document.write( "Question 245998: A carpenter is building a rectangular room with a fixed perimeter of 240 ft. What dimensions would yeild the maximum area? what is the maximum area? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #179689 by oberobic(2304)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! P = 240 = 2L + 2W \n" ); document.write( "A = L*W \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "By theorem (or from calculus), we know the maximum area is a square, so: L=W. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "P = 2L + 2W = 4L = 240 \n" ); document.write( "L = 60 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "So a 60 by 60 room is 3600 sq ft in area. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "We can test the area by testing another room with dimensions close to 60 by 60 and P = 240. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Let's try 59 by 61. P = 2(59)+2(61) = 118+122 = 240. OK. \n" ); document.write( "A = 59 * 61 = 3599, which is less than 3600. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Let's try 58 by 62. P = 2(58) + 2(62) = 116 + 124 = 240. OK \n" ); document.write( "A = 58 * 63 = 3596, which is less than 3600 and less than 3599. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Let's try 57 by 63. P = 240. OK \n" ); document.write( "A = 57 * 63 = 3591, which is less than 3600 and less than 3599 and less than 3596. The area is decreasing as the values get further apart. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "How about 1 by 119? P = 2(1) + 2(119) = 2 + 238 = 240. \n" ); document.write( "A = 1*119 = 119, which is way less... \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Another way to look at this problem is the define the perimeter = 2C, where C = L+W. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "That way L = C-W, so the area will be (C-W) * W = CW - W^2. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "The maximum value of CW - W^2 is C^2/4, which occurs at W = C/2. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "So, if W = C/2, and C=L+W, then L=C/2, so we have a square. \n" ); document.write( " |