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Using Lagrange Multiplier To Find Dimension of Rectangular Box

The dimensions that require the least amount of material for a rectangular box with a volume of 4 cubic meters are: 1) The box has dimensions of 2 meters by 2 meters by 1 meter. 2) Using Lagrange multipliers, the gradients of the volume and surface area functions are set equal. 3) This leads to the dimensions being equal due to the problem's symmetry.

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Sandhya Natarajan
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72 views1 page

Using Lagrange Multiplier To Find Dimension of Rectangular Box

The dimensions that require the least amount of material for a rectangular box with a volume of 4 cubic meters are: 1) The box has dimensions of 2 meters by 2 meters by 1 meter. 2) Using Lagrange multipliers, the gradients of the volume and surface area functions are set equal. 3) This leads to the dimensions being equal due to the problem's symmetry.

Uploaded by

Sandhya Natarajan
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using lagrange multiplier to find dimension of rectangular box?

hi there.. need help here.. Determine the dimensions of a rectangular box, open at the top, having volume 4 m3, and requiring the least amount of material for its construction. Use the second partials test. (Hint: Take advantage of the symmetry of the problem.)

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V = xyz = 4 A = xy + 2xz + 2yz. grad(A) = t * grad(V) ==> (y+2z, x+2z, 2x+2y) = t * (yz, xz, xy) Thus, y + 2z = t * yz x + 2z = t * xz 2x + 2y = t * xy. So, t * xyz = xy + 2xz = xy + 2yz = 2xz + 2yz. xy + 2xz = xy + 2yz ==> x = y (since the dimensions are nonzero) xy + 2yz = 2xz + 2yz ==> y = 2z So, xyz = (2z)(2z)z = 4z^3 = 4 ==> z = 1. Thus, x = y = 2 meters, and z = 1 meter. I hope this helps!

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