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Optimisation
Mathematics For Engineers 1A (University of Cape Town)
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Optimisation
Extreme values have practical applications, such as minimising costs or transportation time or
distances, or maximising areas or volumes or profits. We convert real life problems to mathematical
optimisation problems by first setting up the function that is to be maximised or minimised. We
want the absolute max/min that occur either at the endpoints or at critical points.
Let’s look at a worded problem. A
Example 1 B
R
A cone-shaped drinking cup is to be made from a circular piece of paper of
radius R, by cutting out a sector and joining the edges CA and CB. Find the C
maximum capacity of such a cup.
Solution with a strategy: r
1. Draw what’s happening. When joining A and B, the radius R becomes a line on the h
curved surface. Write down known and unknown conditions. We can now have a R
cone with radius r and height, h (unknown) and R (a constant and known).
2. Identify what to maximise or minimise and find and equation that relates the two variables. We
1
want to maximise volume of the cone. 𝑉= 3
𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ.
But there are more than two variables, so I need to get r in terms of h. Pythagoras.
1
𝑟 2 = 𝑅 2 − ℎ2 . Therefore, the equation becomes 𝑉= 3
𝜋(𝑅 2 − ℎ2 )ℎ
1 1
= 3
𝜋𝑅 2 ℎ − 3 𝜋ℎ3
3. As with max/min problems you want to check the end-points, or critical points by differentiating
𝑑𝑉 1
and equating to zero.
𝑑ℎ
= 3
𝜋𝑅 2 − 𝜋ℎ2
1
0= 𝜋𝑅 2 − 𝜋ℎ2 ,
3
𝑅
solving we get ℎ = . Therefore, maximum capacity occurs at this critical point as is
√3
1 𝑅2 𝑅 2𝜋𝑅3
𝑉= 3
𝜋(𝑅 2 − )
3 √3
= 9√3
.
4. Is it a maximum or minimum? Check using 1st or 2nd derivative test.
2nd derivative test: 𝑉 ′′ (ℎ) = −2𝜋ℎ < 0 as h is positive distance.
∴ 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 ∴ 𝑎 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚.
2𝜋𝑅3
The maximum capacity of the cup is 9√3
.
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A strategy;
1. Read carefully, understand what’s happening and try to draw a diagram. Write down known and
unknown conditions
2. Identify what you want to maximise/minimise and find an equation that relates only two
variables.
3. Differentiate what you want to maximise or minimise with respect to the variable that will help
you and equate to zero. Solve to find the critical points.
4. Check endpoints if closed interval or use the 1st or 2nd derivative test to determine if is is a
maximum or a minimum.
Example 2
A half-cylindrical trough with an open top is designed to hold r
3
125m of liquid. Determine the dimensions of the trough that
L
will minimise the cost of the material used to make it, if the
semi-circle sides cost R5/m2 and the curved surface cost
R2/m2. Show how you know it will be the minimum cost.
Solution:
𝜋𝑟 2
The volume of the trough is 𝑉 = 2
𝐿 = 125 and cost of material is 𝐶 = 5(𝜋𝑟 2 ) + 2(𝜋𝑟𝐿). We are
250
minimising cost, therefore we find C in terms of r; 𝐶(𝑟) = 5𝜋𝑟 2 + 2𝜋𝑟 (𝜋𝑟2 ), 𝑟>0
500
= 5𝜋𝑟 2 + 𝑟
500
To find the critical numbers, we differentiate: 𝐶 ′ (𝑟) = 10𝜋𝑟 − 𝑟2
10𝜋𝑟 3 −500
Equating the derivative to zero, we solve 0= 𝑟2
and obtain
3 50 250
𝑟 = √𝜋 and 𝐿= 2
50
𝜋( )3
𝜋
3 50
1st derivative test to determine if it is a maximum or minimum: √
𝜋
𝜋𝑟 3 − 50 - +
𝑟 + +
𝐶′(𝑟) - +
Cost goes from decreasing to increasing, therefore a minimum.
3 50 250
𝑟 = √𝜋 and 𝐿 = 2 minimise cost.
50
𝜋( )3
𝜋
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