Question

. A right cylindrical drum is to hold 7.35 cubic feet of liquid. Find the dimensions (radius of the base and height) of the drum which would minimize the surface area. What is the minimum surface area

Answer 1

`r=1.05\ \text{ft}`

`h=2.12\ \text{ft}`

`20.91\ \text{ft}^3`

Explanation:

r = Radius

h = Height

Volume of cylinder =
`7.35\ \text{ft}^3`

`V=\pi r^2h\\\Rightarrow h=(V)/(\pi r^2)\\\Rightarrow h=(7.35)/(\pi r^2)`

Surface area is given by

`A=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh\\\Rightarrow A=2\pi r^2+2\pi r(7.35)/(\pi r^2)\\\Rightarrow A=2\pi r^2+(14.7)/(r)`

Differentiating with respect to radius we get

`(dA)/(dr)=4\pi r-(14.7)/(r^2)`

Equating with zero we get

`0=4\pi r-(14.7)/(r^2)\\\Rightarrow 4\pi r=(14.7)/(r^2)\\\Rightarrow r^3=(14.7)/(4\pi)\\\Rightarrow r=((14.7)/(4\pi))^{(1)/(3)}\\\Rightarrow r=1.05`

`(d^2A)/(dr^2)=4\pi-2* (14.7)/(r^3)\\\Rightarrow (d^2A)/(dr^2)=4\pi+2* (14.7)/(1.05^3)\\\Rightarrow (d^2A)/(dr^2)=37.96>0`

So, the value of the function is minimum at
`r=1.05`

`h=(7.35)/(\pi r^2)=(7.35)/(\pi 1.05^2)\\\Rightarrow h=2.12`

So, the radius and height which would minimize the surface area is 1.05 feet and 2.12 feet respectively.

Surface area

`A=2\pi r^2+2\pi rh\\\Rightarrow A=2\pi * 1.05^2+2\pi 1.05* 2.12\\\Rightarrow A=20.91\ \text{ft}^3`

The minimum surface area is
`20.91\ \text{ft}^3`.