Math Problem Statement

A figure shows a rectangle split into three equal vertical spaces. The wall materials cost $500 per linear meter and your company allocates $4,800,000 for that part of the project involving the walls. Which dimensions maximize the area of the warehouse? (Give exact answers. Use symbolic notation and fractions where needed.)

Solution

To maximize the area of the warehouse, we need to relate the cost of the wall materials to the dimensions of the rectangle and then optimize the area. Let's break the problem down step by step.

Step 1: Define the variables

Let:

  • LL be the length of the warehouse (the horizontal side of the rectangle),
  • HH be the height of the warehouse (the vertical side of the rectangle).

The rectangle is split into three equal vertical sections, so each vertical division has a height of H3\frac{H}{3}.

Step 2: Calculate the total cost of the walls

The warehouse has four walls: two vertical and two horizontal. The vertical walls will each have a length HH, and the horizontal walls will each have a length LL.

  • The cost of each vertical wall is proportional to its area, which is H×1H \times 1 (since the cost is per meter of the wall). Since there are two vertical walls, the total cost for the vertical walls is: Cost of vertical walls=2H×500=1000H\text{Cost of vertical walls} = 2H \times 500 = 1000H

  • The cost of each horizontal wall is proportional to its length LL, and since there are two horizontal walls, the total cost for the horizontal walls is: Cost of horizontal walls=2L×500=1000L\text{Cost of horizontal walls} = 2L \times 500 = 1000L

Thus, the total cost of the walls is: Total wall cost=1000H+1000L\text{Total wall cost} = 1000H + 1000L

Step 3: Relate the cost to the budget

The total budget allocated for the walls is $4,800,000. Therefore, we have the equation: 1000H+1000L=4,800,0001000H + 1000L = 4,800,000 Simplifying this: H+L=4800H + L = 4800

Step 4: Maximizing the area

The area AA of the warehouse is: A=L×HA = L \times H We want to maximize this area. From the previous equation, solve for HH in terms of LL: H=4800LH = 4800 - L Substitute this expression for HH into the area formula: A=L×(4800L)=4800LL2A = L \times (4800 - L) = 4800L - L^2

Step 5: Find the value of LL that maximizes the area

To maximize the area, we take the derivative of AA with respect to LL and set it equal to zero: dAdL=48002L\frac{dA}{dL} = 4800 - 2L Set the derivative equal to zero: 48002L=04800 - 2L = 0 Solving for LL: 2L=4800L=24002L = 4800 \quad \Rightarrow \quad L = 2400

Now, substitute L=2400L = 2400 into the equation H=4800LH = 4800 - L: H=48002400=2400H = 4800 - 2400 = 2400

Step 6: Conclusion

The dimensions that maximize the area of the warehouse are:

  • Length L=2400L = 2400 meters,
  • Height H=2400H = 2400 meters.

The area is: A=2400×2400=5,760,000square meters.A = 2400 \times 2400 = 5,760,000 \, \text{square meters}.

These are the dimensions that maximize the area, given the wall material cost constraint.


Would you like to see more details about the optimization process, or do you have any questions? Here are a few related questions:

  1. How would the cost function change if the cost per meter of wall material were different?
  2. What would happen if the warehouse had a fixed height instead of a fixed budget for walls?
  3. How would the area change if we used more divisions along the height?
  4. What is the effect of reducing the number of vertical walls on the total cost and area?
  5. Can we apply the same method to other types of buildings with different shapes or materials?

Tip: When optimizing areas or volumes with cost constraints, always set up the problem in terms of a single variable (like length or height) to simplify the calculus.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Optimization
Algebra
Differentiation
Area maximization

Formulas

A = L × H
1000H + 1000L = 4,800,000
A = 4800L - L^2
dA/dL = 4800 - 2L

Theorems

Maximization using derivatives

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 11-12