Respuesta :
Answer:
The width of the dog pen is 13.5 ft and the area is 182.3 square feet.
Step-by-step explanation:
We have the function [tex]A(x) = 27x-x^2[/tex] where [tex]x[/tex] is the width of the dog pen. So, if we want to obtain the maximum area, we must find the maximum of the function [tex]A(x)[/tex].
In order to accomplish this task, we must calculate the derivative [tex]A'(x)[/tex]:
[tex]A'(x) = 27-2x[/tex].
The next step is to find the critical points of [tex]A(x)[/tex], which means to find the values of [tex]x[/tex] where [tex]A'(x)=0[/tex]. This is equivalent to solve the equation [tex]27-2x=0[/tex]. So, [tex]x=27/2[/tex]. In order to check if 27/2 is, in fact, a point of maximum we calculate the second derivative
[tex]A'(x) =-2[/tex].
Notice that [tex]A'(27/2) =-2<0[/tex], and the sufficient condition of the second derivative gives us that [tex]x=27/2[/tex] is a maximum.
In order to find the maximal value we evaluate [tex]A(x)[/tex] at 27/2:
[tex]A(27/2) = 27(27/2)-(27/2)^2= 182.25\approx 182.3[/tex].