[Math] How to find the largest volume of box with dimension limits

calculusderivatives

The U.S. Postal Service carries small packages, but when the boxes get big, the post office folks take out a tape measure and measure the length x of the box, the width y of the box, and the height z of the box with all measurements in inches.
If
x + 2 y + 2 z > 100 ,
then the box is rejected; otherwise it is accepted.
What measurements x , y and z give rise to the acceptable box with the biggest volume?

Best Answer

Constraint equation: $x+2y+2z = 100$, in order to obtain maximum volume. Also $V=x \cdot y \cdot z$. Solving for $x$ we get $x=100-2y-2z$, substitute into our volume equation to obtain $V=(100-2y-2z) \cdot y \cdot z$.

$V_y=100z-4yz-2z^2$

$V_z=100y-2y^2-4yz$.

Now we want to solve $V_y=0$ and $V_z=0$. Hence,

$100z-4yz-2z^2=0$ ... (1)

$100y-2y^2-4yz=0$ ... (2)

From equation (2) we get $y=50-2z$, substituting this into equation (1) we get $z=\frac{50}{3}$ and from the comments, due to symmetry, we get $y=\frac{50}{3}$. We can now solve for $x$ to get $x=\frac{100}{3}$.

Therefore, Length=$\frac{100}{3}$in, Width=$\frac{50}{3}$in, Height=$\frac{50}{3}$in.