+0

# help

0
129
1

Find the maximum area of a rectangle that can be inscribed in a unit circle.

Jun 3, 2019

#1
+8778
+3

Let half the width of the rectangle  =  w

Then half the length of the rectangle  =  √[ 1 - w2 ]

And let the area of the rectangle  =  A

$$A\ =\ 4w\sqrt{1-w^2}\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\frac{d}{dw}\big(w\sqrt{1-w^2}\,\big)\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[(w)(\frac12)(1-w^2)^{-\frac12}(-2w)+(\sqrt{1-w^2})(1)\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[\frac{-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}+\sqrt{1-w^2}\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[\frac{-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}+\frac{1-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ \frac{4-8w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}$$

Now let's find what value of  w  makes  $$\frac{dA}{dw}$$  be  0 .

$$0\ =\ \frac{4-8w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}\\~\\ 0\ =\ 4-8w^2\qquad\text{and}\qquad\sqrt{1-w^2}\ \neq\ 0\qquad\text{that is}\qquad w\ \neq\ \pm1\\~\\ 8w^2\ =\ 4\\~\\ w^2\ =\ \frac12\\~\\ w\ =\ \sqrt{\frac12}\qquad\text{or}\qquad w\ =\ -\sqrt{\frac12}$$

We know half the width of the rectangle can't be negative,

and by looking at a graph https://www.desmos.com/calculator/txezockcml

we can confirm that the maximum value of  A  occurs when  $$w=\sqrt{\frac12}$$ .

When   $$w=\sqrt{\frac12}$$  ,

$$A\ =\ 4w\sqrt{1-w^2}\ =\ 4\sqrt{\frac12}\sqrt{1-\frac12}\ =\ 4\sqrt{\frac12}\sqrt{\frac12}\ =\ 4\cdot\frac12\ =\ 2$$

The maximum area is  2  sq units.

Jun 3, 2019

#1
+8778
+3

Let half the width of the rectangle  =  w

Then half the length of the rectangle  =  √[ 1 - w2 ]

And let the area of the rectangle  =  A

$$A\ =\ 4w\sqrt{1-w^2}\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\frac{d}{dw}\big(w\sqrt{1-w^2}\,\big)\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[(w)(\frac12)(1-w^2)^{-\frac12}(-2w)+(\sqrt{1-w^2})(1)\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[\frac{-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}+\sqrt{1-w^2}\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ 4\Big[\frac{-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}+\frac{1-w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}\Big]\\~\\ \frac{dA}{dw}\ =\ \frac{4-8w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}$$

Now let's find what value of  w  makes  $$\frac{dA}{dw}$$  be  0 .

$$0\ =\ \frac{4-8w^2}{\sqrt{1-w^2}}\\~\\ 0\ =\ 4-8w^2\qquad\text{and}\qquad\sqrt{1-w^2}\ \neq\ 0\qquad\text{that is}\qquad w\ \neq\ \pm1\\~\\ 8w^2\ =\ 4\\~\\ w^2\ =\ \frac12\\~\\ w\ =\ \sqrt{\frac12}\qquad\text{or}\qquad w\ =\ -\sqrt{\frac12}$$

We know half the width of the rectangle can't be negative,

and by looking at a graph https://www.desmos.com/calculator/txezockcml

we can confirm that the maximum value of  A  occurs when  $$w=\sqrt{\frac12}$$ .

When   $$w=\sqrt{\frac12}$$  ,

$$A\ =\ 4w\sqrt{1-w^2}\ =\ 4\sqrt{\frac12}\sqrt{1-\frac12}\ =\ 4\sqrt{\frac12}\sqrt{\frac12}\ =\ 4\cdot\frac12\ =\ 2$$

The maximum area is  2  sq units.

hectictar Jun 3, 2019