Kuta Software - Infinite Calculus

Name___________________________________

Optimization

Date________________ Period____

Solve each optimization problem. You may use the provided box to sketch the problem setup and the
provided graph to sketch the function of one variable to be minimized or maximized.
1) A supermarket employee wants to construct an open-top box from a 14 by 30 in piece of
cardboard. To do this, the employee plans to cut out squares of equal size from the four
corners so the four sides can be bent upwards. What size should the squares be in order to
create a box with the largest possible volume?

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC

2) Which point on the graph of y =

x is closest to the point (7, 0)?

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC

3) Two vertical poles, one 16 ft high and the other 24 ft high, stand 30 feet apart on a flat field. A
worker wants to support both poles by running rope from the ground to the top of each post. If
the worker wants to stake both ropes in the ground at the same point, where should the stake
be placed to use the least amount of rope?

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC

Kuta Software - Infinite Calculus

Name___________________________________

Optimization

Date________________ Period____

Solve each optimization problem. You may use the provided box to sketch the problem setup and the
provided graph to sketch the function of one variable to be minimized or maximized.
1) A supermarket employee wants to construct an open-top box from a 14 by 30 in piece of
cardboard. To do this, the employee plans to cut out squares of equal size from the four
corners so the four sides can be bent upwards. What size should the squares be in order to
create a box with the largest possible volume?
V ( if x = the length of the sides of the squares )

14 in

600
550
500
450
400
350

30 in

300
250
200
150
100
50
1

7 x

V = the volume of the box x = the length of the sides of the squares
Function to maximize: V = (30 2 x)(14 2 x) x where 0 < x < 7
Sides of the squares: 3 in

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC

2) Which point on the graph of y =

x is closest to the point (7, 0)?

d ( if x = the x-coordinate of a point on the curve )
20

y
14

18
13
12

16

11
14
10
9

12

8
10
7
6

5
6
4
3

2
2
1
1

10

11

12

13

14 x

d = the distance from point (7, 0) to a point on the curve

10

11

12

13

14 x

x = the x-coordinate of a point on the curve

x ) where < x <

13
26
Point on the curve that is closest to the point (7, 0):
,
2
2
Function to minimize: d =

( x 7)

+(

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC

3) Two vertical poles, one 16 ft high and the other 24 ft high, stand 30 feet apart on a flat field. A
worker wants to support both poles by running rope from the ground to the top of each post. If
the worker wants to stake both ropes in the ground at the same point, where should the stake
be placed to use the least amount of rope?
L ( if x = the horizontal distance from the short pole to the stake )
150
140
130
120
110
100
90
80

24 ft

70
60

16 ft

50
40
30
20

30 ft

10
2

L = the total length of rope

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

28

30 x

x = the horizontal distance from the short pole to the stake

Function to minimize: L = x 2 + 16 2 + (30 x) 2 + 24 2 where 0 x 30

Stake should be placed: 12 ft from the short pole (or 18 ft from the long pole)

Create your own worksheets like this one with Infinite Calculus. Free trial available at KutaSoftware.com

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Worksheet by Kuta Software LLC