AP CALCULUS

LECTURE NOTES

Section Number:

MR.
RECORD
Days: 1 3

Topics: Optimization

3.7
Introduction

One of the most common applications of calculus involves the determination of minimum or
maximum values. Consider how frequently you hear or read terms such as greatest profit, least
cost, least time, greatest voltage, optimum size, least size, greatest strength and greatest
distance. Before outlining a general problem-solving strategy for such problems, lets look at an
example.

Example 1: A manufacturer wants to design an open box having a square base and a surface area of 108
square inches. What dimensions should the box be in order to produce a box with a maximum
volume?

h
x
x

Note: There are many possible types of boxes with varying dimensions that yield different volumes.
Volume = 74.25

3 x 3 x 8.25

Volume = 92

4 x 4 x 5.75

Volume = 103.75

5 x 5 x 4.15

Volume = 108

Volume = 88

6x6x3

8 x 8 x 1.475

Guidelines for Solving Applied Minimum and Maximum Problems.

1.) Identify all given quantities and quantities to be determined. If helpful, make a sketch
2.) Write a primary equation for the quantity to be maximized (or minimized).
3.) Reduce the primary equation to one having a single independent variable. This may require the
use of a secondary equation.
4.) Determine a feasible domain for your primary equation.
5.) Determine the desired maximum or (minimum) value by using the techniques discussed in Section
3.3.
Note: This includes taking a derivative, finding critical numbers and setting up a chart.
================================================================
===========================================

y 4 x2
Example 2: Which points on the graph of

are closest to the point (0, 2)?

Example 3: A rectangular page is to contain 24 square inches of print. The margins at the top and bottom
of the page are to be 1 inches, and the margins on the left and right are to be 1 inch. What
should the dimensions of the page be so that the least amount of paper is used?

Example 4: Two posts, one 12 feet high and the other 28 feet high, stand 30 feet apart. They are to be
steadied by two wires, attached to a single stake, running from ground level to the top of each
post. Where should the stake be placed to use the least wire?

Example of Optimization on a Closed Interval

Example 5: Four feet of wire is to be used to form a square and a circle. How much of the wire should be
used for the square and how much should be used for the circle to enclose the maximum total area?