An offshore oil well is 3 miles off the coast. The refinery is 5 miles down the coast and 1 mile inland. If laying pipe in the ocean costs $10 per foot and on land the cost is $8 per foot, what path should the pipe follow in order to minimize the cost?

Question

anonymous · Answer

@agent0smith answer in the back is 3.044 mi down the coast

agent0smith · Answer

So we want to find a cost equation and minimize it (by differentiating, and finding where it's equal to zero)

anonymous · Answer

yea

anonymous · Answer

would it be  easier if  I drew a diagram?

agent0smith · Answer

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