8 OPTIMIZATION

Chapter 8

OPTIMIZATION

In this section, we will deal with the maximum value or minimum value
of a function over a certain domain. Most of the problems here require the
formulation of an equation that best describes the given situation.

Definition 8.1 : Absolute maxima and absolute minima

The largest value a function can assume over an interval is called its
absolute maximum over the interval.

The smallest value it can assume is its absolute minimum over the interval.

Remark:
The absolute maximum or absolute minimum of a function over an interval
may or may not exist. If it exists it occurs at either a relative maximum or
relative minimum within the interval or at an endpoint of an interval.

Finding the absolute maximum and absolute minimum values:

Let f be a function defined on an interval .
1. Solve for ( ) and ( ).
2. Solve for the relative maximum of that lie within .
3. Solve for the relative minimum of that lie within
4. The absolute maximum is the largest of the ( ), ( ) and the relative
maximum obtained in step 2.
5. The absolute minimum is the smallest of the ( ), ( ) and the
relative minimum obtained in step 3.

Example 8.1: Find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum of

( ) over the given interval
a. b. c. d. the entire -axis.

Guidelines for Solving Optimization Problems

1. Assign symbols to all given quantities and quantities to be determined.
When feasible, make a sketch.
2. Write a primary equation for the quantity to be maximized or minimized.
3. Reduce the primary equation to one having a single independent variable
– this may involve the use of the secondary equations relating the
independent variables of the primary equation.
4. Determine the domain of the primary equation. That is, determine the
values for which the stated problem makes sense.
5. Determine the desired maximum or minimum value by the techniques of
calculus.

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Example 8.2: We wish to construct a box with a square bottom and top and
rectangular sides. The material for the sides costs $2 per square foot and
that for the top and bottom costs $0.25 per square foot. We intend to spend
$24 on materials. Let us find the dimensions that will give us the box of
maximum volume.

Solution:
Step 1: Draw a sketch of a square box.

Let be the cost of materials, the width or length and the height of
the box. Let be the volume of the square box.

Step 2: We wish to maximize , thus the primary equation is

.

Step 3: Since the top and bottom are squares then the surface area of the top
and bottom is , while the sides are rectangles implies each side has surface
area equal to . Then the cost of material is given by

( )
( )

Hence, the secondary equation is

( ) ( ) .
This can also be written as

We substitute in so that the primary equation is in terms of alone,

giving us
.

Step 4: Certainly, must be positive, so the feasible domain is

Step 5: We then apply the method in determining the absolute maximum

value of .

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Exercises:

1. Find the absolute maximum and absolute minimum of the function

defined by ( ) over
a. the -axis c. the interval
b. the interval d. the interval

2. An egg ranch has 120 chickens, each of which produces 250 eggs per
year. If more chicken are squeezed into the chicken coop, the resulting
overcrowding will reduce eggs production by 1 egg per chicken per
year for each additional chicken squeezed in. Find the maximum egg
production and the number of chickens that will yield this maximum
production.
3. Do exercise 1 if each additional chicken squeezed in reduces egg
production by 3 eggs per chicken per year.

4. A lake was stocked with trout in 1965, and years later there were
trout in the lake. Find the maximum
and minimum numbers of trout in the lake from 1965 through 1985.

5. If a farmer sows seeds per square foot, the resulting yield will be
bushels of grain, where . Find the farmer’s
maximum yield if there are enough seeds on hand to sow 30 seeds per
square foot; if there are enough to sow 20 seeds per square foot.

6. Poiseuille’s law states that (if the units of measurement are properly
chosen) the velocity of blood units from the central axis of an artery of
radius is ( ) . Find the position within the artery where
blood flows the fastest.

7. If a blood vessel contracts, the velocity at which blood flows through it

is affected. If the units of measurement are properly chosen, the
average velocity of the blood flowing through an artery of radius ,
where is less than or equal to the normal radius , is
( ) ( ). Find the amount of contraction that maximizes the
average velocity of the blood.

8. A new disease that affects birch trees is introduced into a locality, and
years later the proportion of birches that have the disease is
. What was the maximum proportion of birches that
contracted the disease?

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