Cat Food Can Problem
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The Carnation Company of L.A. produces and distributes Friskies
Buffet Cat Foods. All flavors come in cylindrical containers.
A six ounce can of Friskies Buffet Mixed Grill has a volume of
roughly 14.5 cubic inches and has the following dimensions: height =
1.75 inches and radius = 1.62 inches. But do the dimensions of this Friskies can have the smallest surface area that contains 14.5 cubic inches? Sounds like a calculus problem... Determine the radius and height of the can having a volume of 14.5 cubic inches and that has the smallest surface area. Outline of Solution: 
Why do Carnation and other companies package cat food and tuna and chicken in short cans that do not minimize the surface area? |