SOLUTION: A rectangular field is to be enclosed by 400 m of fence. What is the maximum area? What dimensions will give the maximum area?

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Question 1157746: A rectangular field is to be enclosed by 400 m of fence. What is the maximum area? What dimensions will give the maximum area?

Found 2 solutions by josgarithmetic, ikleyn:
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
both dimensions 100 each
Answer by ikleyn(52778)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

Let x be the length of the rectangle and y be its width.

Then  x + y =  = 200,  and you are asked to find x and y in a way 
to maximize the product  x*y  which is the area.


Express y via x:  y = 200 - x,  and substitute it into the product:

    x*y = x*(200-x).


Next, find the maximum of the quadratic function  f(x) = x*(200-x) = .

Now let me remind you that, if you have a quadratic function f(x) = of the general form, then it reaches the maximum/minimum at x = .
See the lessons - HOW TO complete the square to find the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function - Briefly on finding the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function in this site. So, in our case the maximum is the vertex at x = = = 100. Thus L = W = 100 meters, and the rectangle is actually a square with the area of 10000 m^2.

Solved.

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My other relevant lessons in this site on finding the maximum/minimum of a quadratic function are
    - HOW TO complete the square to find the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function
    - Briefly on finding the minimum/maximum of a quadratic function
    - HOW TO complete the square to find the vertex of a parabola
    - Briefly on finding the vertex of a parabola

    - A rectangle with a given perimeter which has the maximal area is a square
    - A farmer planning to fence a rectangular area along the river to enclose the maximal area
    - A rancher planning to fence two adjacent rectangular corrals to enclose the maximal area


Also,  you have this free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I in this site
    - ALGEBRA-I - YOUR ONLINE TEXTBOOK.

The referred lessons are the part of this textbook under the topic "Finding minimum/maximum of quadratic functions".


Save the link to this online textbook together with its description

Free of charge online textbook in ALGEBRA-I
https://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/quadratic/lessons/ALGEBRA-I-YOUR-ONLINE-TEXTBOOK.lesson

to your archive and use it when it is needed.




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