The Calculus Crusaders

Optimization: Cage Building Questions

Optimization (a)
Bench:
 We can’t afford to get these animals hurt again.
We need to bring them back home and put them
in a box. Jamie won’t know.

Zeph:
 Hey, look! There is a guy over there selling a
sheet of plastic that we can use to make a box.
We can build a box by cutting squares from the
corners.
Optimization (a)
Bench:
Cool, the sheet is 4m by 4m, do you think
we have enough?

Zeph:
I think so, let’s find out how we can
maximize the volume of the box.

Bench:
Okay, I’ll do the math.
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we
have:
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we
have:

So we must make the box by

cutting squares from the
corners and folding up the
remaining sides.
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we
have:

So we must make the box by

cutting squares from the
corners and folding up the
remaining sides.

What should be the

dimensions of the squares
to maximize the volume of
the box? What is the
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used
to find the volume of the
box:

V=lwh
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used to
find the volume of the
box:

V=lwh
So what are the dimensions
of the box?
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used to
find the volume of the
box:

V=lwh
So what are our
dimensions of the box?

When we cut the squares

out, each side of the
sheet was decreased by
2c.
Optimization (a)
So the volume as a
function of c will be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

where the length and width

are equal to 4 - 2c and
the height is equal to c.
Optimization (a)
So are volume as a
function of c will be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

Simplified, V(c) looks like

so:
V(c) = 16c – 16c² + 4c³
Optimization (a)
So are volume as a
function of c will be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

Simplified, V(c) looks like

so:
V(c) = 4c³ – 16c² + 16c

This is the volume function.

In order to maximize the
volume, we need to find
the maximum value of
Optimization (a)
We could use grade 11 pre-
calc to find the max or we
could use “Calculus”.
Optimization (a)
We could use grade 11 pre-
calc to find the max or we
could use “Calculus”

To use Calculus, we can

use the First Derivative
Test.
Finding the max using the
test requires finding
where the volume
function is increasing and
then decreasing
Optimization (a)
So we find the first
derivative of the function.
This can be done by
using the power rule for
each term of the
polynomial.
Optimization (a)
So we find the first
derivative of the function.
This can be done by
using the power rule for
each term of the
polynomial.

The power rule says that

the derivative of any
variable to an exponent
can be found by
multiplying the term by
Optimization (a)
Let’s see how the
derivative of the volume
function looks like:
V’(c) = 16 – 32c + 12c²
Optimization (a)
Let’s see how the
derivative of the volume
function looks like:
V’(c) = 16 – 32c + 12c²

Now we need to find the

zeroes of the derivative,
because a function has a
max or min when its
derivative has a zero/root
or is undefined.
The x-coordinate of the
Optimization (a)
Set the function equal to
zero and solve for the
variable, in this case, c.
0 = 16 – 32c + 12c²
0 = 4 (4 – 8c – 3c²)
0 = 4 (3c -2) (c -2)
Optimization (a)
Set the function equal to
zero and solve for the
variable, in this case, c.
0 = 16 – 32c + 12c²
0 = 4 (4 – 8c – 3c²)
0 = 4 (3c -2) (c -2)
Therefore there is a critical
number @ c = ⅔ & c = 2
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval
analysis to find where the
function is increasing or
decreasing.
V’
⅔ 2
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval
analysis to find where the
function is increasing or
decreasing.

You may remember the Extreme

Value Theorem which states
that the endpoints of the
intervals are candidates for
maximums and minimums.
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval analysis
to find where the function is
increasing or decreasing.

You may remember the Extreme Value

Theorem which states that the
endpoints of the intervals are
candidates for maximums and
minimums.

But we can’t use the endpoints of the

interval because that would make
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval
analysis to find where the
function is increasing or
decreasing.
+ - +
V’
⅔ 2

Now you can sort of visualize

where the volume is increasing
or decreasing from this
analysis.
We want to know where the
function is increasing then
Optimization (a)
Now we know that when
the dimensions of the
squares being cut out
must be ⅔ m by ⅔ m to
maximize the volume of
the box.
Optimization (a)
Now we know that when
the dimensions of the
squares being cut out
must be ⅔ m by ⅔ m to
maximize the volume of
the box.

The volume of the box is

approximately 4.7407 m³
which was found by
solving for V(⅔).
Optimization (b)
Bench:
 Okay, we can build the box and I didn’t even use my
calculator except for finding the volume.

Zeph:
 Hey wait!!! Our animals can’t breathe! We need to make
holes. How many holes do we need to maximize the rate
of Oxygen entering the box and minimize the rate of
Carbon dioxide entering the box? There is a maximum of
20 holes.

Bench:
 Since this box was made using math, the rate of Oxygen
and Carbon dioxide entering the box must be mathematic
as well.

Zeph:
 Okay…. Whatever you say…
Optimization (b)
The rate of Oxygen per hole is modeled by the
function:

in cm³/hr/hole. While the rate of Carbon

dioxide per hole is modeled by the function:

in cm³/hr/hole.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were
given the rate per hole. So if we integrate
the function, we will find the total rate of
Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were
given the rate per hole. So if we integrate
the function, we will find the total rate of
Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.

But we do not know how many holes are

needed, which means we do not know how
far we need to integrate to from zero.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were
given the rate per hole. So if we integrate
the function, we will find the total rate of
Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.

But we do not know how many holes are

needed, which means we do not know how
far we need to integrate to from zero.

So we need to create a function that we can

optimize that involves an integration from
zero to a certain number of holes.
Optimization (b)
Since we are integrating the Oxygen or Carbon
dioxide functions, it will be the integrand as
shown below:

where R(h) is used to find the rate of oxygen and

S(h) is used to find the rate of carbon dioxide.
These functions represent the rate of gas
entering the box, in cm ³/hr, depending on the
number of holes drilled into the box
Optimization (b)
Since we are integrating the Oxygen or Carbon dioxide
functions, it will be the integrand as shown below:

where R(h) is used to find the rate of oxygen and S(h) is

used to find the rate of carbon dioxide. These functions
represent the rate of gas entering the box, in cm ³/hr,
depending on the number of holes drilled into the box

These functions are called accumulation functions because

you are accumulation areas. The “h” represents the
number of holes. So we need to find what value of h will
maximize the rate.
 Optimization (b)
I’ll start with maximizing the rate of oxygen. As
shown in making the box, to find the maxima or
minima of a function, you can use the First
Derivative Test. As a recap, a maximum is
found where the derivative goes from positive
to negative.
 Optimization (b)
I’ll start with maximizing the rate of oxygen. As
shown in making the box, to find the maxima or
minima of a function, you can use the First
Derivative Test. As a recap, a maximum is found
where the derivative goes from positive to
negative.

The derivative of an accumulation function

represents the second part of the Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus, which states that the
derivative of an integral is equal to the
integrand. In other words, a derivative and an
Optimization (b)
As stated earlier, the derivative of the
accumulation functions is the integrand. Just
switch the independent variable with the
variable of the integral because
accumulation functions are composites of
functions which means an application of the
Chain Rule is required.

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

Optimization (b)
As stated earlier, the derivative of the
accumulation functions is the integrand. Just
switch the independent variable with the
variable of the integral because
accumulation functions are composites of
functions which means an application of the
Chain Rule is required.

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

Now just set the functions equal to zero and

find the roots. Remember the Extreme Value
Optimization (b)

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

In the context of the question, the two

endpoints of the interval can be included. In
other words, 0 holes and h holes (what ever
it is) must be included in the analysis.
Optimization (b)
R’(h) has critical numbers at h = -2, 0, 11, 20
h = -2 can be rejected because it is not within
the domain.
- +
R’(h
) 0 11 20
Optimization (b)
R’(h) has critical numbers at h = -2, 0, 11, 20
h = -2 can be rejected because it is not within
the domain.
- +
R’(h
) 0 11 20
h = 11 cannot be a maximum because it is
decreasing to the left of 11 and increasing to
the right. h = 0 cannot be a maximum
because if 0 is used, you will be integrating
from 0 to 0 which will produce 0 as an
Optimization (b)
S’(h) has critical numbers at h = 0, 12, 20
There is one more critical number but it is
rejected because it is not in the domain.

+ -
S’(h
) 0 12 20
Optimization (b)
S’(h) has critical numbers at h = 0, 12, 20
There is one more critical number but it is
rejected because it is not in the domain.

+ -
S’(h
) 0 12 20
h = 12 cannot be a minimum because S is
increasing on the left of h = 12 and
decreasing on the right, making it a
maximum. h = 0 cannot be used because of
the same reason as h = 0 in R’(h). Therefore
the only choice left is h = 20.
Optimization (b)
Let’s recap our answers.

Therefore to obtain a maximum rate of

oxygen and a minimum rate of carbon
dioxide entering the box, there must be 20
holes drilled into the box.
Optimization
Bench:
There we go. You guys stay put, while we
find the block of wood.

Zeph:
Okay, let’s get out of here before Jamie
comes and yells at us for caging up our
animals.
At least the
animals won’t
get hurt
anymore.