Find two positive numbers whose sum is 100 and whose product is a maximum.

Call the two numbers x and y. The constraint is that x + y =100, and we need to maximise A=xy.
Rearrange the constraint to y = 100 - x, and substitute into the product equation.
A = x(100-x) = 100x - x2
Differentiate to find the critical points:
A' = 100 - 2x = 0100 = 2xx = 50
Differentiate again to check that this is indeed a maximum.
A'' = -2
The second derivative is always negative so A = 100x - x2 is always concave so the critical point is indeed a maximum.
Now it is easy to find y since we have x. y = 100 - 50 = 50
So the answer is x = 50 and y = 50.

Answered by Maths tutor

22957 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do I find the maximum/minimum of a curve?


Prove that the indefinite integral of I = int(exp(x).cos(x))dx is (1/2)exp(x).sin(x) + (1/2)exp(x).cos(x) + C


A small stone is projected vertically upwards from a point O with a speed of 19.6m/s. Modelling the stone as a particle moving freely under gravity, find the length of time for which the stone is more than 14.7 m above O


Differentiate x^5 + 3x^2 - 17 with respect to x


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning