Find Optimal Size for Jar with Rectangular Base & Sides for Lowest Material Cost

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the optimal dimensions for a rectangular jar with an open top that minimizes material costs while holding a volume of 1 liter. Participants explore the relationships between the jar's dimensions, including the length, width, and height, and how these affect the surface area and material cost.

Discussion Character

  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant states that the jar's length should be 1.5 times its width and that it must hold a volume of 1 liter, leading to the equation for height as $$h=\frac{1.5x^2}{1000cm^3}$$.
  • Another participant confirms the assumption that the jar is open at the top and clarifies the terminology used, suggesting that "can" may not be appropriate for a rectangular jar.
  • Several participants derive the surface area formula for the jar, noting that it is equal to the material used, and express the volume constraint as $$l\,w\,h = 1000$$.
  • Participants discuss substituting the length in terms of width into the surface area formula, leading to a complex expression involving $$w$$.
  • There is a proposal to find the maximum area by taking the derivative of the surface area expression and setting it to zero, with one participant suggesting a specific value for width as $$w=\frac{10}{3^{2/3}}$$.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the relationships between the dimensions and the volume of the jar, but there is no consensus on the correctness of the derived expressions or the proposed value for width. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the optimal dimensions.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully resolved the mathematical steps involved in deriving the optimal dimensions, and there are assumptions regarding the definitions of terms used in the context of the jar's design.

Petrus
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You will produce a jar with rectangular base and rectangular sides. aLL OF IT
be manufactured in the same material. What size should the jar have on the cost of materials to be as small as possible?
The length of the can should be 1.5 times the width. The jar should hold 1 liter.
here we got a picture
2vdodbk.png
$$V=1000cm^3$$
$$h=\frac{1.5x^2}{1000cm^3}$$
Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 
Last edited:
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Petrus said:
You will produce a jar with rectangular base and rectangular sides. aLL OF IT
be manufactured in the same material. What size should the jar have on the cost of materials to be as small as possible?
The length of the can should be 1.5 times the width. The jar should hold 1 liter.
here we got a picture
2vdodbk.png
I got $$A=6x^2$$ and $$V=1000cm^3$$
$$h=\frac{1.5x^2}{1000cm^3}$$
Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$

First of all, am I correct in assuming that your box is to be open on the top?

Also, I'm assuming that your use of the word "can" you meant to mean the box? (Cans are usually cylindrical, not rectangular...)
 
Prove It said:
First of all, am I correct in assuming that your box is to be open on the top?

Also, I'm assuming that your use of the word "can" you meant to mean the box? (Cans are usually cylindrical, not rectangular...)
yes the picture is open and they never mention closed, and yes box
 
Petrus said:
You will produce a jar with rectangular base and rectangular sides. aLL OF IT
be manufactured in the same material. What size should the jar have on the cost of materials to be as small as possible?
The length of the can should be 1.5 times the width. The jar should hold 1 liter.
here we got a picture
2vdodbk.png
$$V=1000cm^3$$
$$h=\frac{1.5x^2}{1000cm^3}$$
Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$

OK, well for starters, the amount of whatever material the box is made of is the same as the surface area of the box. Since the box has an open top, that means $\displaystyle \begin{align*} A = l\,w + 2l\,h + 2w\,h \end{align*}$.

I agree, $\displaystyle \begin{align*} V = 1000\,\textrm{cm}^3 \end{align*}$, so that means $\displaystyle \begin{align*} l\,w\,h = 1000 \end{align*}$. We're also told that the length should be 1.5 times the width, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} l = \frac{3w}{2} \end{align*}$, giving

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} l\,w\,h &= 1000 \\ \left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \, w\, h &= 1000 \\ \frac{3w^2}{2} \, h &= 1000 \\ h &= \frac{2000}{3w^2} \end{align*}$

Substituting into the formula for the surface area we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} A &= l\,w + 2l\,h + 2w\,h \\ &= \left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \, w + 2\left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \left( \frac{2000}{3w^2} \right) + 2w \, \left( \frac{2000}{3w^2} \right) \\ &= \frac{3w^2}{2} + \frac{2000}{w} + \frac{4000}{3w} \\ &= \frac{3}{2}w^2 + \frac{10\,000}{3} w^{-1} \end{align*}$

So now how can you find the maximum area?
 
Prove It said:
OK, well for starters, the amount of whatever material the box is made of is the same as the surface area of the box. Since the box has an open top, that means $\displaystyle \begin{align*} A = l\,w + 2l\,h + 2w\,h \end{align*}$.

I agree, $\displaystyle \begin{align*} V = 1000\,\textrm{cm}^3 \end{align*}$, so that means $\displaystyle \begin{align*} l\,w\,h = 1000 \end{align*}$. We're also told that the length should be 1.5 times the width, so $\displaystyle \begin{align*} l = \frac{3w}{2} \end{align*}$, giving

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} l\,w\,h &= 1000 \\ \left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \, w\, h &= 1000 \\ \frac{3w^2}{2} \, h &= 1000 \\ h &= \frac{2000}{3w^2} \end{align*}$

Substituting into the formula for the surface area we have

$\displaystyle \begin{align*} A &= l\,w + 2l\,h + 2w\,h \\ &= \left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \, w + 2\left( \frac{3w}{2} \right) \left( \frac{2000}{3w^2} \right) + 2w \, \left( \frac{2000}{3w^2} \right) \\ &= \frac{3w^2}{2} + \frac{2000}{w} + \frac{4000}{3w} \\ &= \frac{3}{2}w^2 + \frac{10\,000}{3} w^{-1} \end{align*}$

So now how can you find the maximum area?
we derivate it then equal zero, that means $$w=\frac{10}{3^{2/3}}$$ is that correct?

Regards,
$$|\pi\rangle$$
 

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