Engineering Math1 by W.

Mukendi

Applications of differentiations

1. Optimization Problems

The methods we have learned in this chapter for finding the derivatives have
practical applications in many areas of life. A businessperson wants to minimize
costs and maximize profits. A traveller wants to minimize transportation time. In this
section we solve such problems as maximized areas, volumes, and profits and
minimize distances, times, and costs.

By using the second derivative test: suppose 𝒇𝒇′′ (𝒙𝒙) is continuous near c.

a) If 𝒇𝒇′ (𝒄𝒄) = 𝟎𝟎 and 𝒇𝒇′′ (𝒄𝒄) > 𝟎𝟎 then 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) has a local minimum at c.
b) If 𝒇𝒇′ (𝒄𝒄) = 𝟎𝟎 and 𝒇𝒇′′ (𝒄𝒄) < 𝟎𝟎 then 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) has a local maximum at c

In solving such practical problems the greatest challenge is often to convert the word
problem into a mathematical optimization problem by setting up the function that is to
be maximized or minimized.

Steps in Solving Optimization Problems

1. Understand the problem: the first step is to read the problem carefully until it is
clearly understood. Ask yourself: what is the unknown? What are the given
quantities? What are the given conditions?
2. Draw a Diagram: in most problems it is useful to draw a diagram and identify the
given and required quantities on the diagram.
3. Introduce Notation: assign a symbol to the quantity that is to be maximized or
minimized (let us call it 𝑄𝑄 for now). Also select symbols (𝑎𝑎, 𝑏𝑏, 𝑐𝑐, … , 𝑥𝑥) for other
unknown quantities and label the diagram with these symbols. It may help to use
initials as suggestive symbols-for example, A for Area, h for height, t for time.
4. Express Q in terms of some of the other symbols from Step 3.
5. If Q has been expressed as a function of more than one variable in Step 4, use
the given information to find relationships (in the form of equations) among these
variables. Then use these equations to eliminate all but one of the variables in
the expression for Q. Thus Q will be expressed as a function of one variable x,
say 𝑄𝑄 = 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥). Write the domain of this function in the given context.
 Engineering Math1 by W. Mukendi

Example 1:
A farmer has 1200m of fencing and wants to fence off a rectangular field that borders
a straight river. He needs no fence along the river. What are the dimensions of the
field that has the largest area?
Solution:
In order to get a feeling for what is happening in this problem, let us experiment with
some specific cases. See figure 1 shows three possible ways of laying out the 1200
m of fencing.

1000 400

100 100 400 400

Area = 100.1000= 100,000 𝑚2 Area= 400.400= 160,000 𝑚2

200
500 500

Area = 500.200 = 100, 000 𝑚2

Figure 1

We see that when we try shallow, wide, narrow fields, we get relatively small areas.
It seems plausible that there is some intermediate configuration that produces the
largest area.

Figure 2 illustrates the general case. We wish to maximize the area A of the
rectangle. Let x and y be the depth and width of the rectangle (In meters). Then we
express A in terms of 𝑥𝑥 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑦𝑦:
 Engineering Math1 by W. Mukendi

𝐴𝐴 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
We want to express A as a function of just one variable, so we eliminate by by
expressing it in terms of 𝑥𝑥 . To do this we use the given information that the total
length of the fencing is 1200 m. Thus

2𝑥𝑥 + 𝑦𝑦 = 1200

From this equation we have 𝑦𝑦 = 1200 − 2𝑥𝑥, which gives

𝐴𝐴 = 𝑥𝑥 ( 1200 − 2𝑥𝑥) = 1200 𝑥𝑥 − 2 𝑥𝑥 2

Note that 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 600 (otherwise 𝐴𝐴 < 0) so the function that we wish to
maximize is

𝐴𝐴 (𝑥𝑥) = 1200 𝑥𝑥 – 2𝑥𝑥 2 0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 600

The derivative is 𝐴𝐴′ (𝑥𝑥) = 1200 − 4𝑥𝑥, so to find the critical numbers we solve the
equation

1200 – 4 𝑥𝑥 = 0

Which gives 𝑥𝑥 = 300. the maximum value of A must occur either at this critical

number or at endpoint of the interval. Since 𝐴𝐴 (0) = 0, 𝐴𝐴 (300) = 180,000.

[Alternatively, we could have observed that 𝐴𝐴′′ (𝑥𝑥) = −4 < 0 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝑥𝑥, so A is always
concave downward and local maximum at x = 300 must be an absolute maximum.]

Thus the rectangular field should be 300 m deep and 600 m wide.

Exercises

1) A box with a square base and open top must have a volume of 32,000 cm3. Find
the dimensions of the box that minimize the amount of material used.

2) If 1200 cm2 of material is available to make a box with a square base and an
open top, find the largest possible volume of the box.
 Engineering Math1 by W. Mukendi

3) A rectangular storage container with an open top is to have a volume of 10

m3. The length of its base is twice the width. Material for the base costs $10
per square meter. Material for the sides costs $6 per square meter. Find the
cost of materials for the cheapest such container.

4) A missile is fired into the air. The height h of the missile after t seconds is
given by

Find a) the initial velocity of the missile (i.e. at t=0)

b) the height attained when its velocity is one half of its initial velocity.

5) Show that the area A mm2 of a rectangle having a perimeter of 36 mm and the

shorter side of length x mm is given by

If this area is to be a maximum, show that the figure must be a square of side 9
mm.

6) The total area of sheet metal used in the construction of a closed cylindrical
can is 24π mm2. If the base radius of the can is r mm, show that the volume V

mm3 is given by

Determine the maximum volume of the can.

7) A window frame is made in the shape of a rectangle with a semi-circle on top.

If the area is to be 8 m2, show that the perimeter of the frame is

metres.

Find the minimum cost of producing the frame if correct to nearest Rand, 1 metre
costs 75 rands.

8) The pressure-temperature curve for ether is given by

Rearrange the equation, expressing p in terms of T. If R, a and b are constants

show that p has a maximum when .

Engineering Math1 by W. Mukendi