Question

A rectangle has a perimeter of 30 ft. Find a function that models its area A in terms of the length x of one of its sides. What side length, x, yields the greatest area. What is that area?

Answer 1

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

Let the other side of the rectangle be y. The perimeter of the rectangle is expressed as P = 2(x+y)

Given P = 30ft, on substituting P = 30 into the expression;

30 = 2(x+y)

x+y = 15

y = 15-x

Also since the area of the rectangle is xy;

A = xy

Substitute y = 15-x into the area;

A = x(15-x)

A = 15x-x²

The function that models its area A in terms of the length x of one of its sides is A = 15x-x²

The side of length x yields the greatest area when dA/dx = 0

dA/dx = 15-2x

15-2x = 0

-2x = -15

x = -15/-2

x = 7.5 ft

Hence the side length, x that yields the greatest area is 7.5ft.

Since y = 15-x

y = 15-7.5

y = 7.5

Area of the rectangle = 7.5*7.5

Area of the rectangle = 56.25ft²