Problema Solution

A rectangular field will be fenced on all four sides. Fencing for the north and south sides costs $9 per foot and fencing for the other two sides costs $8 per foot. What is the maximum area that can be enclosed for $4800?

Answer provided by our tutors

let


l = the length of the field that is the length of the north = the length of the south side

w = the width of the field that is the length of each of the other two sides


9(2l) + 8(2w) = 4800 divide both sides by 2


9l + 8w = 2400


w = (2400 - 9l)/8


w = 300 - (9/8)l


the area of the field is


A = l*w


A = l*(300 - (9l)/8)


A = 300l - (9/8)*(l^2) is a parabolic function with quotient -9/8 <0 in front of l^2 thus the function has maximum equal to it vertex


c - b^2/4a, where a = -9/8, b = 300, c = 0


0 - (300^2)/(4*(-9/8)) = 20,000 ft^2


the maximum area that can be enclosed is 20,000 ft^2.