Extrema of functions of two variables

Click For Summary
To maximize profit from candle production at two locations, the cost functions are defined as C1=0.02x1^2+4x1+500 and C2=0.05x2^2+4x2+275, with a selling price of $15 per unit. The profit function is p=15(x1+x2)-C1-C2. A user suggested substituting x1 and x2 with x and y for easier plotting, but emphasized the need to focus on maximizing the profit function rather than just manipulating costs. The intersection of cost functions helps identify the optimal production quantities, yielding C1=992 and C2=1015, resulting in a profit of p(x)=573.
Math87
Messages
1
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement



A corporation manufactures candles at two locations. The cost of producing x1 units at location 1 is C1= 0.02X12+4X1+500
and the cost of producing x2 units at location 2 is C2=0.05X22+4X2+275.

The candles sell for $15 dollars per unit. Find the quantity that should be produced at each location to maximize the profit.

p=15(X1+X2)-C1-C2


The Attempt at a Solution


First off, my professor said "This is just for convenience, especially when plotting it in wolfram alpha, you can't enter x1 and x2 but you can enter x and y. So in the give equations, change the letters, making x1 into x and make x2 into y. Then you will have an equation with numbers and x and y ."
i changed everything to x and y

C1= 0.02X2+4X+500
C2= 0.05Y2+4Y+275
Then i decided to combine them together to get:


0.02X2+4X+500-0.05y2-4Y-275=0
After that i found my 6 partial derivatives, but i have a feeling I am doing this all wrong..
Can you give me tips on how to do this question please.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
At the end of your post you wrote down the equation C_1 - C_2=0
and then started taking partial derivatives of the left hand side.

This has basically nothing to do with the actual objective: maximizing p(x,y)=15(x+y)-C_1-C_2 = 15(x+y)-.02x^2-4x-500-.05y^2-4y-275

Given a function, how do you find its maximum?
 
I hope I'm not doing this wrong :D
I got few things to say :)
First,you actually can enter values with the name 'x1' and 'x2'. Give it a try :)
Second,in your equation ,where you substituted 'x1' and 'x2' with X and Y.In Mathematica it's better to use lowercase letters for your functions,variables,constants,etc.Some of the uppercase letters are actually preset by the programmers.
Third,the real problem :)
So to find where you will maximize the profit,you should be looking for the lowest budget for producing the candles - the intersection of the two graphics.Finding it by hand it's relatively easy,but you can also use Mathematica.
3.png

So the quatity C1=992 and C2=1015,and the profit p(x)=573
Hope I solved that right :biggrin:
 
Question: A clock's minute hand has length 4 and its hour hand has length 3. What is the distance between the tips at the moment when it is increasing most rapidly?(Putnam Exam Question) Answer: Making assumption that both the hands moves at constant angular velocities, the answer is ## \sqrt{7} .## But don't you think this assumption is somewhat doubtful and wrong?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
9K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K