Math  /  Algebra

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) A(W)=A(W)= \square

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: 2L+2W=440 2L + 2W = 440 Where LL is the length and WW is the width.

STEP 5

We want the area as a function of *only* the width, WW.
So, let's get LL out of the perimeter equation!

STEP 6

**First**, let's divide the entire perimeter equation by **2**: L+W=220 L + W = 220

STEP 7

**Next**, let's subtract WW from both sides to isolate LL: L=220W L = 220 - W Boom! Now we have LL in terms of WW!

STEP 8

The **area** of a rectangle is length times width, right?
So, let's write that down: A=LW A = L \cdot W

STEP 9

But we just found a cool way to write LL using only WW!
Let's **substitute** that in: A(W)=(220W)W A(W) = (220 - W) \cdot W

STEP 10

Let's **expand** this to make it look even nicer: A(W)=220WW2 A(W) = 220W - W^2 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 y=ax2+bx+c y = ax^2 + bx + c is given by x=b2a x = -\frac{b}{2a} .

STEP 12

In our area function, a=1 a = -1 and b=220 b = 220 , and WW acts like our xx.
So, the width that gives us the maximum area is: W=2202(1) W = -\frac{220}{2 \cdot (-1)}

STEP 13

**Calculate** that out: W=110 W = 110 So, a width of **110 yards** will give us the biggest rectangle!

STEP 14

Let's **plug** our magic width, W=110W = 110, back into our area function: A(110)=220110(110)2 A(110) = 220 \cdot 110 - (110)^2

STEP 15

**Calculate** that: A(110)=2420012100 A(110) = 24200 - 12100

STEP 16

**Final calculation**: A(110)=12100 A(110) = 12100 The **maximum area** is **12,100 square yards**!

STEP 17

(a) A(W)=220WW2 A(W) = 220W - W^2 (b) W=110 W = 110 yards (c) Maximum area = 12,100 square yards

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