Suppose that a gas company needs to run a pipeline from its production station on one side of a river to a town on the other side of the river as shown in Figure 1 below. Laying pipe
underground costs 11 dollars per linear foot, while laying pipe under the river costs 17.25 dollars per linear
foot. Describe the way in which the pipe should be laid so that the cost is minimized. Provide both exact answers and decimal approximations.
River
Production
Plant
23 miles
I
Pipeline
Town
3 miles