document.write( "Question 174569: This is one is tough!
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document.write( "A rectangular enclosure is made with 100 ft. of fencing on three sides. The fourth side is the wall of a barn. Find the greatest possible area of such an enclosure. My choices are as follows: A) 400ft^2 B) 625 ft^2 C) 1111.1 ft ^2 D) 2500ft^2. \n" );
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Algebra.Com's Answer #129585 by nerdybill(7384)![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! If you only have 100 feet of fencing, this means that the perimeter has a maximum of 100 feet. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Let x = width \n" ); document.write( "and y = length \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Perimeter = 2x+y \n" ); document.write( "100 = 2x+y \n" ); document.write( "solving for y: \n" ); document.write( "y = 100 - 2x \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Area = xy \n" ); document.write( "substituting in our value of y: \n" ); document.write( "Area = x(100 - 2x) \n" ); document.write( "Area = -2x^2 + 100x \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "This is essentially a parabola that opens downward (from the coefficient -2). So, all we need to do is to find the vertex to find the maximum. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "The x coordinate = -b/2a \n" ); document.write( "The x coordinate = -(100)/2(-2) \n" ); document.write( "The x coordinate = (-100)/(-4) \n" ); document.write( "The x coordinate = (100)/(4) \n" ); document.write( "The x coordinate = 25 feet (width) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Length is: \n" ); document.write( "y = 100 - 2x \n" ); document.write( "y = 100 - 2(25) \n" ); document.write( "y = 100 - 50 \n" ); document.write( "y = 50 feet (length) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Area is then: \n" ); document.write( "25(50) = 1250 square feet\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |