Express the length y of the building as a function of the width x

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a problem involving the dimensions of a small office unit that must contain 500 square feet of floor space. Participants are tasked with expressing the length of the building as a function of its width and calculating the cost of the walls based on these dimensions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the relationship between area and dimensions, noting that the area can be expressed as the product of length and width. There is an attempt to derive the length as a function of width and to calculate the perimeter for cost estimation. Some participants express confusion regarding discrepancies between their calculations and those in the textbook.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants sharing their work and seeking clarification on the correct answers provided in the textbook. There is a collective agreement on the calculations presented, but questions remain regarding the assumptions made about wall space and the impact of doors on the perimeter calculation.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the instruction to disregard wall space above doors, raising questions about the specifics of door dimensions and their effect on the overall calculations. There is also mention of a diagram that may provide additional context, but its details are not fully explored in the discussion.

lolilovepie
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Homework Statement



A small office unit is to contain 500 feet sq of floor space.

(a) Express the length y of the building as a function of the width x.

(b) If the walls cost $100 per running foot, express the cost
C of the walls as a function of the width x. (Disregard the wall space above the doors and the thickness of the walls.)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I kept getting a different answer then the back in the book. :\

(a) Area=xy, so 500=xy, y=500/x
(b) Perimeter=2(x+y), so perimeter=2(x+500/x)=2((x^2+500)/x). The cost C is $100*perimeter, so C=$100*2((x^2+500)/x)=200((x^2+500)/x)
 
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To help you we need to see your working, not the correct working from the book.
 
The book's answers mostly ARE the steps. They should be understandable.
 
lolilovepie said:

Homework Statement



A small office unit is to contain 500 feet sq of floor space.

(a) Express the length y of the building as a function of the width x.

(b) If the walls cost $100 per running foot, express the cost
C of the walls as a function of the width x. (Disregard the wall space above the doors and the thickness of the walls.)


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I kept getting a different answer then the back in the book. :\

(a) Area=xy, so 500=xy, y=500/x
(b) Perimeter=2(x+y), so perimeter=2(x+500/x)=2((x^2+500)/x). The cost C is $100*perimeter, so C=$100*2((x^2+500)/x)=200((x^2+500)/x)
This is the answer in the book? If you keep getting a different answer, we can't tell you what you did wrong unless you tell us what you did!
 
This part is my work listed below! not the answer from the book! (sorry for the confusion) :

(a) Area=xy, so 500=xy, y=500/x
(b) Perimeter=2(x+y), so perimeter=2(x+500/x)=2((x^2+500)/x). The cost C is $100*perimeter, so C=$100*2((x^2+500)/x)=200((x^2+500)/x)
 
lolilovepie said:
This part is my work listed below! not the answer from the book! (sorry for the confusion) :

(a) Area=xy, so 500=xy, y=500/x
(b) Perimeter=2(x+y), so perimeter=2(x+500/x)=2((x^2+500)/x).
The cost C is $100*perimeter, so C=$100*2((x^2+500)/x)=200((x^2+500)/x)

What's the answer that's given in the book?

I didn't realize that the above was your work (your OP wasn't clear on this), so I will rescind the notification I gave you earlier.
 
lolilovepie said:
This part is my work listed below! not the answer from the book! (sorry for the confusion) :

(a) Area=xy, so 500=xy, y=500/x
(b) Perimeter=2(x+y), so perimeter=2(x+500/x)=2((x^2+500)/x). The cost C is $100*perimeter, so C=$100*2((x^2+500)/x)=200((x^2+500)/x)

As you may have judged from the responses so far, we all agree with your working! What is the answer in the book?
Btw, I notice it says "Disregard the wall space above the doors". Are you told the number and width of the doors, or should it say "disregard that some wall will be displaced by doors"?
 
Mark44 said:
What's the answer that's given in the book?

I didn't realize that the above was your work (your OP wasn't clear on this), so I will rescind the notification I gave you earlier.

The answer in the book was a) y(x)=500/x b) c(x)=300x+(100,000/x) -600

it also came with this image (forgot to post it) : http://tinypic.com/r/2d9w9xk/5
 
haruspex said:
As you may have judged from the responses so far, we all agree with your working! What is the answer in the book?
Btw, I notice it says "Disregard the wall space above the doors". Are you told the number and width of the doors, or should it say "disregard that some wall will be displaced by doors"?

sorry, it also came with this picture that i forgot to post : http://tinypic.com/r/2d9w9xk/5
yeah , that's all it say
 
  • #10
lolilovepie said:
sorry, it also came with this picture that i forgot to post : http://tinypic.com/r/2d9w9xk/5
yeah , that's all it say

Your computation of wall material length (what you call the perimeter) does not match the diagram. Start again!
 

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