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4.5 Optimization Problems

The document discusses optimization problems and concepts related to maximizing and minimizing quantities. It provides examples of optimization problems involving finding dimensions of a rectangular field with maximum area given a fixed fence length, finding dimensions of a cylindrical can to minimize material costs for a given volume, finding the closest point on a parabola to a given point, and finding the fastest route to a destination given different travel speeds on land and water. It also discusses marginal cost, demand and revenue functions, and how to maximize profit by choosing the optimal rebate amount.

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peter vu
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234 views4 pages

4.5 Optimization Problems

The document discusses optimization problems and concepts related to maximizing and minimizing quantities. It provides examples of optimization problems involving finding dimensions of a rectangular field with maximum area given a fixed fence length, finding dimensions of a cylindrical can to minimize material costs for a given volume, finding the closest point on a parabola to a given point, and finding the fastest route to a destination given different travel speeds on land and water. It also discusses marginal cost, demand and revenue functions, and how to maximize profit by choosing the optimal rebate amount.

Uploaded by

peter vu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Math 150A

4.5 Optimization Problems

136

4.5 Optimization Problems


Example 1 A farmer has 2400 ft of fencing and wants to fence off a rectangular filed that borders
straight river. He needs no fence along the rive. What are the dimensions of the field that has the
largest area?

Example 2 A cylindrical can is to be made to hold 1 L of oil. Find the dimensions that will
minimized the cost the metal to manufacture the can.

Math 150A

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137

Example 3 Find the point on the parabola y 2 = 2x that is closest to the point (1, 4).

Example 4 A man launches his boat from point A on a bank of a straight river, 3 km wide, and
wants to reach point B, 8 km downstream on the opposite bank, as quickly as possible. He could
row his boat directly across the river to point C and then run to B, or he could row directly to B,
or he could row to some point D between C and B and then run to B. If he can row 6 km/h and
run 8 km/h, where should he land to reach B as soon as possible? (We assume that the speed of
the water is 0 km/h.)

Math 150A

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138

Example 5 Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a semicircle of radius r.

In Example 10 in Section 2.3 we introduced the idea of marginal cost. Recall that if C(x), the cost
function, is the cost of producing x units of a certain product, then the marginal cost is the
rate of change of C with respect to x. In other words, the marginal cost function is the derivative,
C 0 (x), of the cost function.
Now lets consider marketing. Let p(x) be the price per unit that the company can charge if it sells
x units. Then p is called the demand function (or price function) and would expect it to be
decreasing function of x, If x units are sold and the price per unit is p(x), then the total revenue is
R(x) = xp(x)
and R is called the revenue function. The derivative R0 of the revenue function is called the
marginal revenue function and is the rate of change of the revenue with respect to the number
of units sold.

Math 150A

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139

If x units are sold, then the total profit is


P (x) = R(x) C(x)
and P is called the profit function. The marginal profit function is P 0 , the derivative of the
profit function.

Example 6 A store has been selling 200 DVD burners a week at $350 each. A market survey
indicates that for each $10 rebate offered to buyers, the number of units sold will increase by 20 a
week. Find the demand function and the revenue function. How large a rebate should the the store
offer to maximize its revenue?

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