A box with a square base and open top must have a volume of 32,000cm^3. How do you find the dimensions of the box that minimize the amount of material used?

Ariel Wilkinson

Ariel Wilkinson

Answered question

2022-09-06

A box with a square base and open top must have a volume of 32,000cm^3. How do you find the dimensions of the box that minimize the amount of material used?

Answer & Explanation

beshrewd6g

beshrewd6g

Beginner2022-09-07Added 12 answers

The Volume of a box with a square base x by x cm and height h cm is V = x 2 h
The amount of material used is directly proportional to the surface area, so we will minimize the amount of material by minimizing the surface area.
The surface area of the box described is A = x 2 + 4 x h
We need A as a function of x alone, so we'll use the fact that V = x 2 h = 32 , 000 cm^3
which gives us h = 32 , 000 x 2 , so the area becomes:
A = x 2 + 4 x ( 32 , 000 x 2 ) = x 2 + 128 , 000 x
We want to minimize A, so
A = 2 x - 128 , 000 x 2 = 0 when 2 x 3 - 128 , 000 x 2 = 0
Which occurs when x 3 - 64 , 000 = 0 or x=40
The only critical number is x=40 cm.
The second derivative test verifies that A has a minimum at this critical number: A = 2 + 256 , 000 x 3 which is positive at x=40.
The box should have base 40 cm by 40 cm and height 20 cm.
(use h = 32 , 000 x 2 and x=40)

Do you have a similar question?

Recalculate according to your conditions!

New Questions in Multivariable calculus

Ask your question.
Get an expert answer.

Let our experts help you. Answer in as fast as 15 minutes.

Didn't find what you were looking for?