Optimization with constraints

Use calculus to maximize or minimize a quantity subject to a constraint, typically involving surface area or volume.

12 questions · Standard +0.0

1.07i Differentiate x^n: for rational n and sums
Sort by: Default | Easiest first | Hardest first
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2016 Specimen Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{ac5bf967-8b97-4bf3-991f-28c3ec7a25da-3_570_736_292_667} The diagram shows a sector of a circle, \(O M N\). The angle \(M O N\) is \(2 x\) radians, the radius of the circle is \(r\) and \(O\) is the centre.
  1. Find expressions, in terms of \(r\) and \(x\), for the area, \(A\), and the perimeter, \(P\), of the sector.
  2. Given that \(P = 20\), show that \(A = \frac { 100 x } { ( 1 + x ) ^ { 2 } }\).
  3. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } A } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), and hence find the value of \(x\) for which the area of the sector is a maximum.
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2016 Specimen Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{1c957cfe-bead-41d9-8985-479e876e1616-3_577_743_287_662} The diagram shows a sector of a circle, \(O M N\). The angle \(M O N\) is \(2 x\) radians, the radius of the circle is \(r\) and \(O\) is the centre.
  1. Find expressions, in terms of \(r\) and \(x\), for the area, \(A\), and the perimeter, \(P\), of the sector.
  2. Given that \(P = 20\), show that \(A = \frac { 100 x } { ( 1 + x ) ^ { 2 } }\).
  3. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } A } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), and hence find the value of \(x\) for which the area of the sector is a maximum.
CAIE P1 2010 June Q8
8 marks Moderate -0.3
A solid rectangular block has a square base of side \(x\) cm. The height of the block is \(h\) cm and the total surface area of the block is \(96\) cm\(^2\).
  1. Express \(h\) in terms of \(x\) and show that the volume, \(V\) cm\(^3\), of the block is given by $$V = 24x - \frac{1}{2}x^3.$$ [3]
Given that \(x\) can vary,
  1. find the stationary value of \(V\), [3]
  2. determine whether this stationary value is a maximum or a minimum. [2]
Edexcel C2 Q5
14 marks Standard +0.3
\includegraphics{figure_3} A manufacturer produces cartons for fruit juice. Each carton is in the shape of a closed cuboid with base dimensions \(2x\) cm by \(x\) cm and height \(h\) cm, as shown in Fig. 4. Given that the capacity of a carton has to be 1030 cm\(^3\),
  1. express \(h\) in terms of \(x\), [2]
  2. show that the surface area, \(A\) cm\(^2\), of a carton is given by $$A = 4x^2 + \frac{3090}{x}.$$ [3]
The manufacturer needs to minimise the surface area of a carton.
  1. Use calculus to find the value of \(x\) for which \(A\) is a minimum. [5]
  2. Calculate the minimum value of \(A\). [2]
  3. Prove that this value of \(A\) is a minimum. [2]
Edexcel C2 Q26
12 marks Moderate -0.3
\includegraphics{figure_9} A rectangular sheet of metal measures 50 cm by 40 cm. Squares of side \(x\) cm are cut from each corner of the sheet and the remainder is folded along the dotted lines to make an open tray, as shown in Fig. 2.
  1. Show that the volume, \(V\) cm\(^3\), of the tray is given by $$V = 4x(x^2 - 45x + 500).$$ [3]
  2. State the range of possible values of \(x\). [1]
  3. Find the value of \(x\) for which \(V\) is a maximum. [4]
  4. Hence find the maximum value of \(V\). [2]
  5. Justify that the value of \(V\) you found in part (d) is a maximum. [2]
Edexcel C2 Q38
10 marks Moderate -0.3
On a journey, the average speed of a car is \(v\) m s\(^{-1}\). For \(v \geq 5\), the cost per kilometre, \(C\) pence, of the journey is modelled by $$C = \frac{160}{v} + \frac{v^2}{100}.$$ Using this model,
  1. show, by calculus, that there is a value of \(v\) for which \(C\) has a stationary value, and find this value of \(v\). [5]
  2. Justify that this value of \(v\) gives a minimum value of \(C\). [2]
  3. Find the minimum value of \(C\) and hence find the minimum cost of a 250 km car journey. [3]
Edexcel C2 Q8
14 marks Standard +0.3
\includegraphics{figure_3} A manufacturer produces cartons for fruit juice. Each carton is in the shape of a closed cuboid with base dimensions \(2x\) cm by \(x\) cm and height \(h\) cm, as shown in Fig. 3. Given that the capacity of a carton has to be 1030 cm\(^3\),
  1. express \(h\) in terms of \(x\), [2]
  2. show that the surface area, \(A\) cm\(^2\), of a carton is given by \(A = 4x^2 + \frac{3090}{x}\). [3]
The manufacturer needs to minimise the surface area of a carton.
  1. Use calculus to find the value of \(x\) for which \(A\) is a minimum. [5]
  2. Calculate the minimum value of \(A\). [2]
  3. Prove that this value of \(A\) is a minimum. [2]
Edexcel C2 Q9
12 marks Standard +0.3
\includegraphics{figure_3} A rectangular sheet of metal measures 50 cm by 40 cm. Squares of side \(x\) cm are cut from each corner of the sheet and the remainder is folded along the dotted lines to make an open tray, as shown in Fig. 3.
  1. Show that the volume, \(V\) cm\(^3\), of the tray is given by \(V = 4x(x^2 - 45x + 500)\). [3]
  2. State the range of possible values of \(x\). [1]
  3. Find the value of \(x\) for which \(V\) is a maximum. [4]
  4. Hence find the maximum value of \(V\). [2]
  5. Justify that the value of \(V\) you found in part (d) is a maximum. [2]
Edexcel C2 Q7
10 marks Moderate -0.3
On a journey, the average speed of a car is \(v\) m s\(^{-1}\). For \(v \geq 5\), the cost per kilometre, \(C\) pence, of the journey is modelled by \(C = \frac{160}{v} + \frac{v^2}{100}\). Using this model,
  1. show, by calculus, that there is a value of \(v\) for which \(C\) has a stationary value, and find this value of \(v\). [5]
  2. Justify that this value of \(v\) gives a minimum value of \(C\). [2]
  3. Find the minimum value of \(C\) and hence find the minimum cost of a 250 km car journey. [3]
AQA AS Paper 2 2023 June Q10
11 marks Standard +0.3
A piece of wire of length 66 cm is bent to form the five sides of a pentagon. The pentagon consists of three sides of a rectangle and two sides of an equilateral triangle. The sides of the rectangle measure \(x\) cm and \(y\) cm and the sides of the triangle measure \(x\) cm, as shown in the diagram below. \includegraphics{figure_10}
    1. You are given that \(\sin 60° = \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\) Explain why the area of the triangle is \(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{4}x^2\) [1 mark]
    2. Show that the area enclosed by the wire, \(A\) cm\(^2\), can be expressed by the formula $$A = 33x - \frac{1}{4}(6 - \sqrt{3})x^2$$ [3 marks]
  1. Use calculus to find the value of \(x\) for which the wire encloses the maximum area. Give your answer in the form \(p + q\sqrt{3}\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers. Fully justify your answer. [7 marks]
SPS SPS SM Pure 2023 September Q10
12 marks Standard +0.3
\includegraphics{figure_10} The figure above shows solid right prism of height \(h\) cm. The cross section of the prism is a circular sector of radius \(r\) cm, subtending an angle of 2 radians at the centre.
  1. Given that the volume of the prism is 1000 cm\(^3\), show clearly that $$S = 2r^2 + \frac{4000}{r},$$ where \(S\) cm\(^2\) is the total surface area of the prism. [5]
  2. Hence determine the value of \(r\) and the value of \(h\) which make \(S\) least, fully justifying your answer. [7]
Pre-U Pre-U 9794/2 2012 June Q9
9 marks Moderate -0.3
\includegraphics{figure_9} The diagram shows a sector of a circle, \(OMN\). The angle \(MON\) is \(2x\) radians, the radius of the circle is \(r\) and \(O\) is the centre.
  1. Find expressions, in terms of \(r\) and \(x\), for the area, \(A\), and perimeter, \(P\), of the sector. [2]
  2. Given that \(P = 20\), show that \(A = \frac{100x}{(1 + x)^2}\). [2]
  3. Find \(\frac{dA}{dx}\), and hence find the value of \(x\) for which the area of the sector is a maximum. [5]