Find the dimensions of the rectangle of largest area that can be inscribed in a circle of radius r.

By John

Solution

Let us take the circle with centre (0,0) and radius r and PQRS be the rectangle inscribed in the circle.
Let x=rcosθ;y=rsinθ
The dimensions of the rectangle are
2x=2rcosθ;2y=2rsinθ
Area at rectangle A=4r
2
sinθcosθ=2r
2
sin2θ
⇒A(θ)=2r
2
sin2θ
⇒A

(θ)=4r
2
cos2θ
⇒A”(θ)=−8r
2
sin2θ
⇒A

(θ)=0
⇒4r
2
cos2θ=0
⇒cos2θ=0⇒2θ=
2
π


4
π

Now A
′′
(
4
π

)=−8r
2
×1=−8r
2
<0 A is largest when θ= 4 π ​ When θ= 4 π ​ 2x=2rcos× 4 π ​ =2r( 2 ​ 1 ​ )= 2r ​ 2y=2rsin 4 π ​ =2r( 2 ​ 1 ​ )= 2r ​ ∴ the dimensions of the rectangle are 2 ​ r and 2 ​ r. (The rectangle is also square)