Finding Dimensions of Cone with Surface Area 1 and Max Volume

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the dimensions of a right circular cone that has a surface area of 1 and maximizes its volume. The relevant formulas for volume and surface area are provided, along with an attempt to derive the necessary conditions for optimization.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the process of setting the surface area equal to 1 to express height in terms of radius, and then substituting this into the volume formula. There are questions about the correctness of derivatives and simplifications involved in the optimization process.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing feedback on each other's attempts at simplification and differentiation. Some guidance has been offered regarding the simplification of expressions before taking derivatives, and there is a focus on ensuring all terms are accounted for in the calculations.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the problem's requirements, specifically the fixed surface area and the goal of maximizing volume. There are indications of potential missteps in calculations that are being addressed collaboratively.

skateza
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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 ...
 

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