b+h=21
h=21-b
Area=(1/2)bh=(1/2)b(21-b)
A=21b/2-b^2/2
dA/db=21/2-2b/2=0
b=21/2=10.5
h=21-10.5=10.5
d^2A/db^2 =-1 <0 which means A is maximum at b=10.5
Maximum area = (1/2)(10.5)(10.5)=55.125 sq cm
b + h = 21
area = (1/2)bh
since b = 21 - h
area = (1/2)(21-h)(h)
area = (1/2)(21h - h*h)
area = 10.5h - (1/2)h*h
area = maxvalue when its derivative = 0
derivative(area) = 10.5 - h
which = 0 when h = 10.5
I don't have to continue. I see the pattern. Therefore, I know that the dimension 10 and 11 will give the largest area.
It doesn't matter what is the height and what is the base.
Therefore, the area is
b x h x 0.5
10 x 11 x 0.5
= 55 cm sqaured
If this takes to long, you can use the max area formula:
Maximum area is where base = height = 10.5 cm (You get this by doing 21 divided by 2)
Max area = (10.5)² / 2 = 110.25 cm² / 2 = 55.125 cm²