Problem Set: Applied Optimization Problems

For the following exercises (1-4), answer by proof, counterexample, or explanation.

1. When you find the maximum for an optimization problem, why do you need to check the sign of the derivative around the critical points?

2. Why do you need to check the endpoints for optimization problems?

3. True or False. For every continuous nonlinear function, you can find the value [latex]x[/latex] that maximizes the function.

4. True or False. For every continuous nonconstant function on a closed, finite domain, there exists at least one [latex]x[/latex] that minimizes or maximizes the function.

For the following exercises (5-8), set up and evaluate each optimization problem.

5. To carry a suitcase on an airplane, the length + width + height of the box must be less than or equal to [latex]62[/latex] in. Assuming the height is fixed, show that the maximum volume is [latex]V=h(31-(\frac{1}{2})h)^2[/latex]. What height allows you to have the largest volume?

6. You are constructing a box out of a sheet of cardboard with the dimensions 2 m by 4 m. You will cut equal-size squares from each corner to then fold up the edges. What are the dimensions of the box with the largest volume?

A rectangle is drawn with height 2 and width 4. Each corner has a square with side length x marked on it.

7. Find the positive integer that minimizes the sum of the number and its reciprocal.

8. Find two positive integers such that their sum is 10, and minimize and maximize the sum of their squares.

For the following exercises (9-11), consider the construction of a pen to enclose an area.

9. You have [latex]400[/latex] ft of fencing to construct a rectangular pen for cattle. What are the dimensions of the pen that maximize the area?

10. You have [latex]800[/latex] ft of fencing to make a pen for hogs. If you have a river on one side of your property, what is the dimension of the rectangular pen that maximizes the area?

11. You need to construct a fence around an area of [latex]1600[/latex] ft. What are the dimensions of the rectangular pen to minimize the amount of material needed?

12. Two poles are connected by a wire that is also connected to the ground. The first pole is [latex]20[/latex] ft tall and the second pole is [latex]10[/latex] ft tall. There is a distance of [latex]30[/latex] ft between the two poles. Where should the wire be anchored to the ground to minimize the amount of wire needed?

Two poles are shown, one that is 10 tall and the other is 20 tall. A right triangle is made with the shorter pole with other side length x. The distance between the two poles is 30.

13. [T] You are moving into a new apartment and notice there is a corner where the hallway narrows from 8 ft to 6 ft. What is the length of the longest item that can be carried horizontally around the corner?

An upside L-shaped figure is drawn with the _ part being 6 wide and the | part being 8 wide. There is a line drawn from the _ part to the | part that touches the near corner of the shape to form a hypotenuse for a right triangle the other sides being the the rest of the _ and | parts. This line is marked L.

14. A patient’s pulse measures 70 bpm, 80 bpm, then 120 bpm. To determine an accurate measurement of pulse, the doctor wants to know what value minimizes the expression [latex](x-70)^2+(x-80)^2+(x-120)^2[/latex]. What value minimizes it?

15. In the previous problem, assume the patient was nervous during the third measurement, so we only weight that value half as much as the others. What is the value that minimizes [latex](x-70)^2+(x-80)^2+\frac{1}{2}(x-120)^2[/latex]?

16. You can run at a speed of 6 mph and swim at a speed of 3 mph and are located on the shore, 4 miles east of an island that is 1 mile north of the shoreline. How far should you run west to minimize the time needed to reach the island?

A rectangle is drawn that has height 1 and length 4. In the lower right corner, it is marked “You” and in the upper left corner it is marked “Island.”

For the following problems (17-18), consider a lifeguard at a circular pool with diameter [latex]40[/latex] m. He must reach someone who is drowning on the exact opposite side of the pool, at position [latex]C[/latex]. The lifeguard swims with a speed [latex]v[/latex] and runs around the pool at speed [latex]w=3v[/latex].

A circle is drawn with points A and C on a diameter. There is a point B drawn on the circle such that angle BAC form an acute angle θ.

17. Find a function that measures the total amount of time it takes to reach the drowning person as a function of the swim angle, [latex]\theta[/latex].

18. Find at what angle [latex]\theta[/latex] the lifeguard should swim to reach the drowning person in the least amount of time.

19. A truck uses gas at a rate of [latex]g(v)=av+\frac{b}{v}[/latex], where [latex]v[/latex] represents the speed of the truck and [latex]g[/latex] represents the gallons of fuel per mile. At what speed is fuel consumption minimized?

For the following exercises (20-21), consider a limousine that gets [latex]m(v)=\frac{(120-2v)}{5}[/latex] mi/gal at speed [latex]v[/latex], the chauffeur costs $15/h, and gas is $3.50/gal.

20. Find the cost per mile at speed [latex]v[/latex].

21. Find the cheapest driving speed.

For the following exercises (22-24), consider a pizzeria that sell pizzas for a revenue of [latex]R(x)=ax[/latex] and costs [latex]C(x)=b+cx+dx^2[/latex], where [latex]x[/latex] represents the number of pizzas.

22. Find the profit function for the number of pizzas. How many pizzas gives the largest profit per pizza?

23. Assume that [latex]R(x)=10x[/latex] and [latex]C(x)=2x+x^2[/latex]. How many pizzas sold maximizes the profit?

24. Assume that [latex]R(x)=15x[/latex], and [latex]C(x)=60+3x+\frac{1}{2}x^2[/latex]. How many pizzas sold maximizes the profit?

For the following exercises (25-26), consider a wire 4 ft long cut into two pieces. One piece forms a circle with radius [latex]r[/latex] and the other forms a square of side [latex]x[/latex].

25. Choose [latex]x[/latex] to maximize the sum of their areas.

26. Choose [latex]x[/latex] to minimize the sum of their areas.

For the following exercises (27-30), consider two nonnegative numbers [latex]x[/latex] and [latex]y[/latex] such that [latex]x+y=10[/latex]. Maximize and minimize the quantities.

27. [latex]xy[/latex]

28. [latex]x^2 y^2[/latex]

29. [latex]y-\frac{1}{x}[/latex]

30. [latex]x^2-y[/latex]

For the following exercises (31-36), draw the given optimization problem and solve.

31. Find the volume of the largest right circular cylinder that fits in a sphere of radius 1.

32. Find the volume of the largest right cone that fits in a sphere of radius 1.

33. Find the area of the largest rectangle that fits into the triangle with sides [latex]x=0, \, y=0[/latex] and [latex]\frac{x}{4}+\frac{y}{6}=1[/latex].

34. Find the largest volume of a cylinder that fits into a cone that has base radius [latex]R[/latex] and height [latex]h[/latex].

35. Find the dimensions of the closed cylinder volume [latex]V=16\pi[/latex] that has the least amount of surface area.

36. Find the dimensions of a right cone with surface area [latex]S=4\pi[/latex] that has the largest volume.

For the following exercises (37-40), consider the points on the given graphs. Use a calculator to graph the functions.

37. [T] Where is the line [latex]y=5-2x[/latex] closest to the origin?

38. [T] Where is the line [latex]y=5-2x[/latex] closest to point [latex](1,1)[/latex]?

39. [T] Where is the parabola [latex]y=x^2[/latex] closest to point [latex](2,0)[/latex]?

40. [T] Where is the parabola [latex]y=x^2[/latex] closest to point [latex](0,3)[/latex]?

For the following exercises (41-45), set up, but do not evaluate, each optimization problem.

41. A window is composed of a semicircle placed on top of a rectangle. If you have 20 ft of window-framing materials for the outer frame, what is the maximum size of the window you can create? Use [latex]r[/latex] to represent the radius of the semicircle.

A semicircular window is drawn with radius r.

42. You have a garden row of 20 watermelon plants that produce an average of 30 watermelons apiece. For any additional watermelon plants planted, the output per watermelon plant drops by one watermelon. How many extra watermelon plants should you plant?

43. You are constructing a box for your cat to sleep in. The plush material for the square bottom of the box costs [latex]$5 / \text{ft}^2[/latex] and the material for the sides costs [latex]$2 / \text{ft}^2[/latex]. You need a box with volume [latex]4 \, \text{ft}^2[/latex]. Find the dimensions of the box that minimize cost. Use [latex]x[/latex] to represent the length of the side of the box.

44. You are building five identical pens adjacent to each other with a total area of [latex]1000 \, \text{m}^2[/latex], as shown in the following figure. What dimensions should you use to minimize the amount of fencing?

A rectangle is divided into five sections, and each section has length y and width x.

45. You are the manager of an apartment complex with 50 units. When you set rent at $800/month, all apartments are rented. As you increase rent by $25/month, one fewer apartment is rented. Maintenance costs run $50/month for each occupied unit. What is the rent that maximizes the total amount of profit?