Q.Show that semi-vertical angle of right circular cone of given surface area and maximum volume is sin−1(31).
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Optimization Word Problem
Optimization Word Problems
Imagine planning a garden with 40 metres of fencing and wanting the largest rectangular area. A long, thin rectangle wastes space; a square feels roomier; somewhere in between lies the best shape. That is an optimisation problem — a fixed resource and a quantity to make as large (or as small) as possible.
Every optimisation word problem has the same skeleton: the best outcome — maximum area, minimum cost, largest volume, shortest time — under a constraint — limited material, a fixed budget, a given perimeter.
The Plan of Attack
The problem gives you a story, not a graph. Your job is to turn it into a single-variable function and find its peak or valley:
- Name the quantity to optimise — call it Q, and write it using variables.
- Find the constraint — a relation between those variables (e.g. "perimeter =40").
- Reduce to one variable — use the constraint to eliminate the rest.
- Differentiate — solve Q′(x)=0 to find the critical points.
- Confirm — use Q′′(x)<0 for a maximum or Q′′(x)>0 for a minimum.
- Answer the question asked — give the actual dimensions/cost, not just x.
In board exams these problems almost always reduce to a quadratic or cubic. Once Q(x) is written, the calculus is mechanical.
The Garden, Worked
40 m of fencing encloses a rectangle; maximise the area.
- Objective: A=lw.
- Constraint: 2l+2w=40, so l+w=20.
- Reduce: w=20−l, giving A(l)=l(20−l)=20l−l2.
- Differentiate: A′(l)=20−2l=0⟹l=10.
- Confirm: A′′(l)=−2<0, a maximum.
So l=w=10 m — a 10 m × 10 m square.
A common slip: solving A′(l)=0 and stopping. Always check max vs min, and answer in the units asked.
The Common Families
| Problem type | Typical objective | Typical constraint |
|--------------|-------------------|--------------------| …
Idea: Fix the total surface area, express the volume in one variable, maximise it, then read off the semi-vertical angle. Single-variable calculus only.
Let the cone have base radius r, slant height l, height h, semi-vertical angle θ (so sinθ=r/l).
- Total surface area (fixed): S=πr2+πrl ⇒ l=πrS−r.
- Volume: V=31πr2h=31πr2l2−r2.
Maximise V2 (easier, and V>0):
V2=91π2r4(l2−r2).
Now l2−r2=(πrS−r)2−r2=π2r2S2−π2S, so
V2=91π2r4(π2r2S2−π2S)=91(S2r2−2πSr4).
Differentiate w.r.t. r and set to zero: …
Fixing the total surface area and maximising the volume gives S=4πr2 and slant height l=3r, so sinθ=r/l=31, i.e. θ=sin−1(1/3).
What we are asked
Among all cones with the same total surface area S (curved surface plus base), find the one of maximum volume, and show its semi-vertical angle is sin−1(1/3).
The semi-vertical angle θ is the angle between the axis and the slant side, so sinθ=lr, where r is the base radius and l the slant height.
Set up: use the constraint to remove a variable
For a cone, the total surface area is
S=πr2+πrl(base + curved surface).
Since S is fixed, solve for the slant height:
l=πrS−r.(1)
The volume is
V=31πr2h=31πr2l2−r2,
using h=l2−r2.
Maximise V2 (avoids the square root)
Because V>0, maximising V is the same as maximising
V2=91π2r4(l2−r2).
Using (1),
l2−r2=(πrS−r)2−r2=π2r2S2−π2S+r2−r2=π2r2S2−π2S.
Therefore, with S constant,
V2=91π2r4(π2r2S2−π2S)=91(S2r2−2πSr4).
Differentiate and find the critical radius
drd(V2)=91(2S2r−8πSr3)=92Sr(S−4πr2).
Setting this to zero (with r>0, S>0):
S=4πr2⇒r2=4πS.(2)
Check it is a maximum: …
Method: Optimizing Volume Under a Fixed Total Surface Area
This method applies when the cone's total surface area (base circle plus the curved surface) is held fixed, and you must maximize its volume — expressed as a semi-vertical angle.
Steps
Step 1: Write the total surface area constraint and solve it for the slant height
S=πr2+πrl(fixed — note the πr2 base term is included)
Solve for l in terms of r and the constant S:
l=πrS−r
Step 2: Write the volume in terms of r and l, then remove the square root by working with V2
Using h=l2−r2,
V=31πr2l2−r2⟹V2=91π2r4(l2−r2)
Substitute the expression for l from Step 1 so V2 becomes a function of r alone (with S treated as a constant).
Step 3: Differentiate V2 with respect to r and set it to zero …
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using only the curved surface area instead of the total surface area
The question specifies the cone's (total) surface area is fixed, which includes the base: S=πr2+πrl. Dropping the πr2 term and writing S=πrl (as in a curved-surface-only problem) leads to a different, wrong angle — always check whether "surface area" in the problem means curved-only or total.
Mistake 2: Differentiating V with the square root left in, instead of switching to V2
As with any expression containing l2−r2, differentiating V directly is far more error-prone than squaring first. Skipping the V2 substitution is a common source of sign and algebra mistakes here. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-09-FN1 markMCQQ.Probability for a person A to have success in one trial is 52. In 7 Bernoulli trials, if the probability that A has k successes is to be highest probability, then k= (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 7
›Reveal solutionSolution
The most probable number of successes in a binomial distribution is the mode, found by checking when the probability ratio P(k+1)/P(k) crosses 1. For n=7, p=2/5, the mode is k=3, so the answer is (A).
The key idea is that for a fixed number of Bernoulli trials, the probability of exactly k successes is given by the binomial formula. The "most probable" k is the mode of this distribution. Instead of computing all probabilities, we can find where the sequence P(k) stops increasing and starts decreasing — that is, where the ratio P(k+1)/P(k) becomes less than 1.
- Set up the binomial probability For n=7 trials, success probability p=52, failure probability q=1−p=53, the probability of exactly k successes is
P(k)=(k7)(52)k(53)7−k.
- Consider the ratio of successive probabilities
P(k)P(k+1)=(k7)(k+17)⋅qp=k+17−k⋅qp.
This ratio tells us how P(k) changes as k increases. If it is greater than 1, P(k+1)>P(k); if less than 1, P(k+1)<P(k).
- Find where the ratio crosses 1 Set the ratio equal to 1 to find the threshold:
k+17−k⋅3/52/5=k+17−k⋅32=1.
Solve:
k+17−k=23⇒2(7−k)=3(k+1)⇒14−2k=3k+3⇒11=5k⇒k=2.2.
- Interpret the result The ratio is >1 when k<2.2 (so probabilities increase up to k=2), and <1 when k>2.2 (so probabilities decrease after k=3). This means the maximum occurs at the integer just after the crossing point: k=3. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-FN1 markMCQQ.If the minimum value of the quadratic expression ax2−7x+3a is −81, then the sum of the roots of the equation ax2−7x+3a=0 is (A) 87 (B) 1 (C) 27 (D) −14
›Reveal solutionSolution
The minimum of a quadratic occurs at its vertex; equating the given minimum value to the vertex formula yields a, and then the sum of the roots follows from Vieta’s relations. The sum is 27.
The key idea: for a quadratic ax2+bx+c, the vertex (where the minimum or maximum occurs) is at x=−2ab, and the value there is f(−2ab). Here the expression is ax2−7x+3a, so b=−7 and c=3a. Since the minimum is given, a must be positive (otherwise the parabola opens downward and has no minimum). We’ll use the vertex condition to find a, then use Vieta’s formulas to get the sum of the roots.
- Find the vertex’s x-coordinate. For f(x)=ax2−7x+3a, the vertex is at
x=−2ab=−2a−7=2a7.
- Compute the minimum value. Substitute x=2a7 into f(x):
f(2a7)=a(2a7)2−7(2a7)+3a.
Simplify term by term:
a⋅4a249=4a49,
−7⋅2a7=−2a49,
and the constant +3a stays. So
fmin=4a49−2a49+3a=4a49−4a98+3a=−4a49+3a.
- Set this equal to the given minimum −81.
−4a49+3a=−81.
Multiply through by 8a (since a>0, no sign issues):
−98+24a2=−a.
Rearranging:
24a2+a−98=0.
- Solve for a. This quadratic in a factors or use the quadratic formula:
a=2⋅24−1±1+4⋅24⋅98=48−1±1+9408=48−1±9409.
Since 9409=972 (check: 972=9409), we have …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-11-AN1 markMCQQ.The foci of the ellipse 25x2+16y2=1 and that of the hyperbola a2x2−b2y2=1 are same. The greatest length of the transverse axis of the hyperbola such that the difference of the squares of their eccentricities is at least one is (A) 15172 (B) 6 (C) 1730 (D) 3415
›Reveal solutionSolution
Shared foci give c=3; the condition e22−e12≥1 forces A≤3415, so the greatest transverse axis is 3430=17152.
Ellipse. 25x2+16y2=1⇒a=5, c2=25−16=9, c=3. Foci (±3,0) and e1=53, so e12=259.
Hyperbola (same foci). A2x2−B2y2=1 with A2+B2=c2=9 and e2=A3, so e22=A29.
Condition. e22−e12≥1: …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.If local maximum of f(x)=(x−1)(x−4)ax+b exists at (2,−1), then a+b= (A) 0 (B) −1 (C) 1 (D) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key idea is that a local maximum at a point implies the derivative is zero there and the point lies on the curve. Solving these conditions gives a=−2 and b=3, so a+b=1. The correct option is (C).
We are told that f(x)=(x−1)(x−4)ax+b has a local maximum at the point (2,−1). This gives us two pieces of information: the point lies on the graph, and the derivative is zero at x=2. Let’s unpack why.
Concept and intuition:
A local maximum at a point means the function’s value there is higher than nearby values. For a differentiable function, this implies the tangent line is horizontal — so the derivative is zero. Also, the point must satisfy the function itself. So we have two equations in the unknowns a and b. Solve them, then compute a+b.
- Use the point on the curve Since (2,−1) lies on f(x), we have f(2)=−1.
f(2)=(2−1)(2−4)a(2)+b=(1)(−2)2a+b=−22a+b
Set equal to −1:
−22a+b=−1⇒22a+b=1⇒2a+b=2.(1)
- Use the derivative condition The derivative must be zero at x=2. First, find f′(x). Write f(x)=x2−5x+4ax+b. Use the quotient rule:
f′(x)=(x2−5x+4)2(a)(x2−5x+4)−(ax+b)(2x−5).
We only need f′(2)=0, so the numerator must be zero at x=2 (denominator is nonzero there).
Numerator at x=2:
a(4−10+4)−(2a+b)(4−5)=a(−2)−(2a+b)(−1)=−2a+(2a+b)=b.
Set equal to zero:
b=0.(2)
- Solve for a and b …
- TG EAPCET 2025Set eng-2025-05-04-FN1 markMCQQ.If local maximum of f(x)=(x−1)(x−4)ax+b exists at (2,−1), then a+b= (A) 2 (B) 1 (C) −1 (D) 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
We use the conditions that the point (2,−1) lies on the curve f(x) and that the derivative f′(x) is zero at a local maximum. This gives us two equations to solve for a and b, leading to a+b=1.
A local maximum of a function f(x) at a point (x0,y0) provides two critical pieces of information:
- The point lies on the curve: The function's value at x0 is y0. This means f(x0)=y0.
- The slope of the tangent is zero: At a local maximum (or minimum), the tangent line to the curve is horizontal. The slope of this tangent is given by the first derivative, so f′(x0)=0.
We will use these two conditions to set up a system of equations for a and b, and then solve for them.
- Use the condition that the point (2,−1) lies on the curve. Since the local maximum exists at (2,−1), the point (2,−1) must satisfy the function's equation. Substitute x=2 and f(x)=−1 into the given function f(x)=(x−1)(x−4)ax+b:
−1=(2−1)(2−4)a(2)+b
−1=(1)(−2)2a+b
−1=−22a+b
Multiplying both sides by $-2$ gives our first equation:2=2a+b(Equation 1)
- Find the first derivative of f(x). First, expand the denominator of f(x):
f(x)=x2−5x+4ax+b
We use the quotient rule for differentiation. > [!FORMULA] > If $f(x) = \frac{u(x)}{v(x)}$, then $f'(x) = \frac{u'(x)v(x) - u(x)v'(x)}{(v(x))^2}$. Here, we have: * $u(x) = ax+b \implies u'(x) = a$ * $v(x) = x^2-5x+4 \implies v'(x) = 2x-5$ Substituting these into the quotient rule formula:f′(x)=(x2−5x+4)2a(x2−5x+4)−(ax+b)(2x−5)
- Use the condition that the derivative is zero at the local maximum. At a local maximum, the first derivative f′(x) must be zero. Since the local maximum is at x=2, we must have f′(2)=0. Substitute x=2 into the expression for f′(x): …
- TG EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-09-FN1 markMCQQ.If the interval in which the real valued function f(x)=log(1−x1+x)−2x−1−x2x3 is decreasing in (a,b), where ∣b−a∣ is maximum, then ba= (A) −1 (B) 1 (C) 32 (D) 23
›Reveal solutionSolution
The derivative simplifies to f′(x)=(1−x2)2−x2(1+x2), which is ≤0 throughout the domain (−1,1) (zero only at the isolated point x=0). Hence f is decreasing on the whole interval (−1,1), so a=−1, b=1 and ba=−1, option (A).
Concept & Intuition
f is decreasing where f′(x)≤0 (with equality only at isolated points). We differentiate, simplify the sign, and take the longest interval on which f never increases. The log term log1−x1+x requires 1−x1+x>0, so the domain is (−1,1); the answer must lie inside it.
Step-by-step
-
Domain. 1−x1+x>0 and 1−x2=0 give x∈(−1,1).
-
Differentiate.
f′(x)=1+x1+1−x1−2−dxd(1−x2x3).
The first two terms combine to 1−x22.
- Last term (quotient rule).
dxd(1−x2x3)=(1−x2)23x2(1−x2)−x3(−2x)=(1−x2)23x2−x4.
- Combine over (1−x2)2.
f′(x)=1−x22−2−(1−x2)23x2−x4=(1−x2)22(1−x2)−2(1−x2)2−(3x2−x4).
The numerator is
(2−2x2)−(2−4x2+2x4)−(3x2−x4)=−x2−x4=−x2(1+x2).
So
f′(x)=(1−x2)2−x2(1+x2). …
-
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-19-AN1 markMCQQ.Let f(x)={1+6x−3x2,x+log2(b2+7),x≤1x>1. Then the set of all possible values of b such that f(1) is the maximum value of f(x) is (A) [−1,1] (B) [0,1] (C) [0,2] (D) [−1,0]
›Reveal solutionSolution
On x≤1, f is a downward parabola peaking at x=1 with f(1)=4; for f(1) to stay the maximum, the right branch must not jump above 4 at x=1+, i.e. 1+log2(b2+7)≤4, giving b∈[−1,1] (option A).
Left branch (x≤1): f(x)=1+6x−3x2. Its derivative f′(x)=6−6x=0 at x=1, and the parabola opens downward, so on (−∞,1] the maximum is at x=1:
f(1)=1+6−3=4. …
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-19-FN1 markMCQQ.Let 3 be the radius and 3π be the semivertical angle of the given cone. Then the height of the right circular cylinder of maximum volume that can be inscribed in the given cone is (A) 3 (B) 23 (C) 32 (D) 31
›Reveal solutionSolution
We inscribe a cylinder in a cone and use similar triangles to relate its dimensions. Maximising its volume by calculus gives the height as 31 of the cone’s height, which here equals 31.
The problem gives a cone with radius 3 and semivertical angle 3π. The semivertical angle is the angle between the axis and the slant edge. That means in a vertical cross-section through the axis, the cone looks like an isosceles triangle with base 23 and height h such that tan(π/3)=heightradius=h3. Since tan(π/3)=3, we get 3=h3, so h=1. The cone’s height is 1.
Now imagine a right circular cylinder inscribed in this cone — its axis coincides with the cone’s axis, and its top face touches the slant surface. In the cross-section, the cylinder appears as a rectangle inside the triangle. Let the cylinder’s radius be r and its height be H. The key is that the top corners of the rectangle lie on the slant edges of the triangle.
- Relate r and H using similar triangles. In the cross-section, consider the smaller triangle above the cylinder: its base is r (half the cylinder’s diameter) and its height is 1−H (the distance from the cylinder’s top to the cone’s apex). This small triangle is similar to the whole triangle (base 3, height 1). So:
3r=11−H
Hence r=3(1−H).
-
Write the volume of the cylinder.
Volume V=πr2H=π[3(1−H)]2H=3π(1−H)2H.
-
Maximise V with respect to H. …
- TG EAPCET 2022Set eng-2022-07-20-AN1 markMCQQ.The absolute maximum value of the function f(x)=2x3−3x2−36x+9 defined on [−3,3] is (A) 36 (B) 53 (C) 63 (D) 72
›Reveal solutionSolution
The maximum value of a continuous function on a closed interval occurs either at a critical point or at an endpoint. For f(x)=2x3−3x2−36x+9 on [−3,3], the absolute maximum is 63, which occurs at x=−2.
We are asked for the absolute maximum — the highest value the function reaches anywhere on the given closed interval. A cubic polynomial is continuous everywhere, so on a closed interval it must attain both a maximum and a minimum. The candidates are the endpoints and any points where the derivative is zero (critical points) inside the interval.
The derivative is f′(x)=6x2−6x−36. Factor it: 6(x2−x−6)=6(x−3)(x+2). So f′(x)=0 at x=3 and x=−2. Both lie in [−3,3], so they are valid critical points.
Now evaluate f at all candidates:
-
At x=−3 (left endpoint):
f(−3)=2(−27)−3(9)−36(−3)+9=−54−27+108+9=36.
-
At x=−2 (critical point):
f(−2)=2(−8)−3(4)−36(−2)+9=−16−12+72+9=53.
-
At x=3 (critical point and right endpoint):
f(3)=2(27)−3(9)−36(3)+9=54−27−108+9=−72.
The values are 36, 53, and −72. The largest is 53 — but wait, that's not among the options. Let's check again.
Watch outA common mistake is to forget that x=3 is both a critical point and an endpoint — but that's fine. The real pitfall here is mis-evaluating f(−2). Let's recompute carefully.
f(−2)=2(−8)−3(4)−36(−2)+9=−16−12+72+9. …
-
- TG EAPCET 2021Set eng-2021-08-06-AN1 markMCQQ.If the minimum value of the quadratic expression x2+5x−2 is M and it exists at a then aM= (A) 3.3 (B) 533 (C) 2.5 (D) −0.25
›Reveal solutionSolution
The minimum value of a quadratic expression Ax2+Bx+C occurs at the x-coordinate x=−B/(2A). We will find this x-coordinate, denoted as a, and then substitute a back into the expression to find the minimum value, M. Finally, we calculate the ratio M/a. The result is 3.3.
A quadratic expression of the form f(x)=Ax2+Bx+C represents a parabola when graphed. The sign of the coefficient A determines the direction the parabola opens:
- If A>0, the parabola opens upwards, and its vertex is the lowest point, representing the minimum value of the expression.
- If A<0, the parabola opens downwards, and its vertex is the highest point, representing the maximum value of the expression.
In this problem, the expression is x2+5x−2. Here, the coefficient of x2 is A=1, which is positive. Therefore, the parabola opens upwards, and the expression has a minimum value. This minimum value occurs at the vertex of the parabola.
The x-coordinate of the vertex for a quadratic Ax2+Bx+C is given by a standard formula. Once we find this x-coordinate, which is a in this problem, we can substitute it back into the expression to find the minimum value, M.
-
Identify the coefficients of the quadratic expression.
The given quadratic expression is x2+5x−2.
Comparing this to the standard form Ax2+Bx+C, we can identify the coefficients:
A=1
B=5
C=−2
-
Find the x-coordinate where the minimum value exists.
The problem states that the minimum value exists at a. This a is the x-coordinate of the vertex of the parabola.
For a quadratic expression Ax2+Bx+C, the x-coordinate of the vertex is given by x=−2AB.
Substitute the values of A and B into this formula:
a=−2(1)5
a=−25
-
Find the minimum value of the expression.
The problem states that the minimum value is M. This M is the value of the expression when x=a.
Substitute a=−25 into the expression x2+5x−2:
M=(−25)2+5(−25)−2
M=425−225−2
To combine these fractions, we find a common denominator, which is 4: …
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