- #1
JonF
- 621
- 1
This is homework (forgive me) but I don’t want an answer I would just like to know what I am doing wrong.
Here is the problem:
Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a right triangle with legs of lengths 3cm and 4cm if tow dies of the rectangle lie along the legs.
Here is what I did
L = length of rectangle
W = width
Theta = angle 4 leg of the right triangle
I’m trying to optimize W*L where :
W < 3
L < 4
These are the equations I got:
Tan(theta) = w/(4-L)
Tan(theta) = (3-W)/L
Tan(theta) = 3/4
W = [itex] 3(4-L)/4 [/itex]
so:
{3 - 3(4-L)/4}/ L = 3/4
and that is as far as this brain will take me...
Here is the problem:
Find the area of the largest rectangle that can be inscribed in a right triangle with legs of lengths 3cm and 4cm if tow dies of the rectangle lie along the legs.
Here is what I did
L = length of rectangle
W = width
Theta = angle 4 leg of the right triangle
I’m trying to optimize W*L where :
W < 3
L < 4
These are the equations I got:
Tan(theta) = w/(4-L)
Tan(theta) = (3-W)/L
Tan(theta) = 3/4
W = [itex] 3(4-L)/4 [/itex]
so:
{3 - 3(4-L)/4}/ L = 3/4
and that is as far as this brain will take me...
Last edited: