QuestionDiana has 440 yards of fencing and wishes to enclose a rectangular area. (a) Express the area A of the rectangle as a function of the width W of the rectangle. (b) For what value of W is the area largest? (c) What is the maximum area? (a)
Studdy Solution
STEP 1
What is this asking?
We need to find a formula for the area of a rectangle given a fixed perimeter, then figure out the biggest area we can make and what rectangle width gets us there.
Watch out!
Don't mix up perimeter and area!
Also, remember the width affects the length, they're linked!
STEP 2
1. Set up the perimeter equation
2. Express length in terms of width
3. Define the area function
4. Optimize the area formula
5. Calculate the maximum area
STEP 3
Alright, let's **start** with what we know: Diana has **440 yards** of fencing.
That's the **perimeter** of our rectangle!
STEP 4
Remember, the perimeter of a rectangle is *two times the length* plus *two times the width*.
Let's write that down:
Where is the length and is the width.
STEP 5
We want the area as a function of *only* the width, .
So, let's get out of the perimeter equation!
STEP 6
**First**, let's divide the entire perimeter equation by **2**:
STEP 7
**Next**, let's subtract from both sides to isolate : Boom! Now we have in terms of !
STEP 8
The **area** of a rectangle is length times width, right?
So, let's write that down:
STEP 9
But we just found a cool way to write using only !
Let's **substitute** that in:
STEP 10
Let's **expand** this to make it look even nicer:
There it is!
Our area function in terms of the width!
STEP 11
Now, how do we find the *largest* area?
This is where our **vertex formula** comes in handy!
Remember, the x-coordinate of the vertex of a parabola is given by .
STEP 12
In our area function, and , and acts like our .
So, the width that gives us the maximum area is:
STEP 13
**Calculate** that out: So, a width of **110 yards** will give us the biggest rectangle!
STEP 14
Let's **plug** our magic width, , back into our area function:
STEP 15
**Calculate** that:
STEP 16
**Final calculation**: The **maximum area** is **12,100 square yards**!
STEP 17
(a) (b) yards (c) Maximum area = 12,100 square yards
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