- This exercise type will build problem-solving skills.
- Focus on Modeling exercises show how math can be applied to real-life situations by utilizing modeling techniques.
In these problems you are asked to find a function that models a real-life situation and then use the model to answer questions about the situation. Use the Guidelines for Modeling with Functions to help you answer these questions.
Consider the following problem: A farmer has 2,800 meters of fencing and wants to fence off a rectangular field that borders a straight river. The farmer does not need a fence along the river (see the figure).
An image is given of a rectangular field bordered on three sides by a fence and along the bottom by a straight river. The length of the left and right side of the fence are both labeled x. The area enclosed by the fence and river is labeled A.
What are the dimensions of the field of largest area that can be fenced? (Let x be the width of the field in meters and l be the length of the field in meters.)
(b)
Find a function that models the area of the field in terms of one of its sides.