Question

optimization problem- An open top box with a sqaure base is to have a volume of 4m^3. Find the dimensions of the box so that is uses the least possible amount of material.

Answer 1

So here is what a box will look like if we lay it flat. Does the picture make sense? We're calling the base lengths X, since it's a SQUARE BASE, it has length AND width X.

And then it has another unknown dimension, height, which we'll call y.