Finding Dimensions of Cone with Surface Area 1 and Max Volume

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The discussion focuses on finding the dimensions of a right circular cone with a surface area of 1 that maximizes its volume. The volume formula is given as V = (πr²h)/3, and the surface area is S = πr(√(r²+h²)). Participants emphasize the complexity of the math involved, particularly in deriving the volume with respect to the radius. They suggest setting the surface area to 1 to express height in terms of radius before substituting it back into the volume formula. The conversation highlights challenges in simplifying the derivative and finding critical points to maximize volume.
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Homework Statement


The volume of a right circular cone is V = [(pie)(r^2)(h)]/3 and it ssurface area is S = (pie)(r)(r^2+h^2)^(1/2), where r is the base radius and h is the height of the cone. Find the dimensions of the cone with surface area 1 and maximum volume.

The Attempt at a Solution


I think the only difficult part of this question is the math, because its quite difficult. I'm finding V' to be
\pi r[r+(4/\pi^2r^2)-4r^2]/6[(1/\pi^2r^2)-r^2]
Which i can't find any zero's for, can someone double check this?

Steps to finding the derivative:,
1) Set S equal to 1 and solve for h,
2) stuff h into volume and take derivate, unless you know of a better way?
 
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Your method is correct, but I get something simpler. After solving for h and plugging into V, simplify as much as possible before taking the derivative.
 
is this what you simplified it down to:
\sqrt{(1/9)r^2[1-\pi^2r^4]}.

If so, i got as a derivative:
(1/2)[(1/9)r^2(1-\pi^2r^4)]^(-1/2) [(1/9)r^2(-4\pi r^3) + (1-\pi^2r^4)(2/9)\pi]
which doesn't simplify down much nicer...
 
You're missing an r in the last term, but that's it. You want to set this to zero, so you can cancel out everything not in square brackets, and then pull out common factors and cancel those too ...
 
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?

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