A rectangular storage container with a lid is to have a volume of 14 m3. The length of its base is twice the width. Material for the base costs $7 per m2. Material for the sides and lid costs $14 per m2. Find the dimensions of the container which will minimize cost and the minimum cost.

Question

Roger Walter

Mathematics

2 January, 23:20

A rectangular storage container with a lid is to have a volume of 14 m3. The length of its base is twice the width. Material for the base costs $7 per m2. Material for the sides and lid costs $14 per m2. Find the dimensions of the container which will minimize cost and the minimum cost.

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Answers (1)

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Tyrell Frazier · Answer 1

C = 42 7^ (2/3) + 84 * 7/7^ (1/3) = 126 7^ (2/3)

Step-by-step explanation:

Let x be the length of the base, y its width and z the height. Then x=2y,

Volume = V = xyz = 2y^2 z = 14 so z = 7/y^2

Then the cost is C = 7 xy + 14 (xy + 2xz + 2yz) = 21 xy + 28 xz + 28 yz =

= 42 y^2 + 56 y z + 28 yz = 42 y^2 + 84 yz = 42 y^2 + 84 y (7/y^2) =

= 42 y^2 + 84*7/y and so

dC/dy = 84 y - 84*7/y^2 = 0 and so y^3 = 7 and y = 7^ (1/3) and therefore

x = 2y = 2 7^ (1/3) and z = 7 / 7^ (2/3) = 7^ (1/3). The minimum cost is then

C = 42 7^ (2/3) + 84 * 7/7^ (1/3) = 126 7^ (2/3)