Max-Min Problems: Optimizing Fencing, Fare Charges, and Can Construction

  • Thread starter Thread starter courtrigrad
  • Start date Start date
AI Thread Summary
A farmer seeks to maximize the area of a rectangular pasture using 640 yards of fencing, requiring double fencing on two sides, leading to the function x(320 - 2x) for area calculation. For maximizing railroad income, the fare structure adjusts to $8.00 per passenger with a $0.10 reduction for each additional passenger beyond 40, resulting in the income equation I = [8 - 0.1(N - 40)] * N. A manufacturer aims to minimize costs for a cylindrical can with a volume of 100π in³, needing to calculate the total cost based on the surface area of the can. The cost function involves the areas of the sides and top/bottom, with the volume constraint used to express height in terms of radius. The discussion highlights the need for correct formulation of equations to solve these optimization problems effectively.
courtrigrad
Messages
1,236
Reaction score
2
Hello all

I have a few questions on maxima and minima

1. A farmer plans to fence in a rectangular pasture located adjacent to a river. She has 640 yards of fencing available and will need to use double fencing on the two opposite sides. What dimensions should be used so that the enclosed area will be maximum? (N0 fencing on the river)

Would the function be x(320 - 2x)?



2. If 40 passengers hire a special car on a train, they will be charged $8.00 each. For each passenger over the 40 this fare is cut $0.10 apiece for all passengers. How many passengers will produce th greatest income for the railroad?

I am not sure about the equation for this one.

3. A manufacturer wishes to construct a cylindrical can to hold 100 pi in^3. The top and bottom of the can are to be stronger than the sides. The tin used in making the top and bottom will cost 2.5 cents per square inch while the metal used in making the sides will cost 1.35 cents per square inch. What dimensions should be used to minimize the cost of the metal?

All I know it that the area of a cylinder = pi*r^2 * h.

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks
 
Physics news on Phys.org
1) Area = 2x(320 - 2x). So you are right.

2) confusing at first. but as i understand, assuming the number of people who will bring maximum income to be N (N>40),
I = [8 - 0.1(N - 40)] * N

3) Area of the sides = 2 pi r * h

Areas of the top and bottom = 2 * pi r^2
So find the total cost in terms of r. You have to subtitute for h from the given condition that the volume pi r^2 h = 100 pi

regards,
gamma
 
thanks a lot!
 
for #3 would the equation be:

5 pi r (100 / r^2) + 2.7pi r h?

thanks
 
I don't know how you came up with this. I get
5 pi r^2 + 270 Pi/r
 
I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'
Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
Back
Top