- #1
macbowes
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Homework Statement
A Norman window has the shape of a rectangle surmounted by a semicircle of diameter equal to the width of the rectangle. If the perimeter of the window is 20 feet, what dimensions will admit the most light (maximize the area)?
[PLAIN]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5514/normanwindow.jpg
I drew that wonderful (I'm clearly not an artist, haha) in paint to help illustrate the problem.
x = 2r = w
y = l
Homework Equations
Perimeter = (2l + w) + [tex]\frac{2\pir}{2}[/tex]
Area = (l * w) + [tex]\frac{\pir2}{2}[/tex]
The Attempt at a Solution
Here's what I've done so far, I'll try and explain each step as I go.
#1. p = 2l + w + [tex]\frac{\piw}{2}[/tex]= 20
I substituted w in for 2r order to reduce the amount of variables in my equation.
#2. A = (l * w) + [tex]\frac{\pi\frac{1}{4}w}{2}[/tex]
I again substituted w in for 2r in order to reduce the amount of variables, this time for the area equation.
#3. 20 = 2l + ([tex]\frac{\piw + 2w}{2}[/tex]
I'm now going to try and solve for l in the perimeter function. I made w [tex]\frac{2w}{2}[/tex] so I can combine it with [tex]\frac{\piw}{2}[/tex]. I want to leave [tex]\pi[/tex] in that form instead of converting it to a decimal, but because of this I have to write it as [tex]\piw[/tex] + 2w.
#4. 2l + ([tex]\frac{\piw + 2w}{2}[/tex] - 20 = 0
Moved the 20 over to make it equal zero.
#5. -([tex]\frac{\piw + 2w}{2}[/tex] + 20 = 2l
Moved the 2l over and changed the signs of all the terms.
#6. -(piw + 2w) + 20 = 4l
Multiplied both sides by 2 to get rid of the fraction.
#7. [tex]\frac{-(\piw+2w)+40}{4}[/tex] = l
Divided both sides by 4 to isolate l. Now that I know l, I can substitute the l into A(p) so that I can find the area as a function of w.
#8. A(p) = (([tex]\frac{(\piw+2w)+40}{4}[/tex])*w) + [tex]\frac{\pi\frac{1}{4}w}{2}[/tex]
This is the function that resulted. I put this function into my calculator and graphed it. I then traced x = 20 to find the maximum area when p = 20 (the answer I got was 722.01).
This was as far as I got, but I suppose to find the dimensions of the window I could do A(20) to get w and then find my length by putting that into my perimeter function.
Honestly, I have not even the slightest clue if what I am doing was the right way to go about this problem because it seemed to just get more and more convoluted. Any guidance and/or assisstance would be greatly appreciated.
PS. I've never used the latex code on forums before, so hopefully I got it right >.<
EDIT: Wow, it's nothing like how I wanted to show it :(. I'm not really sure how to use the latex code properly, I thought I had everything right :(.
If you don't mind just quoting me so it will show you the latex code in my post in correcting it that would be awesome! Thanks.
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