Lesson 19

Optimization Problems
(Maxima and Minima
Problems)
OBJECTIVES:

• to identify the quantity to be maximized or

minimized,
• to apply the knowledge of derivatives and critical
points in solving maximum and minimum problems
and
• to solve maximum and minimum problems with ease
and accuracy.
Steps in solving maximum and minimum 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.
8.Answer the problem completely.
Example 1.
Divide 120 into two parts such that the product of one part and the
square of the other is a maximum. Find the numbers.

Let x  be one part

120 - x  be the other part
M  be the product of one part and the square of the other part

Equation : M   120 - x  x 2
dM
dM   120 - x  2 x   x 2dx 10  240x - 3x 2  0

dM  240x - 2 x 2  x 2 3 x  0  x  0
3x 80 - x   0  
dM  240x - 3 x 2 80  x  0  x  80
 d 2M
U sin g the 2nd derivative test 2
 240  6 x
dx
d 2M
when x  80; 2
 240  6 80      max imum
dx
2
d M
when x  0; 2
 240  6 0       min imum
dx
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

16-2x
10-2x

Let L  length  16 - 2x V  LWh

W  width  10 - 2x    16 - 2x  10  2 x  x 
h  height  x  
 160 - 52x  4 x 2  x 
 160x - 52x 2  4 x 3
dV
 160 - 104x  12x 2
dx
dV
0  160 - 104x - 12x 2  0
dx
3x 2 - 26x  40  0
 x - 2  3 x  20   0
23
x  2 and x   6.67
3
thus x  2
x must not be equal to 6.67 because
10-2x will be negative
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  length of the rectangle  2x
W  width of the rec tan gle  2y

A  LW   2x  2y  4x 2
A  4xy A'  0    4 100  x 2
0
100  x 2

since, R2  x 2  y 2  4x 2  4 100  x 2 
then y 2  R2  x 2
0
100  x 2

y  R2  x 2  4x 2  400  4x 2  0
substituti ng y  R2  x 2 to A  4xy  8x 2  400
we have, A  4x R2  x 2 x 2  50
A  4x 100 - x 2 x  50  5 2 in.
  2x 
 
100  x 2  4  therefore , A  4 50  100   50 
2
A'  4x 
 2 100  x 
 4 50  50 
2

 4x 2
A'  4 100  x 2 A  200 in.2
100  x 2
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=10”

x
R=5”
Volume of a right cylinder : dV 
  100  40y  3y 2 
V  B h    R2  h dy 4
V    x2  y
dV 
0   100  40y  3y 2   0
dy 4
x H y
but ,  3y 2  40 y  100  0
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 

 10  y 
2
checking :
hence, V    y
 2  d2 V 
   40  6y 
dy 2 4
 100  20y  y 
2

  y 10 d2 V    10  
 4  if y  ,    40  6 
3 dy 2 4   3 

V   100y  20y 2  y 3  d2 V
 5 max .
4 dy 2
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 amount of fence needed to enclose the lots
A  area of the field

A
P  2L  4W and A  LW  W 
L
substituti ng W in P  2L  4W;
A
then, P  2L  4  dP 2L2  4 A
L 0  2
0
dL L
2L2  4 A
P 2L2  4 A but , A  LW
L
2L2  4LW
but A is cons tan t, hence 1
therefore , L  2W or W  L
dP L 4L    2L2  4 A   1 2

dL L2
dP 4L2  2L2  4 A 2L2  4 A
 2

dL L L2
Example 6.
Find the most economical proportions for a quart can.

d
V   r 2h   Volume of cylinder 
V
then, h  dT 2V
 r2  0  4 r  2  0
dr r
Solving for the Total Surface Area  T  : 2V
4 r  2
T  2  r 2  2 r h r
2V V
 V  r3   but , V   r 2h
 2 r 2  2 r 2  4  2
 r 
 r 2h
V r 
3

T  2 r 2  2  2
r h d
r since, r 
2 2
dT   V  1 
 4  r  2 2  d h
dr  r    dh
2 2
dT 2V
 4 r  2
dr r
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
Usin g Pythagorean Theorem; dV 3
 0   a2   h2  0
h
2
dh 4
a r  
2 2
3
2  a2   h2
4
h2
a r 
2 2
4 2 h2
4 h  a substituti ng , a  r 
2 2 2

3 4
h2
r a 
2 2

4
4  2 h2 
h  r  
2

3 4
but , V  Bh   r 2h
4 2 h2
 h  2
h  r 
2

  a2  h 3 3 checking :
 4 h2 4 2
h   r
2
d2 V 3
V  a h
2  h3 3 3 2
   2h
4 3h  h2 4 2
2 dh 4
 r d2 V 3
3 3   h  max.
dV  2h  4r
  a2   3h2  dh2 2
2 2

dh 4 h2  2r 2
dV 3
  a2   h2 h
dh 4 hr 2 or r 
2