Donovan Bidlack

Math 1210
April 15, 2015

a) Determine the cost of running the pipeline strictly on BLM ground with two
different
cases:
i)

One running west, south and then east to the refinery.

The BLM land cost $500000 per mile, which runs 5 mile west, 15 miles
south, and 45 miles east.
Cost = (500000) 5 + (500000) 15 + (500000) 45
Cost = (500000) 65
Cost = 32500000
The BLM pipeline would cost $32.5 million.

ii)

One heading east through the mountain and then south to the refine

Tunneling through the mountain adds a one-time drilling cost of

$3500000, a $420000 environmental impact study and will delay the
project by 6 months costing the company $180000 per month additional.
Cost = (500000) 15 + (500000) 40 + 3500000 + 420000 + (180000) 6
Cost = (500000) 55 + (180000) 6 + 3920000
Cost = 27500000 + 1080000 + 3920000
Cost = 32500000
The mountain pipeline would cost $32.5 million.

b) Determine the cost of running the pipeline:

i) The shortest distance across the private ground to the refinery.

We need to travel diagonally 40 miles east and 15 miles south. The

pipeline will follow the hypotenuse along the right triangle. Therefore, we
need to calculate the hypotenuse across the private land.
Length = sqrt(402 + 152)
Length =
However, each mile through private land cost an additional $350000 in
right-of-use fees.
Cost = (850000) *
Cost = 36312015
The straight-shot pipeline would cost $36.31 million.

iii)

Straight across the private ground, then straight to the refinery.

We need to travel south 15 miles through Private Ground and then east 40
miles through JBLM Ground. However, each mile through private land cost
an additional $350000 in right-of-use fees.
Cost = (850000) 15 + (500000) 40
Cost = 12750000 + 20000000
Cost = 32750000
The Private south and JBLM east pipeline would cost $32.75 million.

c) Determine the optimal way to run the pipeline to minimize cost. Assume that the
pipeline runs across the private ground in straight path between the two paths from
part b) above. Determine the length of pipe that runs across private land and how
far from the refinery it starts running on JBLM land. Clearly show all work including
drawing the pipeline on the figure below. Make it very clear how you use your
knowledge of calculus to determine the optimal placement of the pipeline.
To optimize the path across the private property we need to express the
equation in terms of x. We already determined the hypotenuse using x
only.
C(x) = (500000 + 350000) (sqrt ((40-x)2 + (15)2) + 500000 x

C(x) = (850000) (sqrt ((40-x)2 + (15)2) + 500000 x

C(x) = - (850000(40 x) / (sqrt ((40-x)2 + 225))+ 500000
0 = - (850000(40 x) / (sqrt ((40-x)2 + 225))+ 500000
X = 29.089 or
Cost = (850000) (sqrt ((40-29.089)2 + (15)2) + 500000 * 29.089
Cost = 31613698
The least expensive pipeline would cost $31.61 million.

Dear CEO,
The BLM pipeline would cost $32.5 million. The mountain pipeline would also
cost $32.5 million. The straight-shot pipeline would cost $36.31 million. The Private
south and JBLM east pipeline would cost $32.75 million. The least expensive pipeline
would cost $31.61 million. You should utilize your smart brilliant engineers in order
to make very large stacks of money.
Sincerely,
Donovan

I have learned many things in my calculus class. There are so many useful things
that you can apply calculus to. Every higher level endeavor requires calculus on a
daily basis; Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, Rocket Science, English Literature
Majors and many others. I love when we learn a little bit of history along with the
math, like what Newton did when he first invented calculus. And from his research,
it allowed us to launch men into space. In Engineering it is utilized often, and as I
want to become an engineer, I will use calculus in my daily life.