(March 1, 2006) — You’re given a sheet of cardboard with dimensions 3x4ft. and you have to make a box by cutting equal-sized squares from each corner and folding up the four edges. How would you go about finding the dimensions of the box with the largest volume? In math teacher Fred Blattner’s AP Calculus AB classes, students have been assigned the Optimization Project in which they demonstrate how to solve Max./Min. problems to other students. This is the fifth year that the Optimization Project has been assigned to Calculus AB students. The project requires students to create a fairly challenging Max./Min, also known as an optimization problem, and be able to teach it to the entire class. Max/Min problems fall under Differential Calculus, which “involve the use of the derivative to find the optimal solution to a problem,” Blattner said. Students then have to demonstrate where they can estimate the answer and must solve the problem using calculus tools to confirm their answer. Students may do so by using calculus books and getting help from other students in order to complete their projects. To visually demonstrate, they can make a 3-D visual of the project, use Microsoft PowerPoint, display a poster, or think of any other creative way that will help other students in the class to understand the problem. “It took me a while to figure out how to use Geometer’s Sketchpad, a math software, but I thought it would be the best way to show the problem to my classmates,” senior Sety Nazaryan said. According to Blattner, the most common optimization problem that students have been demonstrating throughout the years has been the cardboard box problem. “It’s always great when they actually make the box and have a good demonstration that actually matches the theoretical analysis,” Blattner said. Each student is evaluated by two peers and Blattner. After the presentation, Blattner totals all the points, reviews the comments by both the peers and gives his final grade and comments on the project. Presentations began last Friday and will continue throughout the entire semester. “It was a pretty good start for the first day,” Blattner said, commenting on Friday’s presentation.