Find the three values of \(x\) for which the derivative of \(x^2 \e^{-x^2}\) is zero. Given that \(a\) and \(b\) are distinct positive numbers, find a polynomial \(\P(x)\) such that the derivative of \(\P(x)\e^{-x^2}\) is zero for \(x=0\), \(x=\pm a\) and \(x=\pm b\,\), but for no other values of \(x\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && y &= x^2e^{-x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && y' &= 2xe^{-x^2} +x^2 \cdot (-2x)e^{-x^2} \\ &&&= e^{-x^2}(2x-2x^3) \\ &&&= 2e^{-x^2}x(1-x^2) \end{align*} Therefore the derivative is zero iff \(x = 0, \pm 1\) \begin{align*} && y &= \P(x) e^{-x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && y' &= e^{-x^2} (\P'(x)-2x\P(x)) \end{align*} Therefore we want \(\P'(x) - 2x\P(x) = Kx(x^2-a^2)(x^2-b^2)\) Since this has degree \(5\), we should look at polynomials degree \(4\) for \(\P\). We can also immediately see that \(0\) is a root of \(\P'(x)\), so \(\P(x) = a_4x^4+a_3x^3+a_2x^2+a_0\). WLOG \(a_4 = 1\) and \(K = -2\), so \begin{align*} && -2(x^5-(a^2+b^2)x^3+a^2b^2x) &= 4x^3+3a_3x^2+2a_2x- 2x(x^4+a_3x^3+a_2x^2+a_0) \\ &&&= -2x^5-2a_3 x^4+(4-2a_2)x^3+(2a_2-2a_0)x \\ \Rightarrow && a_3 &= 0 \\ && a^2+b^2 &= 2-a_2 \\ \Rightarrow && a_2 &= 2-a^2-b^2 \\ && a^2b^2 &= a_0-a_2 \\ \Rightarrow && a_0 &= a^2b^2 + 2-a^2-b^2 \\ \Rightarrow && \P(x) &= x^4+(2-a^2-b^2)x^2+(a^2-1)(b^2-1)x \end{align*}
For any positive integer \(N\), the function \(\f(N)\) is defined by \[ \f(N) = N\Big(1-\frac1{p_1}\Big)\Big(1-\frac1{p_2}\Big) \cdots\Big(1-\frac1{p_k}\Big) \] where \(p_1\), \(p_2\), \(\dots\) , \(p_k\) are the only prime numbers that are factors of \(N\). Thus \(\f(80)=80(1-\frac12)(1-\frac15)\,\).
Solution:
Give a sketch, for \(0 \le x \le \frac{1}{2}\pi\), of the curve $$ y = (\sin x - x\cos x)\;, $$ and show that \(0\le y \le 1\,\). Show that:
Solution:
The positive numbers \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) satisfy \(bc=a^2+1\). Prove that $$ \arctan\left(\frac1 {a+b}\right)+ \arctan\left(\frac1 {a+c}\right)= \arctan\left(\frac1 a \right). $$ The positive numbers \(p\), \(q\), \(r\), \(s\), \(t\), \(u\) and \(v\) satisfy $$ st = (p+q)^2 + 1 \;, \ \ \ \ \ \ uv=(p+r)^2 + 1 \;, \ \ \ \ \ \ qr = p^2+1\;. $$ Prove that $$ \arctan \! \!\left(\!\frac1 {p+q+s}\!\right) + \arctan \! \!\left(\!\frac 1{p+q+t}\!\right) + \arctan \! \!\left(\!\frac 1 {p+r+u}\!\right) + \arctan \! \!\left(\!\frac1 {p+r+v}\!\right) =\arctan \! \!\left( \! \frac1 p \! \right) . $$ Hence show that $$ \arctan\left(\frac1 {13}\right) +\arctan\left(\frac1 {21}\right) +\arctan\left(\frac1 {82}\right) +\arctan\left(\frac1 {187}\right) =\arctan\left(\frac1 {7}\right). $$ [\,Note that \(\arctan x\) is another notation for \( \tan^{-1}x \,.\,\)]
The angle \(A\) of triangle \(ABC\) is a right angle and the sides \(BC\), \(CA\) and \(AB\) are of lengths \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\), respectively. Each side of the triangle is tangent to the circle \(S_1\) which is of radius \(r\). Show that \(2r = b+c-a\). Each vertex of the triangle lies on the circle~\(S_2\). The ratio of the area of the region between~\(S_1\) and the triangle to the area of \(S_2\) is denoted by \(R\,\). Show that $$ \pi R = -(\pi-1)q^2 + 2\pi q -(\pi+1) \;, $$ where \(q=\dfrac{b+c}a\,\). Deduce that $$ R\le \frac1 {\pi( \pi - 1)} \;. $$
Solution:
The position vectors, relative to an origin \(O\), at time \(t\) of the particles \(P\) and \(Q\) are $$\cos t \; {\bf i} + \sin t\;{\bf j} + 0 \; {\bf k} \text{ and } \cos (t+\tfrac14{\pi})\, \big[{\tfrac32}{\bf i} + { \tfrac {3\sqrt{3}}2} {\bf k}\big] + 3\sin(t+\tfrac14{\pi}) \; {\bf j}\;,$$ respectively, where \(0\le t \le 2\pi\,\).
Solution:
For \(x \ge 0\) the curve \(C\) is defined by $$ {\frac{\d y} {\d x}} = \frac{x^3y^2}{(1 + x^2)^{5/2}} $$ with \(y = 1\) when \(x=0\,\). Show that \[ \frac 1 y = \frac {2+3x^2}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} +\frac13 \] and hence that for large positive \(x\) $$ y \approx 3 - \frac 9 x\;. $$ Draw a sketch of \(C\). On a separate diagram, draw a sketch of the two curves defined for \(x \ge 0\) by $$ \frac {\d z} {\d x} = \frac{x^3z^3}{2(1 + x^2)^{5/2}} $$ with \(z = 1\) at \(x=0\) on one curve, and \(z = -1\) at \(x=0\) on the other.
Solution: \begin{align*} && {\frac{\d y} {\d x}} &= \frac{x^3y^2}{(1 + x^2)^{5/2}} \\ \Rightarrow &&\int \frac{1}{y^2} \d y &= \int \frac{x^3}{(1+x^2)^{5/2}} \d x \\ \Rightarrow && -\frac1y &= \int \frac{x^3+x-x}{(1+x^2)^{5/2}} \d x \\ &&&= \int \left ( \frac{x}{(1+x^2)^{3/2}}-\frac{x}{(1+x^2)^{5/2}} \right) \d x \\ &&&= \frac{-1}{(1+x^2)^{1/2}} + \frac{1}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} + C \\ &&&= \frac{1-3(1+x^2)}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} + C \\ &&&= \frac{-3x^2-2}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} + C \\ (x,y) = (0,1): &&-1 &= -\frac23 + C \\ \Rightarrow && C &= -\frac13 \\ \Rightarrow && \frac1y &= \frac{3x^2+2}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} + \frac13 \end{align*} \begin{align*} y &= \frac{1}{\frac13 +\frac{3x^2+2}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}} } \\ &= \frac{3}{1+ \frac{3x^2+2}{3(1+x^2)^{3/2}}} \\ &= \frac{3}{1+ \frac{3}{x} + \cdots} \\ &\approx 3 - \frac{9}{x} \end{align*}
Two particles, \(A\) and \(B\), of masses \(m\) and \(2m\), respectively, are placed on a line of greatest slope, \(\ell\), of a rough inclined plane which makes an angle of \(30^{\circ}\) with the horizontal. The coefficient of friction between \(A\) and the plane is \(\frac16\sqrt{3}\) and the coefficient of friction between \(B\) and the plane is \(\frac13 \sqrt{3}\). The particles are at rest with \(B\) higher up \(\ell\) than \(A\) and are connected by a light inextensible string which is taut. A force \(P\) is applied to \(B\).
The points \(A\) and \(B\) are \(180\) metres apart and lie on horizontal ground. A missile is launched from \(A\) at speed of \(100\,\)m\,s\(^{-1}\) and at an acute angle of elevation to the line \(AB\) of \(\arcsin \frac35\). A time \(T\) seconds later, an anti-missile missile is launched from \(B\), at speed of \(200\,\)m\,s\(^{-1}\) and at an acute angle of elevation to the line \(BA\) of \(\arcsin \frac45\). The motion of both missiles takes place in the vertical plane containing \(A\) and \(B\), and the missiles collide. Taking \(g =10\,\)m\,s\(^{-2}\) and ignoring air resistance, find \(T\). \noindent [Note that \(\arcsin \frac35\) is another notation for \(\sin^{-1} \frac35\,\).]