Optimization MATH 161 Calculus I J. Robert Buchanan Department of Mathematics Summer 2018
Motivation We now return to one of the most important applications of the derivative: finding the maximum or minimum of a function.
Guidelines Draw a picture, if applicable. Determine the variables of the problem and how they are related. Decide which quantity should be optimized. Find an expression for the quantity to be optimized. This expression should contain only one variable. Determine the minimum and maximum allowable values (if any) for the variable. Apply the First or Second Derivative Test to optimize the quantity.
Example Farmer MacDonald has 300 feet of chicken wire with which to construct a rectangular pen to hold a flock of chickens. A 400-ft long chicken coop will be used to form one side of the pen, so the wire is needed for the remaining three sides. How can the pen be constructed so that the birds have the maximum space in which to roam?
Solution (1 of 2) x y y Chicken Coop Dimensions: x (width) and y (height) Constraints: x + 2y = 300 which implies x = 300 2y with 0 y 150. Area: A = xy = (300 2y)y = 300y 2y 2
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area A: A = 300y 2y 2 da dy = 300 4y = 0 y = 75 (critical number)
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area A: A = 300y 2y 2 da dy = 300 4y = 0 y = 75 (critical number) A(0) = 0 A(75) = 11, 250 (absolute maximum) A(150) = 0 Dimensions yielding the maximum area are x = 150 and y = 75.
Example A rectangle is to be inscribed in a semicircle with radius 2 inches. Find the dimensions of the rectangle that encloses the maximum area.
Solution (1 of 2) If the center of the base of the rectangle is at x = 0 and the center of the diameter of the semicircle is also at x = 0, then the equation of the semicircle is y = 4 x 2. Suppose the endpoints of the base of the rectangle are at ( w, 0) and (w, 0) (with 0 w 2), then the height of the rectangle is h = 4 w 2. 2.0 1.5 h= 4 - w 2 1.0 0.5 -w w The area of the rectangle is A = 2w 4 w 2 with 0 w 2.
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area. A(w) = 2w 4 w 2
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area. A(w) = 2w 4 w 2 A (w) = 8 4w 2 4 w 2
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area. A(w) = 2w 4 w 2 A (w) = 8 4w 2 4 w 2 0 = 8 4w 2 w = 2
Solution (2 of 2) Find the absolute maximum of the area. A(w) = 2w 4 w 2 A (w) = 8 4w 2 4 w 2 0 = 8 4w 2 w = 2 Using Fermat s theorem we can check the absolute maximum area occurs when w = 2. A(0) = 0, A( 2) = 4, A(2) = 0 The dimensions of the rectangle are 2 2 in. by 2 in.
Example Find the point on the graph of f (x) = x 2 that is closest to the point with coordinates (3, 4). 25 20 15 10 5 x
Solution (1 of 4) The distance from the point (x, x 2 ) to (3, 4) is (x 3) 2 + (x 2 4) 2. If we minimize the expression under the square root we will minimize the square root as well. Thus let g(x) = (x 3) 2 + (x 2 4) 2 = x 4 7x 2 6x + 25.
Solution (1 of 4) The distance from the point (x, x 2 ) to (3, 4) is (x 3) 2 + (x 2 4) 2. If we minimize the expression under the square root we will minimize the square root as well. Thus let g(x) = (x 3) 2 + (x 2 4) 2 = x 4 7x 2 6x + 25. Find the critical numbers of f. g (x) = 4x 3 14x 6 We can plot g (x) and estimate the critical numbers using Newton s Method.
Solution (2 of 4) 4x 3 14x 6 = 0 g'(x) 20 10-4 -2 2 4 x -10-20
Solution (3 of 4) x n = x n 1 4x 3 n 1 14x n 1 6 12x 2 n 1 14 x 0 = 2 n x n 0 2.000000 1 2.058824 2 2.056549 3 2.056545
Solution (4 of 4) Using the Second Derivative Test we see that g (x) = 12x 2 14 g (2.056545) = 36.7525 > 0 and thus the minimum distance between the parabola and the point with coordinates (3, 4) occurs at (2.056545, (2.056545) 2 ) (2.056545, 4.22938).
Example Find the ratio of the radius to the height of a right circular cylinder that has minimal surface area, assuming that the volume of the cylinder is constant and the cylinder has a top and a bottom.
Solution (1 of 3) Let the radius of the cylinder be r and its height be h. Volume: V = πr 2 h (assumed constant). Surface area: S = 2πr 2 + 2πrh.
Solution (1 of 3) Let the radius of the cylinder be r and its height be h. Volume: V = πr 2 h (assumed constant). Surface area: S = 2πr 2 + 2πrh. Since V = πr 2 h then h = V πr 2.
Solution (1 of 3) Let the radius of the cylinder be r and its height be h. Volume: V = πr 2 h (assumed constant). Surface area: S = 2πr 2 + 2πrh. Since V = πr 2 h then h = V πr 2. The surface can be expressed as a function of variable r. S = 2πr 2 + 2πr V πr 2 = 2πr 2 + 2V r
Solution (2 of 3) Minimize the surface area: ds dr Find the critical numbers: S = 2V r = 2V r 2 0 = 2V r 2 2V r 2 = 4πr r 3 = V 2π + 2πr 2 + 4πr + 4πr r = ( V 2π ) 1/3
Solution (3 of 3) Apply the Second Derivative Test: d 2 S dr 2 = 4V r [ 3 d 2 ] S dr 2 = 4V r=( V 2π ) 1/3 V 2π + 4π Hence surface area is minimized when r = h = V πr 2 = π ( V 2π V ) 2/3 = + 4π > 0. ( 4V π ( ) V 1/3 and 2π ) 1/3. Thus the ratio r/h for the optimal values of r and h is r h = ( V 2π ) 1/3 ( 4V π ) 1/3 = 1 2.
Example A beer distributor has determined that 200 gallons of lite beer can be sold to a tavern if the price is $2 per gallon. For each cent per gallon that the price is raised 2.5 less gallons will be sold. At what price should the beer be sold in order to maximize the revenue to the distributor?
Solution (1 of 2) Assumptions: Revenue R equals quantity Q times price P. Premium: 0.01x (units: dollars) Price: 2 + 0.01x (units: dollars/gallon) Quantity: 200 2.5x (unit: gallons) R(x) = (200 2.5x)(2 + 0.01x) = 400 3x 0.025x 2
Solution (2 of 2) R(x) = 400 3x 0.025x 2 R (x) = 3 0.05x R (x) = 0.05 The critical number occurs where R (x) = 0, 3 0.05x = 0 x = 60. By the Second Derivative Test this is a local minimum. The beer should be sold for $1.40/gallon.
Example The previous example would be more realistic if instead of maximizing revenue received, we could determine the price that would maximize the distributor s profit. Suppose the distributor must pay $0.90 per gallon to the brewery. What price would maximize the profit, assuming the other conditions remain the same?
Solution (1 of 2) Assumptions: Profit: P equals revenue minus cost. Premium: 0.01x (units: dollars) Price: 2 + 0.01x (units: dollars/gallon) Quantity: 200 2.5x (unit: gallons) Revenue: (200 2.5x)(2 + 0.01x) = 400 3x 0.025x 2 Cost: 0.90(200 2.5x) = 180 2.25x P(x) = 400 3x 0.025x 2 (180 2.25x) = 220 0.75x 0.025x 2
Solution (2 of 2) P(x) = 220 0.75x 0.025x 2 P (x) = 0.75 0.05x P (x) = 0.05 The critical number occurs where P (x) = 0, 0.75 0.05x = 0 x = 15. By the Second Derivative Test this is a local minimum. The beer should be sold for $1.85/gallon.
Example A company needs to run an oil pipeline from an oil rig 25 miles out at sea to a storage tank that is 5 miles inland. The shoreline runs east-west and the tank is 8 miles west of the rig. It costs $60,000 per mile to construct the pipeline under water and $25,000 per mile to construct the pipeline on land. The pipeline will be built in a straight line from the rig to the shore and then in a straight line to the storage tank. What point on the shoreline should be selected to minimize the total cost of the pipeline?
Solution (1 of 3) Oil Rig 25 mi. 5 mi. Tank x 8 mi. 8-x 5 mi.
Solution (2 of 3) Length of pipeline under water: (25) 2 + (8 x) 2 = 689 16x + x 2 Length of pipeline on land: (5) 2 + x 2 = 25 + x 2 Cost of pipeline: C(x) = 60000 689 16x + x 2 + 25000 25 + x 2
Solution (3 of 3) C(x) = 60000 689 16x + x 2 + 25000 25 + x 2 C 30000(2x 16) (x) = + 12500(2x) 689 16x + x 2 25 + x 2
Solution (3 of 3) C(x) = 60000 689 16x + x 2 + 25000 25 + x 2 C 30000(2x 16) (x) = + 12500(2x) 689 16x + x 2 25 + x 2 Find the critical numbers where C (x) = 0. 30000(16 2x) 689 16x + x 2 = 12500(2x) 25 + x 2 300(8 x) 689 16x + x 2 = 125x 25 + x 2 x 2.80061 The pipeline should come ashore approximately 2.8 miles west of the storage tank.
Homework Read Section 3.7 Exercises: 1 21 odd