# Thread: Minimizing Costs (Word Problem)

1. ## Minimizing Costs (Word Problem)

This is a word problem that deals with (minimizing costs):

A power line is to be constructed from a power station at point A to an island at point C, which is 1 mi directly out in the water from a point B on the shore. Point B is 4 mi downshore from the power station at A. It costs $5000 per mile to lay the power line under water and$3000 per mile to lay the line under ground. At what point S downshore from A should the line come to the shore in order to minimize cost? Note that S could very well be B or A (Hint: The length of CS is sqrt(1 + x^2)

2. Originally Posted by tivo1980
This is a word problem that deals with (minimizing costs):

A power line is to be constructed from a power station at point A to an island at point C, which is 1 mi directly out in the water from a point B on the shore. Point B is 4 mi downshore from the power station at A. It costs $5000 per mile to lay the power line under water and$3000 per mile to lay the line under ground. At what point S downshore from A should the line come to the shore in order to minimize cost? Note that S could very well be B or A (Hint: The length of CS is sqrt(1 + x^2)

I guess that $\displaystyle ABC$ forms a right-angle triangle and that $\displaystyle S$ can be chosen anywhere along the line $\displaystyle AB$.

Let's say $\displaystyle x$ is the distance in mi upshores from $\displaystyle B$ to $\displaystyle C$.

The total cost $\displaystyle t\ =\ \sqrt{x^2 +1}\cdot \$ 5000 + (4-x)\cdot \$3000$.

$\displaystyle t\ =\ (x^2 +1)^{0.5}\cdot \$ 5000 + (4-x)\cdot \$3000$.

Minimize $\displaystyle t$:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial t}{\partial x}\ =\ 0.5\cdot(x^2+1)^{-0.5}\cdot 2\cdot x\cdot \$ 5000 - \$3000\ =\ 0$

$\displaystyle \frac{2 x}{2\sqrt{x^2+1}}\cdot \$ 5000\ =\ \$3000$

$\displaystyle 2 x\cdot 5\ =\ 2\sqrt{x^2+1}\cdot 3\ (\Rightarrow x \geq 0)$

$\displaystyle 50 x^2\ =\ 36(x^2+1)$

$\displaystyle 14 x^2\ =\ 36$

$\displaystyle x^2\ =\ \frac{18}{7}$

$\displaystyle x\ =\ 3\sqrt{\frac{2}{7}}$

Answer: $\displaystyle 4-3\sqrt{\frac{2}{7}}$

3. Thank you Trikri.

4. I must be really bored.

5. I have a question Trikri. What software did you use to present the math problem the way you did?

6. Originally Posted by tivo1980
I have a question Trikri. What software did you use to present the math problem the way you did?
Hello, Tivo,

have a look here: http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-he...rial-latex.pdf

EB

7. Originally Posted by TriKri
I guess that $\displaystyle ABC$ forms a right-angle triangle and that $\displaystyle S$ can be chosen anywhere along the line $\displaystyle AB$.

Let's say $\displaystyle x$ is the distance in mi upshores from $\displaystyle B$ to $\displaystyle C$.

The total cost $\displaystyle t\ =\ \sqrt{x^2 +1}\cdot \$ 5000 + (4-x)\cdot \$3000$.

$\displaystyle t\ =\ (x^2 +1)^{0.5}\cdot \$ 5000 + (4-x)\cdot \$3000$.

Minimize $\displaystyle t$:

$\displaystyle \frac{\partial t}{\partial x}\ =\ 0.5\cdot(x^2+1)^{-0.5}\cdot 2\cdot x\cdot \$ 5000 - \$3000\ =\ 0$

$\displaystyle \frac{2 x}{2\sqrt{x^2+1}}\cdot \$ 5000\ =\ \$3000$

$\displaystyle 2 x\cdot 5\ =\ 2\sqrt{x^2+1}\cdot 3\ (\Rightarrow x \geq 0)$

$\displaystyle 50 x^2\ =\ 36(x^2+1)$

$\displaystyle 14 x^2\ =\ 36$

$\displaystyle x^2\ =\ \frac{18}{7}$

$\displaystyle x\ =\ 3\sqrt{\frac{2}{7}}$

Answer: $\displaystyle 4-3\sqrt{\frac{2}{7}}$
Hello, Trikri,

I don't agree with your result:

$\displaystyle 2 x\cdot 5\ =\ 2\sqrt{x^2+1}\cdot 3\ (\Rightarrow x \geq 0)$

$\displaystyle 100 x^2\ =\ 36(x^2+1)$

$\displaystyle x^2\ =\ \frac{36}{64}$

$\displaystyle x\ =\frac{6}{8}$. The negative result isn't very realistic with this problem.

Answer: $\displaystyle 4-\frac{3}{4}=3.25\text{ miles}$ from A.

EB

8. Originally Posted by earboth
Hello, Trikri,

I don't agree with your result:

$\displaystyle 2 x\cdot 5\ =\ 2\sqrt{x^2+1}\cdot 3\ (\Rightarrow x \geq 0)$

$\displaystyle 100 x^2\ =\ 36(x^2+1)$
Oh, I was a little tired last night ... I must go to bed earlier!

$\displaystyle x\ =\frac{6}{8}$. The negative result isn't very realistic with this problem.
That's why I showed that $\displaystyle x \geq 0$

9. Thank you earboth for the document and the solution.

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### A power line is to be constructed from a power station at A to an island at point C, which is 1mi directly from a point B on the shore. Point B is 6mi downshore from the power station at A. It costs \$3000 per mile to lay the power line under water and

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