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the_morbidus
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Homework Statement
A new cottage is built across the river and 300 m downstream from the nearest telephone relay station. The river is 120m wide. In order to wire the cottage for phone service, wire will be laid across the river under water, and along the edge of the river above ground. The cost to lay wire under water is $15 per m and the cost to lay wire above ground is $10 per m. How much wire should be laid under water to minimize cost?
Homework Equations
Pythagoras theorem a^2 +b^2 = c^2
The Attempt at a Solution
ok so i think the wire going across the river will create a triangle
|\...| ^
|..\...| |
|...\...| x
|...\..| |
|...\| V
|...|
|...| 300-x
|_120 _| won't allow me to make a proper diagram but hope you guys get the picture so try to imagine it without all the dots on it.
so the equation for the hypotenuse for the length of wire under water will be sqrt(x^2 +120^2) = sqrt(x^2 +14400)
the equation for the length of wire above ground is 300-x
the function for the price for the total wire usage is P= sqrt(x^2 +14400)/15 + (300-x)/10
P=1/15 (x^2+14400)^1/2 + 1/10 (300-x)
now for the derivative of the function
P'=1/15 *1/2 (x^2 +14000)^-1/2 *2x +1/10(-1)
P'=x/(15(x^2 +14400)^1/2) - 1/10
now to find the value for x when the function equals 0
x/(15(x^2 +14400)^1/2) - 1/10=0
x/15(x^2 +14400)^1/2 = 1/10
10x=15(x^2+14400)^1/2
(10x)^2=(15(x^2+14400)^1/2)^2
100x^2=225(x^2+14400)
100x^2=225x^2 +3240000
-125x^2=3240000
x^2=3240000/-125
x^2=-25920
x=sqrt(-25920) see the problem is the negative answer so i know i have made a mistake on my approach, because i was thinking once i have obtained the value of x i could add it so the equation sqrt(x^2 +14400) and i would obtain the minimum amount of wire laid under water to minimize the cost.
Can anyone help me?? thanks!
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