How to set up the maximum area spreadsheet

Type in the column headings: Perimeter, Width, Length and Area.

Enter the maximum perimeter in A2; in this case 1000.

The formula in C3 is C2+10. Drag this formula down the column. The numbers in column C will go up in tens. This can be changed later to C2+1 or c2+0.1 or even C2+0.00000001 in order to close in on the maximum area. Pupils have been known to work to fifteen decimal places!

The width of the rectangle is worked out from the length and perimeter.

The formula in B2 is $A$-2*C2. The dollar signs are used to fix the cell reference. When the formula is dragged down the column the formulae will always refer to A2 and not change to A3 or A4.

The area of the rectangle is worked out from the width and length.

The formula in D2 is B2*C2. Drag this down the column.