Question

A cardboard box without a lid is to be made with a volume of 4 ft 3 . Find the dimensions of the box that requires the least amount of cardboard.

Answer 1

Answer:

2ft by 2ft by 1 ft

Step-by-step explanation:

Total surface of the cardboard box is expressed as S = 2LW + 2WH + 2LH where L is the length of the box, W is the width and H is the height of the box. Since the cardboard box is without a lid, then the total surface area will be expressed as;

S  = lw+2wh+2lh ... 1

Given the volume V = lwh = 4ft³ ... 2

From equation 2;

h = 4/lw

Substituting into r[equation 1;

S = lw + 2w(4/lw)+ 2l(4/lw)

S = lw+8/l+8/w

Differentiating the resulting equation with respect to w and l will give;

dS/dw = l + (-8w⁻²)

dS/dw = l - 8/w²

Similarly,

dS/dl = w  + (-8l⁻²)

dS/dw = w - 8/l²

At turning point, ds/dw = 0 and ds/dl = 0

l - 8/w² = 0 and w - 8/l² = 0

l = 8/w²  and w =8/l²

l = 8/(8/l² )²

l = 8/(64/I⁴)

l = 8*l⁴/64

l = l⁴/8

8l = l⁴

l³ = 8

l = ∛8

l = 2

Hence the length of the box is 2 feet

Substituting l = 2 into the function l = 8/w² to get the eidth w

2 = 8/w²

1 = 4/w²

w² = 4

w = 2 ft

width of the cardboard is 2 ft

Since Volume = lwh

4 = 2(2)h

4 = 4h

h = 1 ft

Height of the cardboard is 1 ft

The dimensions of the box that requires the least amount of cardboard is 2ft by 2ft by 1 ft