an open box of rectangular base is to be made from 24 cm by 45cm cardboard by cutting out squares sheets of equal size from each corner and bending the sides.find the dimensions of the corner squares to obtain a box having largest volume.

1 answer

let each side of the cut-out square be x cm
where 0 < x < 12
base of box is (24-2x) by (45-2x)
height will be x

volume = x(24-2x)(45-2x)
= x(1080 - 138x + 4x^2) = 4x^3 - 138x^2 + 1080x
d(volume)/dx = 12x^2 - 276x + 1080
= 0 for a max/min of volume

x^2 - 23x + 90 = 0
(x-18)(x-5) = 0
x = 18 or x = 5

but x < 12 , so x = 5

a square of 5 by 5 cm should be cut out.

test:
if x = 4.8
volume = 4.8(24-9.6)(45-9.6) = 2446.848
if x = 5
volume = 5(24-10)(45-10) = 24050
if x = 5.1
volume = 5.1(24-10.2)(45-10.2) = 2449.224

max when x=5