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Kieran has 21 metres of fencing - Leaving Cert Mathematics - Question 8 - 2016

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Kieran has 21 metres of fencing. He wants to enclose a vegetable garden in a rectangular shape as shown. (a) By writing an expression for the perimeter of the veget... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Kieran has 21 metres of fencing - Leaving Cert Mathematics - Question 8 - 2016

Step 1

a) By writing an expression for the perimeter of the vegetable garden in terms of $x$ (length in metres) and $y$ (width in metres), show that $y = 10 - 5 - x$.

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Answer

The perimeter (P) of a rectangle is given by the formula:

P=2x+2yP = 2x + 2y

Given that Kieran has 21 metres of fencing, we set the perimeter equation to 21:

2x+2y=212x + 2y = 21

Dividing the entire equation by 2 yields:

x+y=10.5x + y = 10.5

Now, we need to express yy in terms of xx:

y=10.5xy = 10.5 - x

This leads to your question statement. Since the problem states y=105xy = 10 - 5 - x, it appears to be a reduction from the previously derived equation.

Step 2

b (i) Complete the table below to show the values of $y$ and $A$ (the area of the garden) for each given value of $x$.

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To complete the table, we calculate each corresponding value of yy using the equation y=10.5xy = 10.5 - x and then calculate the area AA:

  • For x=0x = 0: y=10.50=10.5y = 10.5 - 0 = 10.5, hence A=ximesy=0imes10.5=0A = x imes y = 0 imes 10.5 = 0.
  • For x=1x = 1: y=10.51=9.5y = 10.5 - 1 = 9.5, hence A=1imes9.5=9.5A = 1 imes 9.5 = 9.5.
  • Continue for each value of xx...

The completed table will show:

xx (m)012345678910
yy (m)10.59.58.57.56.55.54.53.52.51.50.5
AA (m2^2)09.51722.5273031.5302722.50

Step 3

b (ii) Use the values of $x$ and $A$ from the table to plot the graph of $A$ on the grid below.

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Answer

To plot the graph, use the values of xx from the completed table on the horizontal axis and the corresponding AA values on the vertical axis. Mark the points and attempt to connect them smoothly to show the area as a quadratic function. Ensure the graph illustrates the parabolic nature typical of quadratic area functions.

Step 4

c) Use your graph to estimate the maximum value of $A$ and write the corresponding length and width.

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Answer

Upon examining the graph, the maximum area occurs at the vertex of the parabola. Let's estimate the maximum area, say around A=27.5extm2A = 27.5 ext{ m}^2, which corresponds to xext(length)=5extmx ext{ (length) } = 5 ext{ m } and yext(width)=5extmy ext{ (width) } = 5 ext{ m } as obtained from the equation y=10.5xy = 10.5 - x.

Step 5

d (i) Show that the area of the rectangle can be written as $A = 10.5 - x^2$.

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Answer

The area AA of a rectangle is given by the formula:

A=xyA = xy

Substituting y=10.5xy = 10.5 - x into the equation gives:

A=x(10.5x)=10.5xx2A = x(10.5 - x) = 10.5x - x^2

Thus, we rearrange this to framing it consistent with the form A=x2+10.5xA = -x^2 + 10.5x.

Step 6

d (ii) Find $\frac{dA}{dx}$.

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Answer

To find the derivative of the area function, we differentiate:

dAdx=ddx(x2+10.5x)=2x+10.5\frac{dA}{dx} = \frac{d}{dx}(-x^2 + 10.5x) = -2x + 10.5.

Step 7

d (iii) Hence, find the value of $x$ which will give the maximum area.

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Answer

For maximizing the area, set the derivative to zero:

2x+10.5=0-2x + 10.5 = 0

Solving for xx, we have:

x = 5.25.$$

Step 8

d (iv) Find this maximum area.

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Answer

To find the maximum area, substitute x=5.25x = 5.25 back into the area formula:

= 55.125 - 27.5625 \ = 27.5625 ext{ m}^2.$$ Thus, the maximum area is approximately 27.56 m².

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