You want to build a greenhouse from at most 500 square feet of material in the shape of a half cylinder. The surface area of the greenhouse is given by the formula

S = / pi rh + / pi r^2

Where r is the radius and h is the length of the greenhouse.

Write an expression for h in the terms of r.

Then find all of the possible values of r

Question

Mathematics

Jillian Lawrence

28 February, 20:59

You want to build a greenhouse from at most 500 square feet of material in the shape of a half cylinder. The surface area of the greenhouse is given by the formula

S = / pi rh + / pi r^2

Where r is the radius and h is the length of the greenhouse.

Write an expression for h in the terms of r.

Then find all of the possible values of r

+4

Answers (1)

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Brett Park · Answer 1

Expression for h is h = 500 / (pi * r) - r Range of values for r = (0, 10sqrt (5/pi) ] First, let's substitute the maximum area of the greenhouse into the provided equation. 500 = pi * r * h + pi * r^2 Now solve for h 500 = pi * r * h + pi * r^2 500 - pi * r^2 = pi * r * h (500 - pi * r^2) / pi * r = h 500 / (pi * r) - r = h The minimum value for r is just above 0, since at 0, you're attempting to divide by 0. The maximum value for r is where h = 0, so let's substitute 0 for h and solve for r, giving 500 / (pi * r) - r = h 500 / (pi * r) - r = 0 500 / (pi * r) = r 500 = pi * r^2 500/pi = r^2 sqrt (500/pi) = r 10sqrt (5/pi) = r So maximum r is approximately 12.616 ft. The range of values for r is (0, 10sqrt (5/pi) ] e. g. You're not allowed to quite reach the lower limit since that would attempt to divide by 0, but you're allowed to go all the way to the upper limit.