Question

armer abe has a budget of $300 to build a rectangular pen to protect his rambunctious sheep. he decides that three sides of the pen will be constructed with chain-link fence, which costs only $1 per foot. farmer abe decides that the fourth side of the pen will be made with sturdier fence, which costs $5 per foot. find the dimensions of the largest area the pen can enclose.

Answer 1

Let x be the length of the pen and y be the width of the pen.

The total cost of the pen is given by:

Cost = 3x + 5y = 300

3x + 5y = 300

3x = 300 - 5y

x = (300 - 5y)/3

The area of the pen is given by:

Area = xy = (300 - 5y)/3 * y