Week 12.2E Optimization
Week 12.2E Optimization
1 General guidelines
In optimization problems situations will be described where we should find the “optimal” solution.
Here are general guidelines that could be followed.
1. Carefully read and understand what is asked.
2. Make a sketch, if possible.
3. Choose suitable variables and set up an equation which has to be maximized or minimized.
4. Determine a relationship between the variables and eliminate variables (if needed).
5. Create a function f of one variable and determine its domain (also take into account the
situation described!)
6. Determine an absolute maximum or minimum value of f .
2 Examples
Example 1. Determine the biggest area of a rectangle in the first quadrant which can fit under
the the parabola y = 4 − x2 .
Solution:
Make a sketch:
4
A y
−2 2
A = xy
Further, the relationship between the height y and width x is y = 4 − x2 . According to the
sketch, x lies between 0 and 2. Thus the area is given by
1
Maximum area: We use the Closed Interval Method:
√
√
′ 2 2 3
A (x) = 4 − 3x = 0 =⇒ x= ± √23 = ±233, but only + ∈ [0, 2]
3
We have
√ ! √ √
2 3 2 3 4 16 3
A(0) = A(2) = 0 and A = 4− =
3 3 3 9
√
16 3
Thus the biggest possible area of such a rectangle is 9 units2
Example 2. A carton box, without lid, with square basis and rectangular sides must be constructed
with a total cost of R48. The base costs R4/cm2 and each side costs R3/cm2 . Calculate the biggest
possible volume such a box can have.
Solution:
Sketch:
y where x is the length of the basis,
and y the height.
x
x
Formula for the volume:
Maximum volume:
dV
= 4 − x2 = 0 =⇒ x=2
dx
Notice that
V′ >0 op (0, 2)
′
V <0 op (2, ∞)
V (2) = 22 · 24 − 23 = 16 1
3 =5+ 3
16
Thus the largest volume of such a box is 3 cm3
2
Example 3. Determine the shortest distance amin between a point P (x, y) on the parabola y =
4 − x2 and the point P0 (0, −1). Give all possibilities for such points P (x, y) which gives is the
shortest distance.
Solution:
Sketch:
4
P (x, y)
a
2
P0 (0, −1)
y = 4 − x2 =⇒ x2 = 4 − y
Thus
p p
a(y) = 4 − y + y 2 + 2y + 1 = y 2 + y + 5
Minimum distance:
2y + 1
a′ (y) = p
2 y2 + y + 5
1 2 3
y2 + y + 5 = y +
Notice that 2 +4+ 4 >0
Thus, the only critical number is 2y + 1 = 0 =⇒ y = − 12
Further,
Example 4. A lady at a point A on the shore of a circular lake with radius 3 km wants to reach a
point C on the directly opposite side of the lake. She can walk at a rate of 6 km/h and row a boat
at a rate of 3 km/h.
3
(a) How long will it take her to walk to C?
(b) How long will she take to row to C?
(c) How must she proceed to reach C in the shortest possible time?
Solution: Sketch:
A C
1
distance 2 · 2π3 π
(a) Walk time = = = 2 h ≈ 1.57 h
speed 6
distance 6
(b) Row time = = = 2h
speed 3
(c) Sketch: Let B be the point between A and C on the shore, and let O be the midpoint of the
lake. Set ∠BAC = θ, then ∠BOC = 2θ and ∠ABC = π2 :
B
θ 2θ
A C
O
Shortest time:
T (0) = 2 · 1 + 0 = 2 h
T π2 = 2 · 0 + π2 = π2 ≈ 1.57 ≈ 1 h 34 m
√ √
T π6 = 2 · 23 + π6 = 3 + π6 ≈ 2.26 ≈ 2 h 15 m
Thus, the shortest possible time is 1 h 34 min, which happens when she simply walks
from A to C.