An open box has a height h cm and a square base of side x cm. It has volume 200cm^3.To determine the value of x that gives the minimum surface area of the box, what is the equation of the problem?

Answer 1

Volume is x²h = 200

Surface area A = x² + 4 xh

So find an expression for h from first equation

Substitute into second to give A as a function of x

Then solve dA/dx = 0

Mike