document.write( "Question 530159: A farmer has 5000 feet of fencing available to enclose a rectangular field. What is the maximum area? \r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #349941 by oberobic(2304)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! For any given perimeter, the maximum area is a square. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "5000/4 = 1250 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "1250^2 = 1562500 sq. ft. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "If you're not familiar with the maximum area rectangle being a square, a simple application of calculus will demonstrate. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Recall, perimeter = 2(length + width). With 5000 feet of fencing, that is the maximum perimeter. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "From this starting point, we recognize that 1/2 the perimeter equals the rectangle's length + its width. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "5000/2 = 2500 \n" ); document.write( "so \n" ); document.write( "L + W = 2500 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "So the sides can be defined as 'L = x' and 'W = 2500-x'. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "y = area = L*W \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Substitute for L and W. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "y = x*(2500-x) \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "y = -x^2 + 2500x \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "To find the maximum, take the first derivative and solve it for a value of 0. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "dy/dx = -2x + 2500 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "2x = 2500 \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "x = 1250 = L \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "2500-x = 1250 = W \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "L = W, so we have a square. \n" ); document.write( ". \n" ); document.write( "Done. \n" ); document.write( " |