Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________

1. A farmer wishes to enclose a rectangular field using an existing fence for one of the four sides.

E x is tin g fe n c e

(a) Write an expression in terms of x and y that shows the total length of the new fence.

(1)

(b) The farmer has enough materials for 2500 metres of new fence. Show that

y = 2500 – 2x

(1)

(c) A(x) represents the area of the field in terms of x.

(i) Show that

2
A(x) = 2500x – 2x

(2)

(ii) Find A'(x).

(1)

(iii) Hence or otherwise find the value of x that produces the maximum area of the field.

(3)

(iv) Find the maximum area of the field.

(3)
(Total 11 marks)

2. The function g is defined as follows

2
g: x  px + qx + c, p, q, c Î

(a) Find g¢(x)

(1)

(b) If g¢(x) = 2x + 6, find the values of p and q.

(2)

1
Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________
(c) g(x) has a minimum value of –12 at the point A. Find

(i) the x-coordinate of A;

(ii) the value of c.

(4)
(Total 7 marks)

3. A rectangular piece of card measures 24 cm by 9 cm. Equal squares of length x cm are cut from
each corner of the card as shown in the diagram below. What is left is then folded to make an
open box, of length l cm and width w cm.

x 24 cm
x

9 cm

(a) Write expressions, in terms of x, for

(i) the length, l;

(ii) the width, w.

(2)

3 3 2
(b) Show that the volume (B m ) of the box is given by B = 4x – 66x + 216x.

(1)

dB
(c) Find dx .

(1)

(d) (i) Find the value of x which gives the maximum volume of the box.

(ii) Calculate the maximum volume of the box.

(4)
(Total 8 marks)

4. The cost of producing a mathematics textbook is $15 (US dollars) and it is then sold for $x.

(a) Find an expression for the profit made on each book sold.

(1)

A total of (100 000 – 4000x) books is sold.

(b) Show that the profit made on all the books sold is
2
P = 160 000x – 4000x – 1500 000.

(3)

2
Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________
dP
(c) (i) Find dx .

(2)

(ii) Hence calculate the value of x to make a maximum profit

(2)

(d) Calculate the number of books sold to make this maximum profit.

(2)
(Total 10 marks)

5. A closed box has a square base of side x and height h.

(a) Write down an expression for the volume, V, of the box.

(1)

(b) Write down an expression for the total surface area, A, of the box.

(1)

3
The volume of the box is 1000 cm

(c) Express h in terms of x.

(2)

–l 2
(d) Hence show that A = 4000x + 2x .

(2)

dA
(e) Find dx .

(2)

(f) Calculate the value of x that gives a minimum surface area.

(4)

(g) Find the surface area for this value of x.

(3)
(Total 15 marks)

6. A farmer has a rectangular enclosure with a straight hedge running down one side. The area of
2
the enclosure is 162 m . He encloses this area using x metres of the hedge on one side as shown
on the diagram below.

3
Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________

d ia g ra m n o t to s c a le

(a) If he uses y metres of fencing to complete the enclosure,

324
.
show that y = x + x

(3)

The farmer wishes to use the least amount of fencing.

dy
.
(b) Find dx

(3)

(c) Find the value of x which makes y a minimum.

(3)

(d) Calculate this minimum value of y.

(2)

324
(e) Using y = x + x find the values of a and b in the following table.

x 6 9 12 18 24 27 36
y 60 45 39 a 37.5 b 45
(2)

(f) Draw an accurate graph of this function using a horizontal scale starting at 0 and taking 2
cm to represent 10 metres, and a vertical scale starting at 30 with 4 cm to represent 10
metres.

(5)

(g) Write down the values of x for which y increases.

(2)
(Total 20 marks)

7. A football is kicked from a point A (a, 0), 0 < a < 10 on the ground towards a goal to the right of
A.

The ball follows a path that can be modelled by part of the graph

2
y = − 0.021x +1.245x −6.01, x Î , y ³ 0.

x is the horizontal distance of the ball from the origin

4
Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________
y is the height above the ground

Both x and y are measured in metres.

(a) Using your graphic display calculator or otherwise, find the value of a.

(1)

dy
(b) Find dx .

(2)

(c) (i) Use your answer to part (b) to calculate the horizontal distance the ball has
travelled from A when its height is a maximum.

(ii) Find the maximum vertical height reached by the football.

(4)

(d) Draw a graph showing the path of the football from the point where it is kicked to the
point where it hits the ground again. Use 1 cm to represent 5 m on the horizontal axis and
1 cm to represent 2 m on the vertical scale.

(4)

The goal posts are 35 m from the point where the ball is kicked.

(e) At what height does the ball pass over the goal posts?

(2)
(Total 13 marks)

5
Optimization Practice 2011 Name _________________________

8. A closed rectangular box has a height y cm and width x cm. Its length is twice its width. It has a
2
fixed outer surface area of 300 cm .

y cm

x cm
2x cm
2
(a) Show that 4x + 6xy = 300.

(2)

(b) Find an expression for y in terms of x.

(2)

4 3
 x .
(c) Hence show that the volume V of the box is given by V =100x 3

(2)

dV
(d) Find dx .

(2)

(e) (i) Hence find the value of x and of y required to make the volume of the box a
maximum.

(ii) Calculate the maximum volume.

(5)
(Total 13 marks)