An enclosed water channel is being designed to maximise water flow in a garden irrigation system. It is to be constructed from a cm wide metal sheet. The channel's cross section consists of a rectangle above a semi-circle, sharing a straight edge. The semicircle has a radius of cm and the height of the rectangular part is cm.
The cross-sectional area is given by
The total perimeter of the cross-section (which includes the two vertical sides and the top length of the rectangle, as well as the semi-circular arc) must remain fixed at cm.
By first writing an equation for the total perimeter, find an expression for in terms of and Then, find in terms of and