Maximize Return: Find A to Maximize Contract Award

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Homework Statement



Given:
f(x) = 1/2 - 1/4|A - x| where f(x) is total contract award, x = deliver date

if 5 < x < 7 then get a reward $500


Homework Equations



Find A such that it maximizes the contract award

The Attempt at a Solution


My approach: take derivative of f(x) and set it = 0 and solve for A
Am I correct? Thanks
 
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ptlnguyen said:

Homework Statement



Given:
f(x) = 1/2 - 1/4|A - x| where f(x) is total contract award, x = deliver date

if 5 < x < 7 then get a reward $500


Homework Equations



Find A such that it maximizes the contract award

The Attempt at a Solution


My approach: take derivative of f(x) and set it = 0 and solve for A
Am I correct? Thanks

What did you get?

Also, I'm moving this to the Calculus & Beyond section.
 
ptlnguyen said:
if 5 < x < 7 then get a reward $500
I don't understand how that item of information fits in. Does it mean that the given formula for f(x) only applies outside that range?
Find A such that it maximizes the contract award
Won't that depend on x? Or is it supposed to maximise the average award given some prob dist for x? (There's a very similar problem in another recent thread, and it's just as unclear.)
 
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