An offshore oil well is 1 mile off the coast. The oil refinery is 4 miles down the coast. Laying pipe in the ocean is twice as expensive as laying it on land. Find x, and consider how finding x helps determine the most economical path for the pipe from the well to the oil refinery.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given

See attachment for complete question

First, we calculate the water pipe length (AC):

The cost of laying across water is twice (2 times) laying on land.

So, the total cost (C) is:

Differentiate

To find the most economical cost, we simply minimize C' by equating C' to 0

Cross multiply

Take square of both sides

Collect like terms

Solve for

Solve for x

Rationalize:

step-by-step explanation: