Solutions to Worksheet for Section 4.

5
Optimization Problems
V63.0121, Calculus I
Summer 2010

1. An advertisement consists of a rectangular printed region plus 1 in margins on the sides and
2 in margins on the top and bottom. If the area of the printed region is to be 92 in2 , find the
dimensions of the printed region and overall advertisement that minimize the total area.

Solution. The objective is to minimize the total area while the printed area is fixed.

2 cm

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2 cm

Let the dimensions of the printed region be x and y; then the printed area is P = xy 92
while the total area is A = (x + 2)(y + 4). From the P equation we can isolate y = 92/x and
substitute it into the A equation to get
 
92 FOIL 184 184
A(x) = (x + 2) +4 = 92 + 4x + + 8 = 100 + 4x +
x x x

1
 The domain of A is (0, ).
We want to find the absolute minimum value of A. Taking derivatives,
dA 184
=4 2
dx x
dA
The equation = 0 gives a single critical point when x = 46 (the other possible one at
dx
46 is outside the domain). Taking another derivative,
d2 A 368
= 3
dx2 x

which is positive along the entire domain of A. So the single local minimum at x = 46 is in
fact the global minimum. Therefore, the dimensions of the printed region are x = 46 in by
92
y = = 2 46 in. The dimensions of the paper are 46 + 2 in 2 46 + 4 in.
46

2. An advertisement consists of a rectangular printed region plus 1 in margins on the sides and
1.5 in margins on the top and bottom. If the total area of the advertisement is to be 120 in2 ,
what dimensions should the advertisement be to maximize the area of the printed region?

Solution. Using the notation of the previous problem, the objective is to maximize P while
keeping A fixed.

2 cm
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x
120
In this problem, P = xy, but A = (x + 2)(y + 3). Isolating y in A 120 gives y = 3
x+2
which yields  
120 120x
P =x 3 = 3x
x+2 x+2

2
 The domain of P is again (0, ).
We want to find the absolute maximum value of P . Taking derivatives,
dP (x + 2)(120) (120x)(1) 240 3(x + 2)2
= 2
3=
dx (x + 2) (x + 2)2
There is a single critical point when

(x + 2)2 = 80 = x = 4 5 2

(again, the negative critical point doesnt count). The second derivative is
d2 P 480
2
=
dx (x + 2)3
 
which is negative all along the domain of P . Hence the unique critical point x = 4 5 2 cm

is the absolute maximum of P . This means the paper width is 4 5 cm, and the paper length
120
is = 6 5 cm.
4 5
Heres another way to do it: Let X and Y be the width and height of the advertisement.
Then we need to maximize P = (X 2)(Y 3) subject to the constraint that A = XY 120.
Substituting Y = 120/X into P gives
 
120 240
P = (X 2) 3 = 126 3X
X X
and we need to find the maximum value of P over (0, ).

3. A Norman window has the outline of a semicircle on top of a rectangle. Suppose there is
8 + 2 feet of wood trim available. Find the dimensions of the rectangle and semicircle that
will maximize the area of the window.

Solution. Let h and w be the height and width of the window. We have

L = 2h + w + w
2
 w 2
A = wh +
2 2

3
If L is fixed to be 8 + 2, we have
16 + 4 2w w
h= ,
4
so  
w 1
A = (16 + 4 2w w) + w2 = ( + 4)w + w2 .
4 8 2 8
 
So A0 = ( + 4)w 1 + , which is zero when
4
+4
w= = 4 ft.
1 + 2

The dimensions are 4ft by 2ft.

Heres another way to do it: We differentiate the L equation implicitly, keeping in mind it is
equal to a fixed constant:

dh   dh 1 + /2 +2
0=2 + 1+ = = = .
dw 2 dw 2 4
Now differentiate A treating h as a function of w:
 
dA dh +2 w
=h+w + w =hw + w =h
dw dw 4 4 4 2

dA
So = 0 when w = 2h, and this is true regardless of what L is fixed to be.
dw
In our case, the relation w = 2h allows to solve L = 8 + 2 for h:

8 + 2 = 2h + (1 + /2) (2h) = (4 + )h

So h = 2 and w = 4.