Consider the following problem: find two numbers whose sum is 23 and whose product is a maximum. (a) Make a table of values, like the one below, so that the sum of the numbers in the first two columns is always 23. On the basis of the evidence in your table, estimate the answer to the problem. (b) Use calculus to solve the problem and compare with your answer to part (a).
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Textbook Solutions for Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Question
A farmer wants to fence in a rectangular plot of land adjacent to the north wall of his barn. No fencing is needed along the barn, and the fencing along the west side of the plot is shared with a neighbor who will split the cost of that portion of the fence. If the fencing costs $20 per linear foot to install and the farmer is not willing to spend more than $5000, find the dimensions for the plot that would enclose the most area.
Solution
Step 1 of 7
Let the length (adjacent to the Barn) of the rectangular plot be y and width be x. It has been stated that. No fencing is needed along the barn, and the fencing along the west side of the plot is shared with a neighbour who will split the cost of that portion of the fence. Therefore, the perimeter of the plot that need to be fenced will be
\(\begin{array}{l}
=y+x+\frac{1}{2} x \\
=y+\frac{3}{2} x
\end{array}\)
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