One can likely guess the correct answer — that is great. We will proceed to show how calculus can provide this answer in a context that proves this answer is correct.

It helps to make a sketch of the situation. Our enclosure is sketched twice in Figure 4.3.2, either with green grass and nice fence boards or as a simple rectangle. Either way, drawing a rectangle forces us to realize that we need to know the dimensions of this rectangle so we can create an area function — after all, we are trying to maximize the area.

We let \(x\) and \(y\) denote the lengths of the sides of the rectangle. Clearly, \begin{equation*} \text{Area} =xy\text{.} \end{equation*}

We do not yet know how to handle functions with two variables; we need to reduce this down to a single variable. We know more about the situation: the man has \(100\) feet of fencing. By knowing the perimeter of the rectangle must be \(100\text{,}\) we can create another equation: \begin{equation*} \text{Perimeter} = 100 = 2x+2y\text{.} \end{equation*}

We now have two equations and two unknowns. In the latter equation, we solve for \(y\text{:}\) \begin{equation*} y = 50-x\text{.} \end{equation*}

Now substitute this expression for \(y\) in the area equation: \begin{equation*} \text{Area} = A(x) = x(50-x)\text{.} \end{equation*}

Note we now have an equation of one variable; we can truly call the Area a function of \(x\text{.}\)

This function only makes sense when \(0\leq x \leq 50\text{,}\) otherwise we get negative values of area. So we find the extreme values of \(A(x)\) on the interval \([0,50]\) using Key Idea 3.1.16.

To find the critical points, we take the derivative of \(A(x)\) and set it equal to \(0\text{,}\) then solve for \(x\text{.}\) \begin{align*} A(x) \amp = x(50-x)\\ \amp = 50x-x^2\\ A'(x) \amp = 50-2x \end{align*}

We solve \(50-2x=0\) to find \(x=25\text{;}\) this is the only critical point. We evaluate \(A(x)\) at the endpoints of our interval and at this critical point to find the extreme values; in this case, all we care about is the maximum.

Clearly \(A(0)=0\) and \(A(50)=0\text{,}\) whereas \(A(25) = 625\) ft². This is the maximum. Since we earlier found \(y = 50-x\text{,}\) we find that \(y\) is also \(25\text{.}\) Thus the dimensions of the rectangular enclosure with perimeter of 100 ft. with maximum area is a square, with sides of length 25 ft.

We will follow the steps outlined by Key Idea 4.3.3.

1. We are maximizing area. A sketch of the region will help; Figure 4.3.5 gives two sketches of the proposed enclosed area. A key feature of the sketches is to acknowledge that one side is not fenced.

2. We want to maximize the area; as in the example before, \begin{equation*} \text{Area} = xy\text{.} \end{equation*} This is our fundamental equation. This defines area as a function of two variables, so we need another equation to reduce it to one variable.

   We again appeal to the perimeter; here the perimeter is \begin{equation*} \text{Perimeter} = 100 = x+2y\text{.} \end{equation*} The perimeter is our constraint equation. Note how this is a different equation for perimeter than in Example 4.3.1, since one of the sides does not need to be fenced.

3. We now reduce the fundamental equation to a single variable using our constraint equation. In the perimeter equation, solve for \(y\text{:}\) \(y = 50 - x/2\text{.}\) We can now write Area as \begin{align*} \text{ Area } = A(x) \amp= x(50-x/2) \\ \amp = 50x - \frac12x^2\text{.} \end{align*} Area is now defined as a function of one variable.

4. We want the area to be nonnegative. Since \(A(x) = x(50-x/2)\text{,}\) we want \(x\geq 0\) and \(50-x/2\geq 0\text{.}\) The latter inequality implies that \(x\leq100\text{,}\) so \(0\leq x\leq 100\text{.}\)

5. We now find the extreme values. At the endpoints, the minimum is found, giving an area of \(0\text{.}\)

   Find the critical points. We have \(A'(x) = 50-x\text{;}\) setting this equal to 0 and solving for \(x\) returns \(x=50\text{.}\) This gives an area of \begin{equation*} A(50) = 50(25) = 1250\text{.} \end{equation*}

6. We earlier set \(y = 50-x/2\text{;}\) thus \(y = 25\text{.}\) Thus our rectangle will have two sides of length \(25\) and one side of length \(50\text{,}\) with a total area of 1250 ft².

We will follow the strategy of Key Idea 4.3.3 implicitly, without specifically numbering steps.

There are two immediate solutions that we could consider, each of which we will reject through “common sense.” First, we could minimize the distance by directly connecting the two locations with a straight line. However, this requires that all the wire be laid underwater, the most costly option. Second, we could minimize the underwater length by running a wire all 5000 ft along the beach, directly across from the offshore facility. This has the undesired effect of having the longest distance of all, probably ensuring a non-minimal cost.

The optimal solution likely has the line being run along the ground for a while, then underwater, as the figure implies. We need to label our unknown distances — the distance run along the ground and the distance run underwater. Recognizing that the underwater distance can be measured as the hypotenuse of a right triangle, we choose to label the distances as shown in Figure 4.3.8.

By choosing \(x\) as we did (instead of letting \(x\) be the distance along the land), we make the expression under the square root simple. We now create the cost function. \begin{alignat*}{3} \text{Cost} \amp ={}\amp\amp \text{land cost} \amp\amp +\text{water cost}\\ \amp\amp\amp \$50\times \text{land distance} \amp\amp +\$130 \times \text{water distance}\\ \amp\amp\amp 50(5000-x) \amp\amp +130\sqrt{x^2+1000^2}\text{.} \end{alignat*}

So we have \(c(x) = 50(5000-x)+ 130\sqrt{x^2+1000^2}\text{.}\) This function only makes sense on the interval \([0,5000]\text{.}\) While we are fairly certain the endpoints will not give a minimal cost, we still evaluate \(c(x)\) at each to verify. \begin{align*} c(0) \amp = 380{,}000\amp c(5000) \amp \approx 662{,}873. \end{align*} (Notice that if \(x=0\text{,}\) the line is run the full 5000 ft along land and a full 1000 ft under water. If \(x=5000\text{,}\) the line is run the maximum distance underwater.)

We now find the critical values of \(c(x)\text{.}\) We compute \(c'(x)\) as \begin{equation*} c'(x) = -50+\frac{130x}{\sqrt{x^2+1000^2}}\text{.} \end{equation*}

Recognize that this is never undefined. Setting \(c'(x)=0\) and solving for \(x\text{,}\) we have: \begin{align*} -50+\frac{130x}{\sqrt{x^2+1000^2}} \amp = 0\\ \frac{130x}{\sqrt{x^2+1000^2}} \amp = 50\\ \frac{130^2x^2}{x^2+1000^2} \amp = 50^2\\ 130^2x^2 \amp = 50^2(x^2+1000^2)\\ 130^2x^2-50^2x^2 \amp = 50^2\cdot1000^2\\ (130^2-50^2)x^2 \amp = 50,000^2\\ x^2 \amp = \frac{50,000^2}{130^2-50^2}\\ x \amp = \frac{50,000}{\sqrt{130^2-50^2}}\\ x \amp = \frac{50,000}{120} \\ \amp = 416\frac23\\ \amp \approx 416.67\text{.} \end{align*}

Evaluating \(c(x)\) at \(x=416.67\) gives aminimal cost of about \(\$370{,}000\text{.}\) The distance the power line is laid along land is \(5000-416.67 = 4583.33\) ft., and the underwater distance is \(\sqrt{416.67^2+1000^2} \approx 1083\) ft.