area under the curve. The horizontal width of the inscribed rectangle is ~1.826
inches and has a vertical length of ~3.333 inches. Find the equation for the quadratic function in
standard form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, rounding the values for 𝑎, 𝑏, & 𝑐 to the nearest hundredth. The vertex of the
quadratic function is (0,5).

TOMEI
 TOMEI
Name:_____________________________KEY Pre-Calculus Honors

Optimization: Maximum Area & Volume

Solving Optimization Problems: 1) A metal sheet is 20 inches wide, and is to be made into
a gutter by turning up sides of equal length perpendicular
1. Read the problem. Read the problem
to the metal sheet. Find the length that must be turned
until you understand it. What is given?
up to produce a gutter with a maximum cross-sectional
2. Draw a picture. Label any part that area. What is the maximum cross sectional area?
may be important to the problem.

3. Introduce variables. List every

relation in the picture and in the problem

Ext
as an equation or algebraic expression,
and identify the unknown variable.

When maximizing
area of a quadratic A lW
function we use A x 20 2x A length of Sinines
the formula for the will need to be turned
A 2 2 202
axis of symmetry.
up for max cross
2) A rectangular field is to be enclosed
Max Area 5 20 2157
with 500 feet of fencing along 3 sides
and by a straight stream on the 4th side. 50in
Let x be the length of each side
perpendicular to the stream. 3) Suppose you have 62 meters of fencing with which to
make two side-by-side rectangular enclosures against an
(a) Draw a picture representing this existing wall. If the rectangular enclosures are adjacent
situation. Make sure to label all sides. and of the same depth, what is the maximum area that can
P soft p 2xty be enclosed? [Hint: Draw a picture].
Hey
y At 2x y
(b) Express the area of the field of the y
y y
stream in terms of x. A X y A 25 7 63
3
A x 2 500 7 01500
222
By A 43
2
1231X

É FIJI
(c) What is the largest area that can be
enclosed in this fencing?

62 2 x c
x
8 A 26257500425 39 21413
TX
y y Amax 31,25Of 3
(d) What are the dimensions of the
rectangular field that produces the 63 3 x
3
largest area?
A 317 13
y 3 63 1234

q 9 26257 500
Amax 99m or 320.3m
TOMEI
4) A rectangle is inscribed with its base on the 5) Suppose that you wanted to make an open-
𝑥-axis and its upper corners on the parabola topped box out of a flat piece of cardboard that
𝑦 = 16 − 4𝑥 2 . For each of the questions below, is 25 inches long by 20 inches wide. You cut a
show all relevant sketches of graphs that helped square out of each corner, all of uniform length,
you arrive to your final answer. 𝑥, and then fold up the flaps to form the box.
For each of the questions below, show all
(a) Write an equation that could represent the
relevant sketches of graphs that helped you
maximum area for the rectangle described above
arrive to your final answer.

16 (a) Create a picture illustrating the above

A scenario and state an appropriate equation for

f
the volume, 𝑉(𝑥) for the open-topped box.
Eggo
3270
3
4 8 1 Jasaas
v e x 25 2 7120 24
(b) What are the dimensions of such a rectangle
with the greatest possible length and width? (b) State the maximum volume, rounding to the
(Round to the nearest thousandth). nearest thousandth.

598 1.15470077
558.55in
I É to
Éj
(c) State the maximum area of the rectangle
(c) State the domain of x-values, rounding to the
inscribed under the parabola (Round to the nearest
nearest tenth, for which 𝑉(𝑥) is at most 500
thousandth).
cubic inches.

ÉÉI ma so

24.634unitsTwn Is
idn IEa CO30 so
1 6s

6) A rectangle is inscribed with its base on the 𝑥-axis and its upper corners on the parabola in order to
maximize the rectangle’s area under the curve. The horizontal width of the inscribed rectangle is ~1.826
inches and has a vertical length of ~3.333 inches. Find the equation for the quadratic function in
standard form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, rounding the values for 𝑎, 𝑏, & 𝑐 to the nearest hundredth. The vertex of the
quadratic function is (0,5).

o s IIaY Iz y axg
I.gg
S
1.667 Éa
0.833569
0.833569 0.833569
x 1.821
a 1.99983
x 0.913
TOMEI
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