111k views
0 votes
A rectangular tank that is 2048 ft cubed with a square base and open top is to be constructed of sheet steel of a given thickness. Find the dimensions of the tank with minimum weight.

User Clonkex
by
8.6k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Answer:

16ft by 16ft by 8ft.

Explanation:

Let the total surface area of the rectangular tank be S = 2LW+2LH+2WH where;

L is the length of the box

W is the width of the box

H is the height of the box.

Since the box is openend at the top, S = lw + 2lh+ 2wh

If the base is a square base then, l = w

S = l(l) + 2wh+2wh

S = l²+4wh ............... 1

If volume = lwh

lwh = 2028 ft³

wh = 2048/l ................ 2

Substitute equation 2 into 1;

S = l²+4(2048/l)

S = l²+8192/l

dS/dl = 2l - 8192/l²

If dS/dl = 0 (since we are looking for dimensions of the tank with minimum weight.)

2l - 8192/l² = 0

2l = 8192/l²

2l³ = 8192

l³ = 8192/2

l³ = 4096

l =∛4096

l = 16 ft

Since the length is equal to the width, hence the width = 16ft (square based tank)

Given the volume V = lwh = 2048

lwh = 2048

16*16*h = 2048

256h = 2048

divide both sides by 256

256h/256 = 2048/256

h = 8ft

Hence, the dimensions of the tank with minimum weight is 16ft by 16ft by 8ft.

User Arun Singh
by
8.9k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.