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2016 Paper 2 Q8
D: 1600.0 B: 1500.0

Evaluate the integral \[ \hphantom{ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (m> \tfrac12)\,.} \int_{m-\frac12} ^\infty \frac 1{x^2}\, \d x { \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ (m > \tfrac12)\,.} \] Show by means of a sketch that \[ \sum_{r=m}^n \frac 1 {r^2} \approx \int_{m-\frac12}^{n+\frac12} \frac1 {x^2} \, \d x \,, \tag{\(*\)} \] where \(m\) and \(n\) are positive integers with \(m < n\).

  1. You are given that the infinite series \(\displaystyle \sum_{r=1}^\infty \frac 1 {r^2}\) converges to a value denoted by \(E\). Use \((*)\) to obtain the following approximations for \(E\): \[ E\approx 2\,; \ \ \ \ E\approx \frac53\,; \ \ \ \ E\approx \frac{33}{20} \,.\]
  2. Show that, when \(r\) is large, the error in approximating \(\dfrac 1{r^2}\) by \(\displaystyle \int_{r-\frac12}^{r+\frac12} \frac 1 {x^2} \, \d x\) is approximately \(\dfrac 1{4r^4}\,\). Given that \(E \approx 1.645\), show that \(\displaystyle \sum_{r=1}^\infty \frac1{r^4} \approx 1.08\, \).


Solution: \begin{align*} && \int_{m-\frac12}^\infty \frac{1}{x^2} \d x &= \lim_{K \to \infty} \left [ -x^{-1} \right]_{m-\frac12}^K \\ &&&= \frac{1}{m-\frac12} - \lim_{K \to \infty }\frac{1}K \\ &&&= \frac{1}{m-\frac12} \end{align*}

TikZ diagram
Notice that \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{r^2} \approx \int_{r-\frac12}^{r+\frac12} \frac{1}{x^2} \d x\) as the area of the orange boxes and under the blue lines are similar.
  1. \(\,\) \begin{align*} E &\approx \int_{1-\frac12}^\infty \frac1{x^2} \d x = \frac{1}{1-\frac12} = 2 \\ E &\approx 1 + \int_{2-\frac12}^\infty \frac1{x^2} \d x= 1 + \frac{1}{2 - \frac12} = \frac53 \\ E &\approx 1 +\frac14 + \int_{3-\frac12}^\infty \frac1{x^2} \d x= \frac54 + \frac{1}{3-\frac12} \\ &= \frac54+\frac{2}{5} = \frac{33}{20} \end{align*}
  2. The error is \begin{align*} && \epsilon &= \int_{r-\frac12}^{r+\frac12} \frac 1 {x^2} \, \d x - \frac1{r^2} \\ &&&= \frac{1}{r-\frac12} - \frac{1}{r + \frac12} - \frac1{r^2} \\ &&&= \frac{1}{r^2 - \frac14} - \frac1{r^2} \\ &&&= \frac{\frac14}{r^2(r^2-\frac14)} \\ &&&\approx \frac{1}{4r^4} \end{align*} Therefore \begin{align*} && \sum_{n=1}^\infty \frac1{r^4} &\approx 4 \left ( 1 +\frac14 + \int_{3-\frac12}^\infty \frac1{x^2} \d x-\sum_{r=1}^\infty \frac{1}{r^2} \right) + 1 + \frac{1}{2^4}\\ &&&= 4 \left ( \frac{33}{20}-1.645 \right) + 1 + \frac{1}{2^4} \\ &&&= 4 \left ( 1.65-1.645 \right) + 1 + \frac{1}{2^4} \\ &&&= 1.0825 \approx 1.08 \end{align*}

2000 Paper 2 Q5
D: 1600.0 B: 1470.2

It is required to approximate a given function \(\f(x)\), over the interval \(0 \le x \le 1\), by the linear function \(\lambda x\), where \(\lambda\) is chosen to minimise \[ \int_0^1 \big(\f(x)-\lambda x \big)^{\!2} \,\d x . \] Show that \[ \lambda = 3 \int_0^1 x\f(x)\,\d x. \] The residual error, \(R\), of this approximation process is such that \[ R^2 = \int_0^1 \big(\f(x)-\lambda x \big)^{\!2}\,\d x. \] Show that \[ R^2 = \int_0^1 \big(\f(x)\big)^{\!2}\,\d x -\tfrac{1}{3} \lambda ^2. \] Given now that \(\f(x)= \sin (\pi x/n)\), show that (i) for large \(n\), \(\lambda \approx \pi/n\) and (ii) \(\lim_{n \to \infty}R = 0.\) Explain why, prior to any calculation, these results are to be expected. [You may assume that, when \(\theta\) is small, $\sin \theta \approx \theta-\frac{1}{6}\theta^3$ and \(\cos \theta \approx 1 - \frac{1}{2}\theta^2.\)]


Solution: \begin{align*} && g(\lambda) &= \int_0^1 \big(\f(x)-\lambda x \big)^{\!2} \,\d x \\ &&&= \int_0^1 \left ( f(x)^2 -2\lambda xf(x) + \lambda^2 x^2\right) \d x \\ &&&= \frac13\lambda^2 - 2\lambda \int_0^1 x f(x) \d x + \int_0^1 f(x)^2 \d x \\ \end{align*} Differentiating (or completing the square) it is clear the minimum occurs when \(\displaystyle \lambda = 3 \int_0^1 xf(x) \d x\) \begin{align*} && R^2 &= \int_0^1 (f(x) - \lambda x )^2 \d x \\ &&&= \frac13\lambda^2 - 2\lambda \int_0^1 x f(x) \d x + \int_0^1 f(x)^2 \d x \\ &&&= \frac13 \left (\lambda -3\int_0^1 xf(x) \d x \right)^2 -\frac13 \left ( 3\int_0^1 xf(x) \d x \right)^2+\int_0^1 f(x)^2 \d x \\ \end{align*} When \(\lambda = 3\int_0^1 xf(x) \d x \) clearly this is the desired result. \begin{align*} && \lambda &= 3\int_0^1 xf(x) \d x \\ &&&= 3\int_0^1 x \sin(\pi x /n) \d x \\ &&&= 3 \left [-x \frac{n}{\pi} \cos (\pi x /n) \right]_0^1 + \frac{3n}{\pi} \int_0^1 \cos(\pi x /n) \d x \\ &&&= -\frac{3n}{\pi}\cos(\pi/n) + \frac{3n}{\pi} \left [ \frac{n}{\pi} \sin(\pi x /n)\right]_0^1 \\ &&&= -\frac{3n}{\pi} \cos(\pi/n) + \frac{3n^2}{\pi^2} \sin(\pi /n) \\ \text{for large }n: &&&\approx -\frac{3n}{\pi}\left ( 1 - \frac12\frac{\pi^2}{n^2} + o(1/n^4)\right) + \frac{3n^2}{\pi^2} \left (\frac{\pi}{n} - \frac16 \frac{\pi^3}{n^3} +o(1/n^5) \right) \\ &&&= \left (\frac32 -\frac12\right)\frac{\pi}{n} + o(1/n^3) \\ &&&= \frac{\pi}{n} + o(1/n^2) \end{align*} Therefore for large \(n\), \(\lambda \approx \frac{\pi}n\) \begin{align*} && \int_0^1 \sin^2(\pi x/n) \d x &= \frac12\int_0^1(1- \cos(2\pi x/n)) \d x\\ &&&= \frac12\left ( 1 - \frac{n}{2\pi}\left[\sin(2\pi x/n) \right]_0^1 \right) \\ &&&= \frac12 -\frac{n}{4\pi}\sin(2\pi /n) \\ \\ && R^2 &= \frac12 -\frac{n}{4\pi}\sin(2\pi /n) - \frac13 \left ( \frac{\pi}{n}+o(1/n^2)\right)^2 \\ &&&= \frac12 - \left ( \frac{1}{2} -\frac16\frac{\pi}{n}+o(1/n^3) \right) - o(1/n^2) \\ &&& = \frac16 \frac{\pi}{n} + o(1/n^2) \\ &&&\to 0 \text{ as } n \to \infty \end{align*} We should expect these results as for \(n\) very large \(\sin(\pi x/n) \approx \frac{\pi }{n}x\) so the best linear approximation is likely to be \(\lambda = \frac{\pi}{n}\) and we should expect it to improve to the point that we cannot tell the difference, ie \(R^2 \to 0\)

1999 Paper 1 Q5
D: 1500.0 B: 1516.0

For this question, you may use the following approximations, valid if \(\theta \) is small: \ \(\sin\theta \approx \theta\) and \(\cos\theta \approx 1-\theta^2/2\,\). A satellite \(X\) is directly above the point \(Y\) on the Earth's surface and can just be seen (on the horizon) from another point \(Z\) on the Earth's surface. The radius of the Earth is \(R\) and the height of the satellite above the Earth is \(h\).

  1. Find the distance \(d\) of \(Z\) from \(Y\) along the Earth's surface.
  2. If the satellite is in low orbit (so that \(h\) is small compared with \(R\)), show that $$d \approx k(Rh)^{1/2},$$ where \(k\) is to be found.
  3. If the satellite is very distant from the Earth (so that \(R\) is small compared with \(h\)), show that $$d\approx aR+b(R^2/h),$$ where \(a\) and \(b\) are to be found.

1992 Paper 3 Q1
D: 1700.0 B: 1500.0

  1. Given that \[ \mathrm{f}(x)=\ln(1+\mathrm{e}^{x}), \] prove that \(\ln[\mathrm{f}'(x)]=x-\mathrm{f}(x)\) and that \(\mathrm{f}''(x)=\mathrm{f}'(x)-[\mathrm{f}'(x)]^{2}.\) Hence, or otherwise, expand \(\mathrm{f}(x)\) as a series in powers of \(x\) up to the term in \(x^{4}.\)
  2. Given that \[ \mathrm{g}(x)=\frac{1}{\sinh x\cosh2x}, \] explain why \(\mathrm{g}(x)\) can not be expanded as a series of non-negative powers of \(x\) but that \(x\mathrm{g}(x)\) can be so expanded. Explain also why this latter expansion will consist of even powers of \(x\) only. Expand \(x\mathrm{g}(x)\) as a series as far as the term in \(x^{4}.\)


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} && f(x) &= \ln (1+e^x) \\ && f'(x) &= \frac{1}{1+e^x} \cdot e^x \\ &&&= \frac{e^x}{1+e^x} \\ \Rightarrow && \ln [f'(x)] &= x - \ln (1+e^x) \\ &&&= x - f(x) \\ \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{f''(x)}{f'(x)} &= 1 - f'(x) \\ \Rightarrow && f''(x) &= f'(x) - [f'(x)]^2 \\ && f'''(x) &= f''(x) - 2f'(x) f''(x) \\ && f^{(4)}(x) &= f'''(x) - 2[f''(x)]^2-2f'(x)f'''(x) \end{align*} \begin{align*} f(0) &= \ln 2 \\ f'(0) &= \tfrac12 \\ f''(0) &= \tfrac12 -\tfrac14 \\ &= \tfrac 14 \\ f'''(0) &= \tfrac14 - 2 \tfrac12 \tfrac 14 \\ &= 0 \\ f^{(4)}(0) &= -2 \cdot \tfrac1{16} \\ &= -\frac18 \end{align*} Therefore \(f(x) = \ln 2 + \tfrac12 x + \tfrac18 x^2 - \frac1{8 \cdot 4!} x^4 + O(x^5)\)
  2. As \(x \to 0\), \(g(x) \to \infty\) therefore there can be no power series about \(0\). But as \(x \to 0, x g(x) \not \to \infty\) as \(\frac{x}{\sinh x}\) is well behaved. We can also notice that \(x g(x)\) is an even function, since \(\cosh x\) is even and \(\frac{x}{\sinh x}\) is even, therefore the power series will consist of even powers of \(x\) \begin{align*} \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{x}{\sinh x \cosh 2 x} &= \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{x}{\sinh x} \cdot \lim_{x \to 0} \frac{1}{\cosh2 x} \\ &= 1 \end{align*} Notice that \begin{align*} \frac{x}{\sinh x \cosh 2 x} &= \frac{4x}{(e^x - e^{-x})(e^{2x}+e^{-2x})} \\ &= \frac{4x}{(2x + \frac{x^3}{3} + \cdots)(2 + 4x^2 + \frac43 x^4 + \cdots )} \\ &= \frac{1}{1+\frac{x^2}{6}+\frac{x^4}{5!} + \cdots } \frac{1}{1 + 2x^2 + \frac23 x^4 + \cdots } \\ &= \left (1-(\frac{x^2}{6} + \frac{x^4}{5!})+ (\frac{x^2}{6} )^2 + O(x^6)\right) \left (1-(2x^2+\frac23 x^4)+ (2x^2)^2 + O(x^6)\right) \\ &= \left (1 - \frac16 x^2 + \frac{7}{360} x^4 + O(x^6) \right) \left (1 - 2x^2+ \frac{10}3x^4 + O(x^6) \right) \\ &= 1 - \frac{13}{6} x^2 + \frac{1327}{360}x^4 + O(x^6) \end{align*}