Chapter 3: Problem 44
GENERAL: Area What is the area of the largest rectangle whose perimeter is 100 feet?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The maximum area is 625 square feet, occurring when the rectangle is a square with sides of 25 feet.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We need to find the dimensions of a rectangle with the largest possible area, given that its perimeter should be exactly 100 feet. The perimeter, \(P\), of a rectangle is calculated as \(P = 2l + 2w\), where \(l\) is the length and \(w\) is the width.
02
Calculate Perimeter in Terms of Variables
Given the perimeter \(P = 100\), we substitute into the formula: \[ 2l + 2w = 100 \]Simplifying, we find:\[ l + w = 50 \] This equation will be used to express one variable in terms of the other.
03
Express Width in Terms of Length
From the equation \(l + w = 50\), solve for width \(w\):\[ w = 50 - l \]We now have \(w\) in terms of \(l\).
04
Formulate the Area Equation
The area \(A\) of a rectangle is given by \(A = l imes w\). Substitute \(w = 50 - l\) into this equation:\[ A = l(50 - l) = 50l - l^2 \]This formula represents the area of the rectangle in terms of \(l\).
05
Find the Length for Maximum Area
To maximize \(A = 50l - l^2\), calculate the derivative \(\frac{dA}{dl} = 50 - 2l\). Set the derivative to zero to find critical points:\[ 50 - 2l = 0 \]\[ 2l = 50 \]\[ l = 25 \]
06
Determine the Width Using the Length
Substituting \(l = 25\) into the perimeter equation \(l + w = 50\), we find:\[ 25 + w = 50 \]\[ w = 25 \]This means our rectangle is a square with side lengths of 25 feet.
07
Confirm the Solution by Calculating the Area
Substitute \(l = 25\) and \(w = 25\) back into the area formula \(A = l imes w\):\[ A = 25 imes 25 = 625 \] square feet. This confirms the maximum area.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding the Area of a Rectangle
When talking about the **area** of a rectangle, we’re referring to the amount of space enclosed within its four sides. The formula for the area is simple:
A key part of this exercise involves finding the largest possible area of a rectangle with a fixed perimeter.
- Area \(A\) = Length \(l\) \( \times \) Width \(w\).
A key part of this exercise involves finding the largest possible area of a rectangle with a fixed perimeter.
- The concept of area helps us understand how to best utilize limited boundaries to enclose a maximum space.
Exploring Perimeter Constraints
Perimeter constraints define the total length around the border of a rectangle. This is represented by:
Understanding perimeter constraints is crucial in setting up equations needed to derive maximum area from a fixed boundary.
- Perimeter \(P = 2l + 2w\).
- \( l + w = 50 \)
Understanding perimeter constraints is crucial in setting up equations needed to derive maximum area from a fixed boundary.
Using Derivatives in Calculus
Derivatives are powerful tools in calculus used to find the rate of change of a quantity. In this exercise, we apply derivatives to identify where a rectangle's area reaches its maximum value.
First, you express the area equation based on the given perimeter:
First, you express the area equation based on the given perimeter:
- \( A = 50l - l^2 \)
- \( \frac{dA}{dl} = 50 - 2l \)
- \( 50 - 2l = 0 \)
- This gives \( l = 25 \)
The Optimization Problem
An optimization problem involves finding the best solution from a set of available options. In this scenario, it’s about maximizing the area of a rectangle given a perimeter constraint. By using calculus, specifically derivatives, we factored in all constraints to find optimal dimensions.
For the rectangle:
For the rectangle:
- When \( l = 25 \), from the perimeter equation \( l + w = 50 \), we also get \( w = 25 \).
- This configuration results in a square, as a square often provides the maximum area for a given perimeter.
- \( A = 25 \times 25 = 625 \) square feet.