Fencing a rectangular area

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 27 views

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Introduction

As a rancher, you have a roll of fencing that you want to use to enclose a rectangular area. The amount of area that you can enclose depends on the width of the rectangle. In this article, we will explore the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing.

The Problem

The problem is to find the area of the rectangle that can be enclosed with the fencing, given the width of the rectangle. The table below shows how the area that you can enclose with the fencing depends on the width of the rectangle.

Width $w$ (ft)	Area $A$
10	100
20	200
30	300
40	400
50	500

Understanding the Relationship Between Width and Area

From the table, we can see that as the width of the rectangle increases, the area that you can enclose with the fencing also increases. This is because the area of a rectangle is equal to the product of its width and length. Since the length of the rectangle is fixed (it is equal to the width of the rectangle), the area of the rectangle is directly proportional to the width of the rectangle.

Mathematical Representation

Mathematically, the area of the rectangle can be represented as:

A = w^2

where $A$ is the area of the rectangle and $w$ is the width of the rectangle.

Graphical Representation

The relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing can be represented graphically as a parabola. The graph of the area $A$ against the width $w$ is a parabola that opens upwards.

Derivation of the Equation

To derive the equation of the parabola, we can start with the formula for the area of a rectangle:

A = w \times l

where $A$ is the area of the rectangle, $w$ is the width of the rectangle, and $l$ is the length of the rectangle.

Since the length of the rectangle is fixed (it is equal to the width of the rectangle), we can substitute $l = w$ into the formula:

A = w \times w

A = w^2

This is the equation of the parabola that represents the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing.

Properties of the Parabola

The parabola has several properties that are important to note:

The parabola opens upwards, indicating that as the width of the rectangle increases, the area that you can enclose with the fencing also increases.
The vertex of the parabola is at the origin (0, 0), indicating that when the width of the rectangle is zero, the area that you can enclose with the fencing is also zero.
The parabola is symmetric about the y-axis, indicating that the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing is the same for positive and negative values of the width.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing is a parabola that opens upwards. The equation of the parabola is $A = w^2$ , where $A$ is the area of the rectangle and $w$ is the width of the rectangle. The parabola has several properties that are important to note, including the fact that it opens upwards, has a vertex at the origin, and is symmetric about the y-axis.

Applications

The relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing has several applications in real-world scenarios, including:

Fencing a rectangular area: The relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing is important in fencing a rectangular area. By knowing the width of the rectangle, you can calculate the area that you can enclose with the fencing.
Landscaping: The relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing is also important in landscaping. By knowing the width of the rectangle, you can calculate the area that you can enclose with the fencing and plan your landscaping accordingly.
Architecture: The relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing is also important in architecture. By knowing the width of the rectangle, you can calculate the area that you can enclose with the fencing and plan your building design accordingly.

Future Work

Future work on this topic could include:

Exploring other shapes: Exploring the relationship between the width of other shapes and the area that you can enclose with the fencing.
Developing new equations: Developing new equations that represent the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing.
Applying the relationship to real-world scenarios: Applying the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that you can enclose with the fencing to real-world scenarios, such as fencing a rectangular area, landscaping, and architecture.

References

[1] "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" by Morris Kline
[2] "Calculus" by Michael Spivak
[3] "Geometry" by I.M. Yaglom

Note: The references provided are for illustrative purposes only and are not actual references used in this article.

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Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the relationship between the width of a rectangle and the area that can be enclosed with fencing. We derived the equation of a parabola that represents this relationship and discussed its properties. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about the rancher's fencing problem.

Q&A

Q: What is the equation of the parabola that represents the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that can be enclosed with fencing?

A: The equation of the parabola is $A = w^2$ , where $A$ is the area of the rectangle and $w$ is the width of the rectangle.

Q: What is the vertex of the parabola?

A: The vertex of the parabola is at the origin (0, 0), indicating that when the width of the rectangle is zero, the area that can be enclosed with fencing is also zero.

Q: Is the parabola symmetric about the y-axis?

A: Yes, the parabola is symmetric about the y-axis, indicating that the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that can be enclosed with fencing is the same for positive and negative values of the width.

Q: What is the significance of the parabola opening upwards?

A: The parabola opens upwards, indicating that as the width of the rectangle increases, the area that can be enclosed with fencing also increases.

Q: Can the equation of the parabola be used to calculate the area of a rectangle with a given width?

A: Yes, the equation of the parabola can be used to calculate the area of a rectangle with a given width. Simply substitute the value of the width into the equation $A = w^2$ to find the area.

Q: What are some real-world applications of the rancher's fencing problem?

A: Some real-world applications of the rancher's fencing problem include fencing a rectangular area, landscaping, and architecture.

Q: Can the equation of the parabola be used to solve problems involving other shapes?

A: Yes, the equation of the parabola can be used to solve problems involving other shapes, such as triangles and circles.

Q: What are some potential limitations of the equation of the parabola?

A: Some potential limitations of the equation of the parabola include the assumption that the rectangle is a perfect shape, the assumption that the width of the rectangle is constant, and the assumption that the area of the rectangle is directly proportional to the width of the rectangle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the rancher's fencing problem is a classic example of a mathematical problem that can be solved using algebra and geometry. The equation of the parabola that represents the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that can be enclosed with fencing is a powerful tool that can be used to solve a wide range of problems.

Additional Resources

For more information on the rancher's fencing problem, including additional resources and examples, please see the following:

[1] "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" by Morris Kline
[2] "Calculus" by Michael Spivak
[3] "Geometry" by I.M. Yaglom

Note: The references provided are for illustrative purposes only and are not actual references used in this article.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the rancher's fencing problem? A: The rancher's fencing problem is a mathematical problem that involves finding the area of a rectangle with a given width.
Q: What is the equation of the parabola that represents the relationship between the width of the rectangle and the area that can be enclosed with fencing? A: The equation of the parabola is $A = w^2$ , where $A$ is the area of the rectangle and $w$ is the width of the rectangle.
Q: What are some real-world applications of the rancher's fencing problem? A: Some real-world applications of the rancher's fencing problem include fencing a rectangular area, landscaping, and architecture.