Math Help Forum: Optimizations... Clueless

Consider a symmetric cross inscribed in a circle of radius r:

A. Write the area A of the cross as a function of x and find the value of x that maximizes the area.
B. Write the area A of the cross as a function of θ and find the value of θ that maximizes the area.
C. Show that the critical numbers of parts (a) and (b) yield the same maximum area. What is that area?

Originally Posted by ursapine

Consider a symmetric cross inscribed in a circle of radius r:

A. Write the area A of the cross as a function of x and find the value of x that maximizes the area.
B. Write the area A of the cross as a function of θ and find the value of θ that maximizes the area.
C. Show that the critical numbers of parts (a) and (b) yield the same maximum area. What is that area?

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http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5237/cross.png