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### Perimeter of 1000m

```
Date: 07/13/99 at 14:59:31
From: Louise Macdonald
Subject: A shape with the maximum area and a perimeter of 1000m

We have to find a shape with a perimeter of 1000m and the maximum
area. I have tried to work this out but need to know if a circle
would have the biggest area. I have already looked at rectangles,
triangles, and polygons and have noticed that the equilateral shape
had the maximum area of each group of shapes.

Thank you.
```

```
Date: 07/13/99 at 15:09:48
From: Doctor Anthony
Subject: Re: A shape with the maximum area and a perimeter of 1000m

Consider various regular polygons with n = number of sides. You will
have a constant perimeter (= 1000m) and you want an expression for the
area in terms of n. When n = 3 you have an equilateral triangle with
each side 333.33 metres.

area = (1/2)333.33^2 sin(60) = 48112.52 m^2

For a square of side 250 m

area = 62500 m^2

From here you require a general formula. If a polygon has n sides, the
angle subtended by any side at the centre is 360/n. Suppose the
polygon is inscribed in a circle of radius r; then the area of any
triangle formed by radii from the centre to the edges of a side of
the polygon is

(1/2)r^2.sin(360/n)

and the area of the whole polygon is (n/2)r^2.sin(360/n)

where the perimeter is given by 2n.r.sin(180/n) = 1000

n.r.sin(180/n) = 500

So you have two formulae to work with:

r = 500/[n.sin(180/n)] .....(1)

and area

A = (n/2)r^2.sin(360/n)  .......(2)

Check with n = 3  r = 500/[3.sin(60)] = 192.4500897

A = (3/2)(192.4500897)^2 sin(120) = 48112.52

and this agrees with the value we found earlier.

Combining the two formulae we get the area of a regular polygon of n
sides having a perimeter of 1000m:

(500)^2
A =  -----------------
n.tan(pi/n)

which can be changed to    (500^2/n).cot(pi/n)

= (500^2/n).tan(pi/2 - pi/n)

or if you want to express it in degrees

A = (500^2/n).tan(90 - 180/n)

Plot a graph of A against n and show that A increases with an increase
in n, but at a rate that decreases as n increases. The obvious limit
is when you have n -> infinity, in which case you have a circle. Find
the area of the circle. This will be the limit toward which A is

- Doctor Anthony, The Math Forum
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
```
Associated Topics:
High School Analysis
High School Euclidean/Plane Geometry
High School Geometry

Search the Dr. Math Library:

 Find items containing (put spaces between keywords):   Click only once for faster results: [ Choose "whole words" when searching for a word like age.] all keywords, in any order at least one, that exact phrase parts of words whole words

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The text passage contains a mathematical question about finding the shape with the maximum area given a perimeter of 1000 meters, and it also includes a detailed answer explaining the solution.
single_question_with_answer
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
system
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### Perimeter of 1000m

```
Date: 07/13/99 at 14:59:31
From: Louise Macdonald
Subject: A shape with the maximum area and a perimeter of 1000m

We have to find a shape with a perimeter of 1000m and the maximum
area. I have tried to work this out but need to know if a circle
would have the biggest area. I have already looked at rectangles,
triangles, and polygons and have noticed that the equilateral shape
had the maximum area of each group of shapes.

Thank you.
```

```
Date: 07/13/99 at 15:09:48
From: Doctor Anthony
Subject: Re: A shape with the maximum area and a perimeter of 1000m

Consider various regular polygons with n = number of sides. You will
have a constant perimeter (= 1000m) and you want an expression for the
area in terms of n. When n = 3 you have an equilateral triangle with
each side 333.33 metres.

area = (1/2)333.33^2 sin(60) = 48112.52 m^2

For a square of side 250 m

area = 62500 m^2

From here you require a general formula. If a polygon has n sides, the
angle subtended by any side at the centre is 360/n. Suppose the
polygon is inscribed in a circle of radius r; then the area of any
triangle formed by radii from the centre to the edges of a side of
the polygon is

(1/2)r^2.sin(360/n)

and the area of the whole polygon is (n/2)r^2.sin(360/n)

where the perimeter is given by 2n.r.sin(180/n) = 1000

n.r.sin(180/n) = 500

So you have two formulae to work with:

r = 500/[n.sin(180/n)] .....(1)

and area

A = (n/2)r^2.sin(360/n)  .......(2)

Check with n = 3  r = 500/[3.sin(60)] = 192.4500897

A = (3/2)(192.4500897)^2 sin(120) = 48112.52

and this agrees with the value we found earlier.

Combining the two formulae we get the area of a regular polygon of n
sides having a perimeter of 1000m:

(500)^2
A =  -----------------
n.tan(pi/n)

which can be changed to    (500^2/n).cot(pi/n)

= (500^2/n).tan(pi/2 - pi/n)

or if you want to express it in degrees

A = (500^2/n).tan(90 - 180/n)

Plot a graph of A against n and show that A increases with an increase
in n, but at a rate that decreases as n increases. The obvious limit
is when you have n -> infinity, in which case you have a circle. Find
the area of the circle. This will be the limit toward which A is

- Doctor Anthony, The Math Forum
http://mathforum.org/dr.math/
```
Associated Topics:
High School Analysis
High School Euclidean/Plane Geometry
High School Geometry

Search the Dr. Math Library:

 Find items containing (put spaces between keywords):   Click only once for faster results: [ Choose "whole words" when searching for a word like age.] all keywords, in any order at least one, that exact phrase parts of words whole words

Submit your own question to Dr. Math
Math Forum Home || Math Library || Quick Reference || Math Forum Search
user
The text passage contains a mathematical question about finding the shape with the maximum area given a perimeter of 1000 meters, and it also includes a detailed answer explaining the solution.

TYPE: SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER