Question

A closed, rectangular-faced box with a square base is to be constructed using only 36 m2 of material. What should the height h and base length b of the box be so as to maximize its volume

Answer 1

Answer:

$b=h=\sqrt{6}$ m

Step-by-step explanation:

Let

Bas length of box=b

Height of box=h

Material used in constructing of box=36 square m

We have to find the height h and base length b of the box to maximize the volume of box.

Surface area of box=$2b^2+4bh$

$2b^2+4bh=36$

$b^2+2bh=18$

$2bh=18-b^2$

$h=\frac{18-b^2}{2b}$

Volume of box, V=$b^2h$

Substitute the values

$V=b^2\times \frac{18-b^2}{2b}$

$V=\frac{1}{2}(18b-b^3)$

Differentiate w. r.t b

$\frac{dV}{db}=\frac{1}{2}(18-3b^2)$

$\frac{dV}{db}=0$

$\frac{1}{2}(18-3b^2)=0$

$\implies 18-3b^2=0$

$\implies 3b^2=18$

$b^2=6$

$b=\pm \sqrt{6}$

$b=\sqrt{6}$

The negative value of b is not possible because length cannot be negative.

Again differentiate w.r.t b

$\frac{d^2V}{db^2}=-3b$

At  $b=\sqrt{6}$

$\frac{d^2V}{db^2}=-3\sqrt{6}$

Hence, the volume of box is maximum at $b=\sqrt{6}$.

$h=\frac{18-(\sqrt{6})^2}{2\sqrt{6}}$

$h=\frac{18-6}{2\sqrt{6}}$

$h=\frac{12}{2\sqrt{6}}$

$h=\sqrt{6}$

$b=h=\sqrt{6}$ m