## 17Calculus Derivatives - Optimization

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I have good news for you. You already know how to solve optimization problems if you have worked through graphing and understand how to use the derivative to find minimums and maximums. The idea is the same. Maximums and minimums occur at points with the derivative is zero, called critical points. So, the key to these problems is just setting them up. Once set up there are a few things you can do to make the problem easier to solve.

If you want a complete lecture on optimization, we recommend this video from one of our favorite instructors.

### Prof Leonard - Optimization; Max/Min Application Problems [1hr-34min-43secs]

video by Prof Leonard

Why Learn Optimization?

Most of the time in college you are told to learn something without any real reason for learning it. This is normal and, most of the time, necessary since 'when will I ever use this?' is often difficult or impossible to answer. However, when it comes to optimization, there are some direct applications that you can understand now. Here is a video explaining some of them. This may not satisfy some of you but for many of you, engineers especially, it is nice to see a little bit of the path ahead to make your time feel better spent. Enjoy!

### Zach Star - Dear all calculus students, This is why you're learning about optimization [16min-33secs]

video by Zach Star

Getting Started

The idea with optimization problems is to get one equation with two variables. One variable should be the value you are trying to maximize (or minimize) and the other variable can be anything but there is often more than one way to set up the equation. Then, you take the derivative with respect to the second variable, set it equal to zero and solve.

Before we get started, this first panel will help you review word problems by giving some general advice and techniques. Even if you already know how to work word problems, you may find the information in this panel helpful.

### Guidelines For Working Word Problems

Word problems are what math students dread the most. I completely understand. I had a lot of difficulty too. However, I found a technique so that I was not only able to successfully work word problems but, eventually, I came to like them and am now able to teach them.

I will tell you up front that figuring out how to work word problems is not easy and takes some independent work on your part to master them. But once you do, you will find them enjoyable and, since so many students struggle with them, most teachers give pretty easy problems, even on exams. So you should be able to breeze your way through them.

First, what doesn't work. Most books try to lump all word problems together and give you general guidelines on how to work them. I have NEVER found that helpful. It wasn't until I was able separate out the different types of word problems, that I came to understand how to work them. Since there are different types of word problems, there are different ways to work them.

Here is what you need to do.

1. Find plenty of problems with worked out solutions. Here are some suggested resources.
- Get a good book with examples and worked out solutions of the type of word problems you are studying. We have posted several suggestions on the books page.
- Check out the solution manual for problems in your textbook.
- 17calculus practice problems

2. Once you have a good selection of worked out solutions, go through them carefully and pick up patterns on how they set up the problems, solve them and give the final answer. Pick the ones that are similar to ones in your textbook that you are working on for your class.

3. Key - - Group the problems into categories that make sense to you. Some examples might be problems with triangles, problems with right circular cylinders, problems asking you to find areas or volumes. A single problem can go into multiple categories based on configuration or type of question or any other category that makes sense to you.

4. Work the problems yourself before looking at the solutions. Then compare your solutions with the book. Determine what you did wrong and what you need to learn in order to work the problems correctly. At first, this will be slow and painful but once your brain catches on, it will start to be fun. Be patient with yourself, work hard and don't give up. [ In the case of videos, stop the video after the presenter has given the problem statement and work it yourself before watching them solve it. ]

6. Make sure you understand every single step and, when looking at the solution, figure out why they do things the way they do. If you made a mistake, try to understand what your mistake was and what you need to understand in order to not make the same mistake again. [ Also remember that no textbook or video is always 100% correct. If you can not figure out your mistake, find someone to ask and see if the solution manual is incorrect. ]

7. Pick up patterns and general ideas from each group of problems by working the same type of problems all together. Don't jump around to different types. Stay with one type for several problems. I won't tell you exactly how many. You need to determine that by how difficult the problems are, how well you think you understand the current type, how much time you have and how well you want to do on your homework and exams. Sometimes you can go on after working 5 of the same type, sometimes it takes 10 or more.

8. Find a friend to work with and go over the problems with them AFTER you have worked them on your own. Remember, at exam time you will be on your own. So don't rely on someone else too much. If you know more than the other person, explain your work to them. Communicating your work to someone else helps you understand it better. If you know less, ask lots of questions and ask them to explain their solution to you.

9. Do NOT do shortcuts. Shortcuts are good AFTER you have learned the material, not while you are learning the material. Do it the long way for a while until you are know it really well.

10. 2nd Key - - Do not just look at the solutions or watch someone else work the problems. You need to get out a pencil and paper and work them yourself. You are going to get frustrated. You are going to want to quit, but don't quit. Use that feeling to motivate yourself and show yourself that you can do it. It feels great to master something that is difficult. If you have never pushed through something difficult before, try it now. It is not easy but it is worth it. I know because I went through this same process myself.

11. Finally, do not skip ANYTHING and NEVER GIVE UP. Make sure you understand every single step in every single problem. Here's why: Chances are, if you skip something, it will show up on an exam precisely because the part you don't understand is probably the most difficult part of the problem and teachers expect you to skip it. So they put it on exams to see if you understand the difficult parts.

So far, I have found that implementing these ideas as the best way to figure out how to work word problems. There are tons of general guidelines in books (most likely in your textbook too) that never really helped me. Give this technique a try. Remember, you are now in charge of your own learning. No one is going to help you from here on out. You need to do it.

So far these types of problems sound a lot like related rates. But let's think about it. The word 'rate' in related rates implies that something is moving and we are trying to related the rates of two (or more) things that are moving. However, with optimization, nothing is really moving. What we are doing is setting up the equations for some type of geometry and then adjusting that figure until something optimizes (either minimizes or maximizes). Cool, eh? So let's look at some possible geometries.

Okay, so how do you get started? Well, you already know how to take the derivative of functions. You know enough algebra to be able to solve the resulting equation when it is set to zero. All you need to learn is how to set up the equations. The best way to do that is to watch a few examples and try working some problems on your own. If you have gone through our related rates pages, you know that we suggested categorizing problems by what makes sense to you. We apply that same idea here. We group problems based on the geometry of the situation.

Before we get started with discussion of specific cases, let's watch a video explaining optimization in general and how to work these types of problems. This is a great video that explains things clearly including an example in the second half of the video. We think this video will help you a lot.

### Krista King Math - Optimization - Calculus [9min-17secs]

video by Krista King Math

Optimizing Various Parameters

Problems of this type might optimize things like angle, time, cost and, a very common one, relationship between two numbers. Many books start out the discussion of optimization with discussing this last type since the equations are usually pretty easy to set up.

Here is a video proving Snell's law. You need only calculus that you know so far to prove this law. This video is interesting but is not required for understanding optimization.

### PatrickJMT - Snell's Law : A Calculus Based Proof [12min-32secs]

video by PatrickJMT

Okay, let's work some practice problems. Working these before going on to distances, areas and volumes will give you a head start on those other pages. Once you have worked through these problems, your next logical step is to learn how to optimize distances.

Practice

Basic

Find two real numbers with difference 20 and minimum possible product.

Problem Statement

Find two real numbers with difference 20 and minimum possible product.

Solution

### 1129 video

video by Krista King Math

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A farmer needs to build a rectangular enclosure of 750ft2. Fencing costs $5/ft for opposite sides and$8/ft for the other sides. Find the dimensions that minimize the cost.

Problem Statement

A farmer needs to build a rectangular enclosure of 750ft2. Fencing costs $5/ft for opposite sides and$8/ft for the other sides. Find the dimensions that minimize the cost.

$5/ft side = $$20\sqrt{3}$$ ft;$8/ft side = $$25\sqrt{3}/2$$ ft

Problem Statement

A farmer needs to build a rectangular enclosure of 750ft2. Fencing costs $5/ft for opposite sides and$8/ft for the other sides. Find the dimensions that minimize the cost.

Solution

### 2067 video

video by Krista King Math

$5/ft side = $$20\sqrt{3}$$ ft;$8/ft side = $$25\sqrt{3}/2$$ ft

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A company sells $$x$$ thousand candy bars at $$p(x)=62-x/12$$ cents per bar. How many bars should they sell to maximize revenue, $$R$$, where $$R(x)=x[p(x)]$$?

Problem Statement

A company sells $$x$$ thousand candy bars at $$p(x)=62-x/12$$ cents per bar. How many bars should they sell to maximize revenue, $$R$$, where $$R(x)=x[p(x)]$$?

372 thousand candy bars

Problem Statement

A company sells $$x$$ thousand candy bars at $$p(x)=62-x/12$$ cents per bar. How many bars should they sell to maximize revenue, $$R$$, where $$R(x)=x[p(x)]$$?

Solution

### 2108 video

video by Krista King Math

372 thousand candy bars

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Find the time when velocity is minimum if velocity is given by $$v(t)=t^2-8t+2$$ ft/sec.

Problem Statement

Find the time when velocity is minimum if velocity is given by $$v(t)=t^2-8t+2$$ ft/sec.

$$t=4$$ sec

Problem Statement

Find the time when velocity is minimum if velocity is given by $$v(t)=t^2-8t+2$$ ft/sec.

Solution

### 2109 video

video by Krista King Math

$$t=4$$ sec

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Find two numbers whose product is $$-16$$ and the sum of whose squares is a minimum.

Problem Statement

Find two numbers whose product is $$-16$$ and the sum of whose squares is a minimum.

Solution

### 1139 video

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Intermediate

We want an open top rectangular box with volume 10m3. The length of its base is twice the width. Material costs are $10/m2 for the base and$6/m2 for the sides. Find the minimum cost of the box.

Problem Statement

We want an open top rectangular box with volume 10m3. The length of its base is twice the width. Material costs are $10/m2 for the base and$6/m2 for the sides. Find the minimum cost of the box.

Solution

### 1142 video

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You CAN Ace Calculus

 derivatives chain rule implicit differentiation precalculus: word problems

related topics on other pages

related rates

WikiBooks: Optimization

### Trig Formulas

The Unit Circle

The Unit Circle [wikipedia]

Basic Trig Identities

Set 1 - basic identities

$$\displaystyle{ \tan(t) = \frac{\sin(t)}{\cos(t)} }$$

$$\displaystyle{ \cot(t) = \frac{\cos(t)}{\sin(t)} }$$

$$\displaystyle{ \sec(t) = \frac{1}{\cos(t)} }$$

$$\displaystyle{ \csc(t) = \frac{1}{\sin(t)} }$$

Set 2 - squared identities

$$\sin^2t + \cos^2t = 1$$

$$1 + \tan^2t = \sec^2t$$

$$1 + \cot^2t = \csc^2t$$

Set 3 - double-angle formulas

$$\sin(2t) = 2\sin(t)\cos(t)$$

$$\displaystyle{ \cos(2t) = \cos^2(t) - \sin^2(t) }$$

Set 4 - half-angle formulas

$$\displaystyle{ \sin^2(t) = \frac{1-\cos(2t)}{2} }$$

$$\displaystyle{ \cos^2(t) = \frac{1+\cos(2t)}{2} }$$

Trig Derivatives

 $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\sin(t)]}{dt} = \cos(t) }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\cos(t)]}{dt} = -\sin(t) }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\tan(t)]}{dt} = \sec^2(t) }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\cot(t)]}{dt} = -\csc^2(t) }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\sec(t)]}{dt} = \sec(t)\tan(t) }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\csc(t)]}{dt} = -\csc(t)\cot(t) }$$

Inverse Trig Derivatives

 $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arcsin(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-t^2}} }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccos(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{\sqrt{1-t^2}} }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arctan(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{1+t^2} }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccot(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{1+t^2} }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arcsec(t)]}{dt} = \frac{1}{\abs{t}\sqrt{t^2 -1}} }$$ $$\displaystyle{ \frac{d[\arccsc(t)]}{dt} = -\frac{1}{\abs{t}\sqrt{t^2 -1}} }$$

Trig Integrals

 $$\int{\sin(x)~dx} = -\cos(x)+C$$ $$\int{\cos(x)~dx} = \sin(x)+C$$ $$\int{\tan(x)~dx} = -\ln\abs{\cos(x)}+C$$ $$\int{\cot(x)~dx} = \ln\abs{\sin(x)}+C$$ $$\int{\sec(x)~dx} =$$ $$\ln\abs{\sec(x)+\tan(x)}+C$$ $$\int{\csc(x)~dx} =$$ $$-\ln\abs{\csc(x)+\cot(x)}+C$$

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