The Calculus Crusaders

Optimization: Cage Building Questions

Optimization (a)
Bench:
 We can’t afford to get these animals hurt again. We need to bring
them back home and put them in a box. Jamie won’t know.

Zeph:
 Hey, look! There is a guy over there selling a sheet of plastic that
we can use to make a box. We can build a box by cutting squares
from the corners.
Optimization (a)
Bench:
 Cool, the sheet is 4m by 4m, do you think we have enough?

Zeph:
 I think so, let’s find out how we can maximize the volume of
the box.

Bench:
 Okay, I’ll do the math.
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we have:
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we have:

So we must make the box by cutting

squares from the corners and folding
up the remaining sides.
 Optimization (a)
Let’s take a look at what we have:

So we must make the box by cutting

squares from the corners and folding
up the remaining sides.

What should be the dimensions of the

squares to maximize the volume of
the box? What is the volume of the
box?
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used to find the
volume of the box:

V=lwh
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used to find the
volume of the box:

V=lwh
So what are the dimensions of the
box?
 Optimization (a)
Here is the formula used to find the
volume of the box:

V=lwh
So what are our dimensions of the
box?

When we cut the squares out, each

side of the sheet was decreased by
2c.
Optimization (a)
So the volume as a function of c will
be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

where the length and width are equal

to 4 - 2c and the height is equal to c.
Optimization (a)
So are volume as a function of c will
be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

Simplified, V(c) looks like so:

V(c) = 16c – 16c² + 4c³
Optimization (a)
So are volume as a function of c will
be:
V(c) = c(4 - 2c)²

Simplified, V(c) looks like so:

V(c) = 4c³ – 16c² + 16c

This is the volume function. In order

to maximize the volume, we need
to find the maximum value of the
function.
Optimization (a)
We could use grade 11 pre-calc to find
the max or we could use “Calculus”.
Optimization (a)
We could use grade 11 pre-calc to find
the max or we could use “Calculus”

To use Calculus, we can use the First

Derivative Test.
Finding the max using the test
requires finding where the volume
function is increasing and then
decreasing
Optimization (a)
So we find the first derivative of the
function. This can be done by using
the power rule for each term of the
polynomial.
Optimization (a)
So we find the first derivative of the
function. This can be done by using
the power rule for each term of the
polynomial.

The power rule says that the derivative

of any variable to an exponent can
be found by multiplying the term by
the exponent and decrease the
exponent by 1.
Optimization (a)
Let’s see how the derivative of the
volume function looks like:
V’(c) = 16 – 32c + 12c²
Optimization (a)
Let’s see how the derivative of the
volume function looks like:
V’(c) = 16 – 32c + 12c²

Now we need to find the zeroes of the

derivative, because a function has a
max or min when its derivative has
a zero/root or is undefined.
The x-coordinate of the root is called
a critical number.
Optimization (a)
Set the function equal to zero and
solve for the variable, in this case, c.
0 = 16 – 32c + 12c²
0 = 4 (4 – 8c – 3c²)
0 = 4 (3c -2) (c -2)
Optimization (a)
Set the function equal to zero and
solve for the variable, in this case, c.
0 = 16 – 32c + 12c²
0 = 4 (4 – 8c – 3c²)
0 = 4 (3c -2) (c -2)
Therefore there is a critical number
@c=⅔&c=2
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval analysis to find
where the function is increasing or
decreasing.

V’
⅔ 2
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval analysis to find
where the function is increasing or
decreasing.

You may remember the Extreme Value

Theorem which states that the endpoints of
the intervals are candidates for maximums
and minimums.
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval analysis to find where
the function is increasing or decreasing.

You may remember the Extreme Value Theorem

which states that the endpoints of the intervals are
candidates for maximums and minimums.

But we can’t use the endpoints of the interval because

that would make the amount of material at the
corners being cut out so small that you can’t fold it
or too large that there is nothing to fold.
Optimization (a)
Now we apply an interval analysis to find
where the function is increasing or
decreasing.
+ - +
V’
⅔ 2
Now you can sort of visualize where the
volume is increasing or decreasing from this
analysis.
We want to know where the function is
increasing then decreasing and in this case it
is at c = ⅔ by the First Derivative Test.
Optimization (a)
Now we know that when the
dimensions of the squares being cut
out must be ⅔ m by ⅔ m to
maximize the volume of the box.
Optimization (a)
Now we know that when the
dimensions of the squares being cut
out must be ⅔ m by ⅔ m to
maximize the volume of the box.

The volume of the box is

approximately 4.7407 m³ which
was found by solving for V(⅔).
Optimization (b)
Bench:
 Okay, we can build the box and I didn’t even use my calculator except for
finding the volume.

Zeph:
 Hey wait!!! Our animals can’t breathe! We need to make holes. How many
holes do we need to maximize the rate of Oxygen entering the box and
minimize the rate of Carbon dioxide entering the box? There is a maximum of
20 holes.

Bench:
 Since this box was made using math, the rate of Oxygen and Carbon dioxide
entering the box must be mathematic as well.

Zeph:
 Okay…. Whatever you say…
Optimization (b)
The rate of Oxygen per hole is modeled by the function:

in cm³/hr/hole. While the rate of Carbon dioxide per hole is

modeled by the function:

in cm³/hr/hole.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were given the rate per
hole. So if we integrate the function, we will find the total
rate of Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were given the rate per
hole. So if we integrate the function, we will find the total
rate of Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.

But we do not know how many holes are needed, which means
we do not know how far we need to integrate to from zero.
Optimization (b)
We need to maximize the rate and we were given the rate per
hole. So if we integrate the function, we will find the total
rate of Oxygen or Carbon dioxide.

But we do not know how many holes are needed, which means
we do not know how far we need to integrate to from zero.

So we need to create a function that we can optimize that

involves an integration from zero to a certain number of
holes.
Optimization (b)
Since we are integrating the Oxygen or Carbon dioxide functions, it
will be the integrand as shown below:

where R(h) is used to find the rate of oxygen and S(h) is used to find
the rate of carbon dioxide. These functions represent the rate of
gas entering the box, in cm ³/hr, depending on the number of
holes drilled into the box
Optimization (b)
Since we are integrating the Oxygen or Carbon dioxide functions, it will be the
integrand as shown below:

where R(h) is used to find the rate of oxygen and S(h) is used to find the rate of
carbon dioxide. These functions represent the rate of gas entering the box, in
cm ³/hr, depending on the number of holes drilled into the box

These functions are called accumulation functions because you are accumulation
areas. The “h” represents the number of holes. So we need to find what value of
h will maximize the rate.
 Optimization (b)
I’ll start with maximizing the rate of oxygen. As shown in making
the box, to find the maxima or minima of a function, you can use
the First Derivative Test. As a recap, a maximum is found where
the derivative goes from positive to negative.
 Optimization (b)
I’ll start with maximizing the rate of oxygen. As shown in making
the box, to find the maxima or minima of a function, you can use
the First Derivative Test. As a recap, a maximum is found where
the derivative goes from positive to negative.

The derivative of an accumulation function represents the second

part of the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, which states that
the derivative of an integral is equal to the integrand. In other
words, a derivative and an integral are inverses of each other.
Optimization (b)
As stated earlier, the derivative of the accumulation functions is
the integrand. Just switch the independent variable with the
variable of the integral because accumulation functions are
composites of functions which means an application of the
Chain Rule is required.

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

Optimization (b)
As stated earlier, the derivative of the accumulation functions is
the integrand. Just switch the independent variable with the
variable of the integral because accumulation functions are
composites of functions which means an application of the
Chain Rule is required.

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

Now just set the functions equal to zero and find the roots.
Remember the Extreme Value Theorem.
Optimization (b)

R’(h) = O(h) and S’(h) = C(h)

In the context of the question, the two endpoints of the interval

can be included. In other words, 0 holes and h holes (what
ever it is) must be included in the analysis.
Optimization (b)
R’(h) has critical numbers at h = -2, 0, 11, 20
h = -2 can be rejected because it is not within the domain.

- +
R’(h)
0 11 20
Optimization (b)
R’(h) has critical numbers at h = -2, 0, 11, 20
h = -2 can be rejected because it is not within the domain.

- +
R’(h)
0 11 20
h = 11 cannot be a maximum because it is decreasing to the left
of 11 and increasing to the right. h = 0 cannot be a
maximum because if 0 is used, you will be integrating from 0
to 0 which will produce 0 as an answer. So the only choice
left would be h = 20.
Optimization (b)
S’(h) has critical numbers at h = 0, 12, 20
There is one more critical number but it is rejected because it is
not in the domain.

+ -
S’(h)
0 12 20
Optimization (b)
S’(h) has critical numbers at h = 0, 12, 20
There is one more critical number but it is rejected because it is
not in the domain.

+ -
S’(h)
0 12 20
h = 12 cannot be a minimum because S is increasing on the left
of h = 12 and decreasing on the right, making it a maximum.
h = 0 cannot be used because of the same reason as h = 0 in
R’(h). Therefore the only choice left is h = 20.
Optimization (b)
Let’s recap our answers.

Therefore to obtain a maximum rate of oxygen and a minimum

rate of carbon dioxide entering the box, there must be 20
holes drilled into the box.
Optimization
Bench:
 There we go.You guys stay put, while we find the block of
wood.

Zeph:
 Okay, let’s get out of here before Jamie comes and yells at us
for caging up our animals.
At least the animals
won’t get hurt
anymore.