Bicol University Graduate School

Master of Arts in Mathematics Education

Analysis for Teachers

JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA
Module 6 – Maxima and Minima

Exercises 6.2

3. A closed rectangular box whose base is twice as long as it is wide has a volume of 36,000 cm 3. The
material for the top costs 10 centavos per sq. cm; that for the sides and bottom costs 5 centavos per
sq. cm. find the dimensions that will make the cost of making the box a minimum.

Solution:
Let l , w and h be the length, width and height of the
rectangular box, respectively.

Hence, lwh=36000 but l=2 w (given), thus:

hw ( 2 w )=36000
2 h w2 =36000
18000
h=
w2

let C (w) be the cost of making the box with respect to it’s width.
C ( x )=10 Atop +5( A sides + Abottom )

2
But Atop = A bottom =wl=w ( 2 w )=2 w , and
18000 6 ∙ 18000
A sides=2 wh+2 lh=2 wh+ 4 wh=6 wh=6 w
( w2
=
) w
, thus:

C ( w )=10 ( 2 w 2) + 5 ( 6 ∙18000
w
+2 w )
2

30 ∙ 18000
C ( w )=20 w2+ +10 w 2
w
2 30 ∙ 18000
C ( w )=30 w +
w
' 30∙ 18000
C ( w )=60 w−
w2

Let C ' ( w )=0, solve for w .

30 ∙ 18000
0=60 w−
w2
0=w 3−9000
w=10 √3 9 cm≈ 20.800838230519 cm
∴ l=20 √3 9 cm≈ 41.6016764610381cm
18000
∴ h= 3
100 √ 92
180 √3 9
h=
9
h=20 √3 9 cm∨41.6016764610381 cm
3
Therefore, the dimension is 10 √ 9 cm× 20 √3 9 × 20 √3 9∨20.8 cm× 41.6 cm × 41.6 cm.

To check if it’s the minimum:

JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 1 of 6

 JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 2 of 6

9 0∙ 18000
C ' ' ( w ) =60+
w3
( 9 0 ∙ 18000 )
C ' ' ( 10 √3 9 )=60+
9000
'' 3
C ( 10 √ 9 )=24 0
C '' ( 10 √3 9 ) >0
∴ C ( 10 √3 9 ) is the minimum.
4. A mango-grower observes that if 25 mango trees are planted per hectare, the yield is 450 mangoes
per tree and that the yield per tree decreases by 10 for each additional tree per hectare. How many
trees should be planted per hectare to obtain the maximum crop?

Solution:
Let t be the number of tress planted and m be the number of mangoes per tree, thus:
m=450−10 ( t −25 )
m=700−10 t

Let f (t) be the total number of mangoes obtain, therefore:

f ( t )=mt .
f ( t )=( 700−10 t ) (t )
f ( t )=700 t−10 t 2
f ' ( t )=700−20t

Let f ' ( t )=0, solve for t .

0=700−20 t
20 t=700
t=35 trees

To check if it’s the maximum:

f ' ' ( t ) =−20
f ' ' ( 35 )=−20
f ' ' ( 35 ) <0
∴ f ( 35 )is the maximum.

5. Buses are to be chartered for an excursion. The bus company charges P20.00 per ticket if not more
than 200 passengers go with the trip. However, the company agrees to reduce the price of every
ticket P0.05 for each passenger in excess of 200 passengers. What number of passengers will
produce the maximum gross income?

Solution:
Let p be the number passengers and t be the price of the ticket per passenger, thus:
t=20−0.05 ( p−200 )
t=30−0.05 p

Let f ( p ) be the gross income of the bus, therefore:

f ( p ) =pt .
f ( p ) =( p ) (30−0.05 p)
f ( p ) =30 p−0.05 p2
f ' ( p )=30−0.1 p

Let f ' ( p )=0, solve for p.

0=30−0.1 p
0.1 p=30
p=300 passengers

To check if it’s the maximum:

 JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 3 of 6

f ' ' ( p )=−0.1

f ' ' ( 300 )=−0.1
f ' ' ( 300 ) <0
∴ f ( 300 )is the maximum

6. A closed right circular cylindrical tank is to have a capacity of 120 π m3. Find the dimensions of the
tank that will require the least amount of material in making it.

Solution:
Let r and h be the radius of the base and the height of the tank, respectively. Thus:
V =π r 2 h
120 π =π r 2 h
120
h= 2
r

The amount of materials needed in making the tank will vary from its Surface Area ( S) .
S=2 πrh+2 π r 2
120
( )
S=2 πr 2 +2 π r 2
r
240 π
S= +2 π r 2
r
−240 π
S' = + 4 πr
r2

Let S' =0 , solve for r :

−240 π
0= +4 πr
r2
4 r 3=240
r =√3 60 m ≈ 3.9148676411689 m
120
∴ h= 3 2
√6 0
3
h=2 √ 60 m ≈7.8297352823377 m

To check if it’s the minimum:

480 π
S' ' = +4π
r3
480 π
S ' ' ¿r =√60=
3 +4 π
60
S ' ' ¿r =√60=12 π
3

S ' ' ¿r =√60 >0

3

∴ S ¿ r=√ 60 is the minimum.

3

7. A building with rectangular base is to be constructed on a lot in the form of a right triangle with legs
18 m and 24 m. If the building has one side along the hypotenuse of the triangle. Find the
dimensions of the base of the building for maximum floor area.

Solution:
Let A , B , and C be the vertices of the lot whereas AB
´ is the hypotenuse, AC=24
´ and
BC=18. ∴ by PT: AB=30.
´ ´

Let P ,Q , R ,and S be the vertices of the base of the building whereas ŔS is along the
hypotenuse as shown on the right.
 JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 4 of 6

´ PQ=l
Let the area of the base be K , RS= ´ and
´ PS=w
QR= ´ , thus:
K=lw

Consider ∆ ABC and ∆ BPS .

tan∠ ABC=tan ∠SBP
24 ṔS
=
18 SB ´
4 w
=
3 SB ´
´ 3w
∴ SB=
4

Consider ∆ ABC and ∆ AQR .

tan∠ BAC=tan ∠ RAQ
18 QR ´
=
24 AR ´
3 w
=
4 AR ´
4w
∴ AR=
3
Now consider AB ´ :
´ ´
AB= AR+ ŔS+ SB ´
4w 3w
30= +l +
3 4
25 w
30= +l
12
25 w
l=30−
12
Substitute l to the function K :
25 w
(
K= 30−
12
w )
25 w 2
K=30 w−
12
' 25 w
K =30−
6
Let K ' =0 , solve for w:
25 w
0=30−
6
25 w
=30
6
36
w= m∨7.2m
5
25 36
∴ l=30−
12 5 ( )
l=15 m

Therefore, the dimension is 7.2 m×15 m

To check if it’s the maximum:

−25
K ' '=
6
−25
K''¿ 36 =
w=
5
6
 JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 5 of 6

K''¿ 36 <0
w=
5
∴ K¿ 36 is themaximum .
w=
5

8. A sheet of cardboard 3 ft. by 4 ft. will be made into a box by cutting equal-sized squares from each
corner and folding up the four edges. What will be the dimensions of the box with largest volume?

Solution:
Let s be the length of the side of the cut-out squares.

Hence, 4−2 s , 3−2 s, and s be the length, width and height of the box as shown on the right.

Let V (s) be the volume with respect to s. Thus:

V ( s )=( 4−2 s ) ( 3−2 s ) (s)
V ( s )=( 4−2 s ) (3 s−2 s 2)
V ( s )=12 s−8 s2 −6 s 2+ 4 s3
V ( s )=12 s−14 s 2+ 4 s3
V ' ( s )=12−28 s+12 s 2

Let V ' ( s )=0, solve for s:

0=12−28 s+12 s 2
7
s2− s=−1
3
7 49 49
s2− s+ =−1+
3 36 36
2
7 13
( )
s− =
6 36
7 13
s− =± √
6 6
7+ √ 13
s1= ≈ 1.767591879244
6
7−√13
s2= ≈ 0.5657414540893
6

Use 2nd degree derivative of V ( s ) to test which s will give the maximum of V (s):
V ' ' ( s )=−28+24 s
7+ √ 13
If s= :
6
7+ √ 13 7+ √ 13
V''( 6 )
=−28+24 (
6 )
7+ √13
V''( 6 )
=−28+28+ √ 13

7+ √13
V''( 6 )
=√ 13

7+ √ 13
V''( 6
>0 )
7 + √ 13
∴V ( 6 )
is the minimum

7−√ 13
If s= :
6
7−√ 13 7−√ 13
V''( 6 )
=−28+24 (6 )
 JEPHTHAH M. OROBIA |Module 6 – Maxima Minima |Page 6 of 6

( 7−6√ 13 )=−28+28− √13

V''

7−√ 13
V (
6 )
''
=−√ 13

7−√ 13
V (
6 )
''
<0

7−√ 13
∴V (
6 )
is themaximum
Thus,
7−√ 13
s= ft . ≈ 0.5657414540893 ft .
6
7− √13
∴ 3−2 s=3−2 ( 6 )
9−7+ √ 13
3−2 s=
3
2+ 13
3−2 s= √ ft . ≈1.8685170918213 ft .
3

∴ 4−2 s=4−2 ( 7−6√ 13 )

12−7+ √ 13
4−2 s=
3
5+ 13
4−2 s= √ ft .≈ 2.8685170918213 ft .
3

Therefore, the dimension is 2.87 ft . ×1.87 ft . × 0.57 ft .