4 problems found
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 \(m < n\).
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*}
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 \(R^2 \to 0\)
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 \(h\).
Solution: