Answer:
To set up and solve this problem using Excel's Solver function, follow these steps:
Step 1: Define the variables:
- Let w be the width of the box.
- Let d be the depth of the box.
- Let h be the height of the box.
Step 2: Define the objective function:
The objective is to maximize the volume of the box, V, which is calculated as V = w * d * h.
Step 3: Define the constraints:
- The width dimension should be double the depth dimension: w = 2d.
- The total area used for constructing the box should not exceed 3000 m²: 2(wd + dh + wh) ≤ 3000.
- All dimensions (w, d, and h) should be greater than zero.
Step 4: Set up the Solver:
1. Open Excel and navigate to the "Data" tab.
2. Click on "Solver" in the "Analysis" group to open the Solver dialog box.
3. In the Solver dialog box, set the objective cell to the cell containing the volume calculation (V).
4. Set the objective to "Max" to maximize the volume.
5. Enter the constraints by clicking on the "Add" button:
- Set Cell: Enter the cell reference for the total area constraint.
- Relation: Select "Less than or equal to."
- Constraint: Enter the value 3000 for the total area constraint.
6. Click on the "Add" button again to add another constraint:
- Set Cell: Enter the cell reference for the width-depth relation constraint.
- Relation: Select "Equal to."
- Constraint: Enter the formula "=2*D2" (assuming the depth is in cell D2).
7. Click on the "Add" button for the final constraint:
- Set Cell: Enter the cell reference for the width constraint.
- Relation: Select "Greater than or equal to."
- Constraint: Enter the value 0.
8. Click on the "Solve" button and select appropriate options for Solver to find the maximum volume.
9. Click "OK" to solve the problem.
Excel's Solver will attempt to find the values for width, depth, and height that maximize the volume of the box while satisfying the defined constraints.