A rectangular garden is to be constructed using a rock wall as one side of the garden and wire fencing
for the other three sides (Figure). Given 100 ft of wire fencing, determine the dimensions that would
create a garden of maximum area. What is the maximum area?
Figure 4.5.1: We want to determine the measurements x and y that will create a garden with a
maximum area using 100 ft of fencing.
Solution: Let x denote the length of the side of the garden perpendicular to the rock wall and y denote
the length of the side parallel to the rock wall. Then the area of the garden is
A=x⋅y.
We want to find the maximum possible area subject to the constraint that the total fencing is 100ft.
From Figure, the total amount of fencing used will be 2x+y. Therefore, the constraint equation is
2x+y=100.
Solving this equation for y, we have y=100−2x. Thus, we can write the area as
A(x)=x⋅(100−2x)=100x−2x2.
Before trying to maximize the area function A(x)=100x−2x2, we need to determine the domain under
consideration. To construct a rectangular garden, we certainly need the lengths of both sides to be
positive. Therefore, we need x>0 and y>0. Since y=100−2x, if y>0, then x<50. Therefore, we are trying to
determine the maximum value of A(x) for x over the open interval (0,50).
Maximize A(x)=100x−2x2 over the interval (0,50).
Differentiating the function A(x), we obtain
A′(x)=100−4x.
Solving for x, we get the only critical point is x=25
We use the same process to look for a maximum or a minimum. At this point, we use the Second
Derivative Test (SDT) determine if this critical point corresponds to a minimum or a maximum.
A′′(x)=−4, thus A′′(25)=−4. Since the second derivative at x=25 is negative, we conclude that the
maximum area must occur when x=25. Then we have y=100−2x=100−2(25)=50. To maximize the area of
the garden, let x=25 ft and y=50 ft. The area of this garden is 1250 ft2.
ANSWER: The maximum area of this garden is 1250 ft2.
See Figure4.5.2.
Figure 4.5.2: To maximize the area of the garden, we need to find the maximum value of the function
A(x)=100x−2x2.
EXERCISE 4.5.1
Determine the maximum area if we want to make the same rectangular garden as in Figure, but we have
200 ft of fencing.
Hint
Answer
Now let’s look at a general strategy for solving optimization problems similar to Example 4.5.1.
Steps to Solve Optimization Problems
Determine which quantity is to be optimized; is it to be maximized or minimized? If applicable, draw a
figure and label all variables.
Write a formula (function) for the quantity to be optimized in terms of the variables. Write constraint
equation(s) on the side.
Write your function from step 2 in terms of one variable (use the constraints to relate variables). Identify
the domain based on the physical problem to be solved.
Find the derivative of your function.
Set the derivative equal to zero & solve to find critical points.
Test the critical point to see if it yields a maximum or minimum value of the function; use second
derivative test (SDT) (or first (FDT)) & also consider endpoints.
If needed, find the value of the "other" variable.
If needed, calculate the quantity to optimize.
State the answer to the question.
Now let’s apply this strategy to maximize the volume of an open-top box given a constraint on the
amount of material to be used.
Example 4.5.2: Maximizing the Volume of a Box
An open-top box is to be made from a 24 in. by 36 in. piece of cardboard by removing a square from
each corner of the box and folding up the flaps on each side. What size square should be cut out of each
corner to get a box with the maximum volume?
Solution: Step 0: Let x be the side length of the square to be removed from each corner (Figure). Then,
the remaining four flaps can be folded up to form an open-top box. Let V be the volume of the resulting
box.
Figure 4.5.3: A square with side length x inches is removed from each corner of the piece of cardboard.
The remaining flaps are folded to form an open-
