A:
The first step to determine the maximum area that your fence can be is to get a formula for the dependent variable A (area). For your fence, let x represent the two sides of fencing perpidicular to the wall and let y represent the side of fencing parallel to the wall. Since we know that the area of a rectangle is the product of its base and its height, the area of the rectangle is given by the formula A = xy.
The second step is to write A as a function of either x or y. In this case, we will use y. Since all 200 feet of fence are to be used, 2x + y =200, so y = 200-2x
The third step is to substitute this value of y into our formula for area A = xy to obtain A(x) = x(200 - 2x) = 200x - 2x^2
The fourth step is to determine the domain of the function A. What we are doing here is finding the maximum and minimum length that x (sides perpendicular to wall) can be, which is in this case, 0 to 100.
The fifth step is to compute the derivative of the function A(x) = (200x - 2x^2), which is = 200 - 4x.
The sixth step is to find any critical points by setting 200 - 4x equal to 0 and solving for x. In this case, there is only one critical point, 200 - 4x = 0 so x = 50.
The seventh step is to find the possible areas of of critical points. The extrema of A can occur only at x = 0, x = 50, or x = 100. You will now evaluate A at each of those points and determine the absolute maximum area that your fence can be.
A(0) = 0(200)= 0 ft^2
A(50) = 50(100) = 5,000 ft^2 Absolute Maximum
A (100) = 100(0) = 0 ft^2
Answer: A maximum area of 5,000 square feet can be obtained by making the sides fencing perpendicular to the wall, 50 feet long and by making the side parallel to the wall 100 feet long.
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