Answer:
The maximum volume is 1417.87 [tex]inch^3[/tex]
Explanation:
Optimization Using Derivatives
We have a 24x30 inch piece of metal and we need to make a rectangular box by cutting a square from each corner of the piece and bending up the sides. The width of the piece is 24 inches and its length is 30 inches
When we cut a square of each corner of side x, the base of the box (after bending up the sides) will be (24-2x) and (30-2x), width and length respectively. The volume of the box is
[tex]V=(24-2x)(30-2x)x[/tex]
Operating
[tex]V=4x^3-108x^2+720x[/tex]
To find the maximum value of V, we compute the first derivative and equate it to zero
[tex]V'=12x^2-216x+720=0[/tex]
Simplifying by 12
[tex]x^2-18x+60=0[/tex]
Completing squares
[tex]x^2-18x+81-81+60=0[/tex]
[tex](x-9)^2=21[/tex]
We have two values for x
[tex]x=9+\sqrt{21}=13.58\ inch[/tex]
[tex]x=9-\sqrt{21}=4.42\ inch[/tex]
The first value is not feasible because it will produce a negative width (24-2(13.58))=-6.16
We'll keep only the solution
[tex]x=4.42\ inch[/tex]
The width is
[tex]w=(24-2(4.42))=15.16\ inch[/tex]
The length is
[tex]l=(30-2(4.42))=21.16\ inch[/tex]
And the height
[tex]x=4.42\ inch[/tex]
The maximum volume is
[tex]V=(15.16)(21.16)(4.42)=1417.87\ inch^3[/tex]