Let the cost of iron per unit area be m and the total cost of barrel be y, then y = 3m π R2+m (π R2+2π RH).
Because the container is a cylindrical iron drum with an aluminum alloy cover, the volume is 32π,
Then we know that V=πr2h=32π and the height is 32r2.
Y = 3m π R2+m (π R2+2π RH) = 2m π (R2+16r+16r) ≥ 6m π 3R2×16r.
The minimum value is obtained when and only when r=3 16, so the radius is 3 16 when the total cost is the lowest.