SOLUTION: A WIRE WHOSE LENGTH IS AT MOST 114CM, IS BEST TO FORM A RECTANGLE. IF THE RECTANGLE IS 5 CM LONGER THAN THE WIDTH. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AREA OF THE RECTANGLE. CAN YOU HELP WITH MY H

Algebra ->  Rectangles -> SOLUTION: A WIRE WHOSE LENGTH IS AT MOST 114CM, IS BEST TO FORM A RECTANGLE. IF THE RECTANGLE IS 5 CM LONGER THAN THE WIDTH. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AREA OF THE RECTANGLE. CAN YOU HELP WITH MY H      Log On


   



Question 945092: A WIRE WHOSE LENGTH IS AT MOST 114CM, IS BEST TO FORM A RECTANGLE. IF THE RECTANGLE IS 5 CM LONGER THAN THE WIDTH. WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM AREA OF THE RECTANGLE. CAN YOU HELP WITH MY HOMEWORK.. THANKS GOD BLESS YOU ALL..
Answer by josgarithmetic(39617) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Perimeter of the rectangle can be at most, the length of the wire.
w for width
L for length
p for perimeter
A for area and A=wL;
given p=11 cm and L=w+5.

system%28p=2w%2B2L%2CA=wL%29

Using the given information about L and w,
system%28p=2w%2B2%28w%2B5%29%2CA=w%28w%2B5%29%29

system%28p=2w%2B2w%2B10%2CA=w%5E2%2B5w%29

system%28p=4w%2B10%2CA=w%5E2%2B5w%29
From here, recognize that the unknown is w and A, and the known is p. The question to be answered, about finding the maximum value for area A, does not seem right. We should be able to solve for w in the first equation, and then substitute this into the A equation, and there should be no reason to maximize anything - we should just have ONE solution for A, regardless of how it compares to any maximum.


(!) Solve for w in first equation.
4w=p-10
w=%28p-10%29%2F4


(!) Substitute for w into the A equation.
A=%28%28p-10%29%2F4%29%5E2%2B5%28p-10%29%2F4
That can serve as the formula for THE AREA.
p was already given as 11...
A=%28%2811-10%29%2F4%29%5E2%2B5%2811-10%29%2F4
A=1%2F16%2B5%2A1%2F4
A=1%2F16%2B5%2A4%2F%284%2A4%29
A=%281%2B20%29%2F16
A=21%2F16



(...........)

Just to be more certain, reexamined the steps before the "(!)" labeled steps.
Now redoing those two first computing w.
w=%28p-10%29%2F4
w=%2811-10%29%2F4+
w=1%2F4
-
A=w%5E2%2B5w
A=%281%2F4%29%5E2%2B5%281%2F4%29
A=1%2F16%2B%285%2A4%29%2F%284%2A4%29
A=1%2F16%2B20%2F16
highlight%28A=21%2F16%29