ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

UNIT 1.2
MATHEMATICAL MODELLING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 1.2: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING
Two numbers have a difference of 14. Express the product of these two numbers
EXAMPLE 1 as a function of the smaller number.

Let 𝑦 = ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟

Let 𝑥 = 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
𝑦 − 𝑥 = 14
𝑦 = 𝑥 + 14
Let 𝑃 = 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡
𝑃 = 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑥 𝑥 + 14
𝑃 = 𝑥 2 + 14𝑥

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 1.2: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

MATHEMATICAL MODELLING
Norman Window has the shape of a rectangle surmounted by a semicircle. If the
EXAMPLE 2 perimeter of the window is 30 ft, express the area of the window as a function of
the width x of the window.
Let 𝑥 = 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑤 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
ℎ = ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡
𝑥
𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 30 = 𝑥 + 2ℎ + 𝜋
2
2+𝜋
Thus, ℎ = 15 − 𝑥
4
𝐴 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 + 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
1 𝑥 2 2+𝜋 𝜋𝑥 2
𝐴 = ℎ𝑥 + 𝜋 = 15 − 𝑥 𝑥+
2 2 4 8
4+𝜋 2
𝐴 = 15𝑥 − 𝑥
8

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

UNIT 1.2: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING ENG 203: CALCULUS 1

EXERCISES
1. A rectangle has a perimeter of 12 m. Express the area of the rectangle as a function of
the length of one of its sides.
2. The number of classrooms (C) in Roque School t years from now can be modeled by the
equation 𝐶 𝑡 = 400 + 25𝑡. The number of students (S) in each classroom also increases
with time, which can also be modeled by the equation 𝑆 𝑡 = 25 + 𝑡. Write a formula for
the total number of students in Roque School t years from now.
3. Susan makes and sells necklaces on a beach. When she sells the necklaces for Php 100
each, she sells an average of 20 necklaces per day. When she increases the price to Php
120, the average sales drop by two per day.
a. Find the demand as a function of price assuming that it is linear.
b. Find the revenue as a function of price.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS