SAMPLE PROBLEMS Differential Calculus
Module 7 – Applications of Minima & Maxima Civil Engineering
Applications of Minima & Maxima
Example 1:
A piece of wire 20cm long is bent into the shape of a rectangle.
Find the maximum area it can enclose.
Answer: 𝐴 = 25 𝑐𝑚2
Example 2:
𝒎
The velocity of a car, 𝒗 ( 𝒔 ) between two road junctions, is modelled by 𝑣 =
3𝑡 − 0.2𝑡 2 for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 15 where 𝑡 is the time in seconds after it sets off from
the first junction. Find the maximum speed.
Answer: 𝑣 = 11.25 𝑚/𝑠
Example 3:
The function 𝑝 = 𝑥 3 − 18𝑥 2 + 105𝑥 − 88 models the way the profit per item made,
𝑝 pence, depends on 𝑥, the number produced in thousands. Find the maximum
and minimum values of 𝑝. Sketch the graph of 𝑝 against 𝑥.
Answer: 𝑀𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 (5,112)𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 (7,108)
Example 4:
A cylindrical hot water tank is to have a capacity of 4m3. Find the radius
and height that would have the least surface area.
Answer: r = 0.86m and h = 1.72m
Example 5:
A farmer has 100 meters of fencing
to make a rectangular enclosure for sheep
as shown. He will leave an opening of 2
meters for a gate.
a. Show that the area of the enclosure
is given by: 𝐴 = 51𝑥 − 𝑥 2
b. Find the value of 𝑥 that will give the
maximum possible area.
c. Calculate the maximum possible area.
1|Page
Prepared by:
Engr. Gilmark P. Repulda
SAMPLE PROBLEMS Differential Calculus
Module 7 – Applications of Minima & Maxima Civil Engineering
Example 6:
A farmer has 100 meters of fencing
to make a rectangular enclosure for
sheep as shown. He will use an existing
wall for one side of the enclosure and
leave an opening of 2 meters for a gate.
a. Show that the area of the enclosure
is given by: 𝐴 = 102𝑥 − 2𝑥 2
b. Find the value of 𝑥 that will give
the maximum possible area.
c. Calculate the maximum possible area.
Example 7:
An open-topped box is to be made
by removing squares from each corner of
a rectangular piece of card and then
folding up the sides.
a. Show that, if the original rectangle
of card measured 80cm by 50cm, and the
squares removed from the corners have
sides 𝑥 cm long, then the volume of the
box given by: 𝑉 = 4𝑥 3 − 260𝑥 2 + 4000𝑥
b. Find the value of 𝑥 that will give the
maximum possible volume.
c. Calculate the maximum possible volume.
Example 8:
A closed tank is to have a square
base and capacity 400cm3.
a. Show that the total surface area of
the container is given by:
1600
𝑆 = 2𝑥 2 +
𝑥
b. Find the value of 𝑥 that will give the
minimum surface area.
c. Calculate the minimum surface area.
2|Page
Prepared by:
Engr. Gilmark P. Repulda
SAMPLE PROBLEMS Differential Calculus
Module 7 – Applications of Minima & Maxima Civil Engineering
Example 9:
Find the minimum surface area of an open-topped tank with a square base
and capacity 400 cm3.
Example 10:
A soft drinks manufacturer wants to design a cylindrical can to hold half
a litre (500cm3) of drink. Find the minimum area of material that can be
used to make the can.
Example 11:
An aircraft window consists of a central rectangle
and two semi-circular ends as shown in the sketch.
A window is required to have an area of 1 m2.
Find the dimensions of the window with the smallest
possible perimeter.
3|Page
Prepared by:
Engr. Gilmark P. Repulda
