Find the rectangle with the maximum area, which can be turned in the corner. ?

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Find the rectangle with the maximum area, which can be turned in the corner

1 Answer
Jun 28, 2018

The rectangle will have a length of 2 , a width of 22 and thus area of 1m2enter image source here

Explanation:

From the sketch it is seen that the length AB = BC = 2 [ by Pythagoras] since the 'tightest' position the rectangle can be in is when it's base is at 45 degrees to the sides of the 1mtr corridor that contains it.

Let length of base of rectangle =x and have a height [ or width]of h.

Area of rectangle will equal xh.........[1]. From the sketch, it is seen that [22x]=2a ,........ie, a=[22x]2.........[2].

Noting the small right angled triangle whose base is a and whose height h.

Tan π4 = ah, and so from .......[2], and after substituting for a a=[22x]2
h = [22x]2,[ since tan π4=1] so from ........[1] area of rectangle= [x]22x2

= 2[x]-x22. Differentiating this expression, ddx=2x. This expression must equal zero for max/ min, i.e, x=2. and substituting this value for x into the expression for h in terms of x will give a value of h = 22. The second derivative is negative = -1 [ which is negative whatever the value of x]. This confirms that the x=2 will maximise the area of the rectangle.

I hope this was helpful and I believe it is correct.