The numbers $1,$ $2,$ $\dots,$ $10$ are to be entered into the 10 boxes shown below, so that each number is used exactly once: \[P = (\square + \square + \square + \square + \square)(\square + \square + \square + \square + \square).\]What is the maximum value of $P$
+36916 Make the numerator as large as possible : 10 9 8 7 6
and the denominator as small as possibe 1 2 3 4 5
Sorry....the lates just converted to soemthing readable.....
to maximize the product, make the numberes as close together as possible
1 - 10 summ to 55 so 27 x 28
10 7 5 3 2 * 9 8 6 4 1 I suppose... anyone else?
I think the maximum value is -726.25.
Lets say that this is the equation. \(P=(\square+ \square+ \square+ \square+ \square) (\square+ \square+ \square+ \square+ \square)\)
Now saying that one of those factors is \(x\)
Now when you add up 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+7+9+10, you will get it equal to 55.
So we can say that 55-\(x\) is equal to the other factor.
Now when you multiply those out you get: \(x(55-x)=-x^2+55x\)
Then you get it into vertex form, and when you do so, you will get \(-1(x-27.5)^2-27.5^2\)
We know that 27.5 squared is then the maximum value, so computing that, we get that the maximum is -756.25.
