For tax reasons, i need to create a rectangular vegetable patch with an area of exactly 50 sq. ft. the fencing for the east and west sides costs $4 per foot, and the fencing for the north and south sides costs only $2 per foot. what are the dimensions of the vegetable patch with the least expensive fence?

Let the dimension of the patch be x for the east and west sides and y for the north and south sides, then
xy = 50 . . . (1)
xdy/dx + y = 0 . . . (2)

Also, Total cost for fencing is 4x + 4x + 2y + 2y = 8x + 4y
For minimum cost, d(8x + 4y)/dx = 0
8 + 4dy/dx = 0
dy/dx = -8/4 = -2 . . . (3)

Putting (3) in (2) gives
-2x + y = 0
y = 2x

Substituting for y in (1) gives
x(2x) = 50
2x^2 = 50
x^2 = 25
x = 5
y = 2(5) = 10

Therefore, for minimum cost, the east and west sides should be 5 feet while the north and south sides should be 10 feet.