Optimization

Steps for Solving Optimization Problems

1. Draw the picture and label variables.
   

2. Determine a constraint equation  (if necessary) and a maximizing (minimizing) equation.
   

3. Use the constraint equation to solve for one of the variables and substitute it into the maximizing (minimizing) equation.
   

4. Take a derivative and set it equal to zero.  Then solve.
   

5. Answer the question.
   

Examples

1. You want to construct a can that holds 150 cubic inches of juice as cheaply as possible. The top and bottom costs .1 cents per square inch and the side costs .09 cents per square inch. What should the dimensions of the can be?

   

   Solution: 

   First we use the volume of a cylinder to get the constraint equation
   
           150 = pr²h 
   
   The cost equation gives us our optimization equation 
   
           Cost = 2pr²(.1) + 2prh(.09)        Cost of top and bottom + Cost of sides

   The volume equation gives us:
   
           h = 150/pr²  
   
   so that
   
           C = .2pr² + .18pr(150/pr²)

           = .2pr² + 27/r

   To find the minimum cost we take the derivative and set it equal to 0:
   
           C' = 4pr - 27/r² = 0
   
   So that
   
           4pr³ = 27
   
   or
   
           r³ = 27/(4p)
   
           r = 2.14 in
   
   so that 
   
           h = 150/p(2.14²) =10.4 in
   
   

2. A lifeguard swims at a rate of 5 feet per second and can run at a rate of 15 feet per second. Suppose that the lifeguard spots a drowning child in the ocean 200 feet down the shore and 50 feet out at sea. How far should the lifeguard run until (s)he begins swimming?
   
   
   
   
   
   Solution
   
   Our goal is to minimize the total transit time.  The total transit time is 
   
           Total Transit Time (T) = Time Along the Beach + Time in the Water
   
   Using
   
           Time = Distance/Rate
   
   We have 
   
           Time_Beach = x/15
   
   and
   
           Time_Water =
   
   Hence
   
   
   
   Taking a derivative and setting it equal to 0 gives
   
          
   
   After a lot of algebra or using a computer we get
   
           x = 200 - 25/ @ 182.3 feet
   
   We can conclude that the runner should run a little more than 182 feet before diving into the water.
   
   

Exercises

Hold your mouse over the yellow rectangle for the answer.

1. A poster is to have an area of 120 square inches with one inch margins at the bottom and sides and a 2 inch margin at the top.  What dimensions will give the largest printed area?       
   

2. A quarter mile race track is to be designed by having a rectangle with semicircles on each end.  Find the dimensions that will make the area of the rectangle as large as possible.       

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