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2025 Paper 3 Q1
D: 1500.0 B: 1500.0

You need not consider the convergence of the improper integrals in this question. For \(p, q > 0\), define $$b(p,q) = \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q-1} \, dx$$

  1. Show that \(b(p,q) = b(q,p)\).
  2. Show that \(b(p+1,q) = b(p,q) - b(p,q+1)\) and hence that \(b(p+1,p) = \frac{1}{2}b(p,p)\).
  3. Show that $$b(p,q) = 2\int_0^{\pi/2} (\sin\theta)^{2p-1}(\cos\theta)^{2q-1} \, d\theta$$ Hence show that \(b(p,p) = \frac{1}{2^{2p-1}}b(p,\frac{1}{2})\).
  4. Show that $$b(p,q) = \int_0^\infty \frac{t^{p-1}}{(1+t)^{p+q}} \, dt$$
  5. Evaluate $$\int_0^\infty \frac{t^{3/2}}{(1+t)^6} \, dt$$


Solution:

  1. \begin{align*} && b(p,q) &= \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q-1}\, \d x \\ u = 1-x, \d u = -\d x && &= \int_{u=1}^{u = 0} (1-u)^{p-1}u^{q-1} (-1) \, \d u \\ &&&= \int_0^1 (1-u)^{p-1}u^{q-1} \d u \\ &&&= \int_0^1 u^{q-1}(1-u)^{p-1} \d u \\ &&&= b(q,p) \end{align*}
  2. \begin{align*} b(p+1,q) + b(p,q+1) &= \int_0^1 x^p(1-x)^{q-1} \d x + \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q} \d x \\ &= \int_0^1 \left (x^p(1-x)^{q-1} + x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q}\right) \d x \\ &= \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q-1} \left (x + (1-x) \right) \d x \\ &= \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q-1} \d x \\ &= b(p,q) \end{align*} Therefore \(b(p+1,q) = b(p,q) - b(p,q+1)\), in particular \(2b(p+1,p) = b(p+1,p)+b(p,p+1) = b(p,p) \Rightarrow b(p+1,p) = \frac12 b(p,p)\) as required.
  3. \begin{align*} && b(p,q) &= \int_0^1 x^{p-1} (1-x)^{q-1} \d x \\ x = \sin^2 \theta, \d x = 2 \sin \theta \cos \theta \d \theta && &= \int_{u=0}^{u = \pi/2} \sin^{2p-2} \theta (1-\sin^2 \theta)^{q-1} \cdot 2 \sin \theta \cos \theta \d \theta \\ &&&= 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^{2p-1} \theta \cos^{2q-2} \cos \theta \d \theta \\ &&&= 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^{2p-1} \theta \cos^{2q-1} \theta \d \theta \end{align*} \begin{align*} b(p,p) &= 2\int_0^{\pi/2} (\sin \theta)^{2p-1}(\cos \theta)^{2p-1} \d \theta \\ &= 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} \left (\frac12 \sin 2\theta \right)^{2p-1} \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^{2p-1}} 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} (\sin 2 \theta)^{2p-1} \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^{2p-1}} 2 \int_{x=0}^{x=\pi} (\sin x)^{2p-1} 2 \d x\\ &= \frac1{2^{2p-1}} 2 \int_{x=0}^{x=\pi/2} (\sin x)^{2p-1} \d x\\ &= \frac1{2^{2p-1}} 2 \int_{0}^{\pi/2} (\sin x)^{2p-1} (\cos x)^{0} \d x\\ &= \frac1{2^{2p-1}} b(p,\tfrac12) \end{align*}
  4. \begin{align*} &&b(p,q) &= \int_0^1 x^{p-1}(1-x)^{q-1} \d x \\ t = \frac{x}{1-x}, \d t = (1-x)^{-2} \d x &&&= \int_{t=0}^{t = \infty} \left ( \frac{t}{1+t} \right)^{p-1} \left ( 1-\frac{t}{1+t} \right)^{q+1} \d t\\ x = \frac{t}{1+t} && &=\int_0^\infty t^{p-1} (1+t)^{-(p-1)-(q+1)} \d t \\ &&&= \int_0^{\infty} \frac{t^{p-1}}{(1+t)^{p+q}} \d t \end{align*}
  5. \begin{align*} I &= \int_0^\infty \frac{t^{3/2}}{(1+t)^6} \, dt \\ &= b( \tfrac52, \tfrac72) \\ &= b( \tfrac52, \tfrac52+1) \\ &= \tfrac12 b( \tfrac52, \tfrac52) \\ &= \frac12 \cdot \frac1{2^{4}} b(\tfrac52, \tfrac12) \\ &= \frac{1}{2^5} \cdot 2 \int_0^{\pi/2} (\sin \theta)^{4} \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^4} \int_0^{\pi/2}\left (\frac{1-\cos 2 \theta}{2} \right)^2 \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^6} \int_0^{\pi/2}\left (1 - 2 \cos 2 \theta + \cos^{2} 2 \theta \right) \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^6} \int_0^{\pi/2}\left (1 - 2 \cos 2 \theta + \frac{\cos 4 \theta + 1}{2} \right) \d \theta \\ &= \frac1{2^6} \left [\frac32 \theta - \sin 2 \theta + \frac18 \sin 4 \theta \right]_0^{\pi/2} \\ &= \frac1{2^6} \frac{3 \pi}{4} \\ &= \frac{3 \pi}{2^8} \end{align*}

1999 Paper 3 Q6
D: 1700.0 B: 1516.0

A closed curve is given by the equation $$ x^{2/n} + y^{2/n} = a^{2/n} \eqno(*) $$ where \(n\) is an odd integer and \(a\) is a positive constant. Find a parametrization \(x=x(t)\), \(y=y(t)\) which describes the curve anticlockwise as \(t\) ranges from \(0\) to \(2\pi\). Sketch the curve in the case \(n=3\), justifying the main features of your sketch. The area \(A\) enclosed by such a curve is given by the formula $$ A= {1\over 2} \int_0^{2\pi} \left[ x(t) {\d y(t)\over \d t} - y(t) {\d x(t)\over \d t} \right] \,\d t \,. $$ Use this result to find the area enclosed by (\(*\)) for \(n=3\).

1995 Paper 2 Q4
D: 1600.0 B: 1504.3

Let \[ u_{n}=\int_{0}^{\frac{1}{2}\pi}\sin^{n}t\,\mathrm{d}t \] for each integer \(n\geqslant0\). By integrating \[ \int_{0}^{\frac{1}{2}\pi}\sin t\sin^{n-1}t\,\mathrm{d}t \] by parts, or otherwise, obtain a formula connecting \(u_{n}\) and \(u_{n-2}\) when \(n\geqslant2\) and deduce that \[ nu_{n}u_{n-1}=\left(n-1\right)u_{n-1}u_{n-2} \] for all \(n\geqslant2\). Deduce that \[ nu_{n}u_{n-1}=\tfrac{1}{2}\pi. \] Sketch graphs of \(\sin^{n}t\) and \(\sin^{n-1}t\), for \(0\leqslant t\leqslant\frac{1}{2}\pi,\) on the same diagram and explain why \(0 < u_{n} < u_{n-1}.\) By using the result of the previous paragraph show that \[ nu_{n}^{2} < \tfrac{1}{2}\pi < nu_{n-1}^{2} \] for all \(n\geqslant1\). Hence show that \[ \left(\frac{n}{n+1}\right)\tfrac{1}{2}\pi < nu_{n}^{2} < \tfrac{1}{2}\pi \] and deduce that \(nu_{n}^{2}\rightarrow\tfrac{1}{2}\pi\) as \(n\rightarrow\infty\).


Solution: \begin{align*} && u_n &= \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \sin^{n} t \, \d t \\ && &= \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \sin t \sin^{n-1} t \, \d t \\ && &= \left [ -\cos t \sin^{n-1} t \right]_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} + \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \cos t (n-1) \sin^{n-2} t \cos t \d t \\ && &= 0 + (n-1)\int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \cos^2 t \sin^{n-2} t \d t \\ && &= (n-1) \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi}(1-\sin^2 t) \sin^{n-2} t \d t \\ && &= (n-1)u_{n-2} - (n-1)u_n \\ \Rightarrow && n u_n &= (n-1)u_{n-2} \\ \end{align*} Mutplying both sides by \(u_{n-1}\) we obtain \(nu_{n}u_{n-1}=\left(n-1\right)u_{n-1}u_{n-2}\). Therefore \(nu_nu_{n-1}\) is constant, ie is equal to \(\displaystyle u_1u_0 = \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \sin^{1} t \, \d t \int_0^{\tfrac12 \pi} \sin^{0} t \, \d t = 1 \cdot \frac{\pi}{2} = \frac{\pi}{2}\)

TikZ diagram
Since \(0 < \sin t < 1\) for \(t \in (0, \tfrac{\pi}{2})\) we must have \(0 < \sin^n t < \sin^{n-1} t\), in particular \(0 < u_n < u_{n-1}\) Therefore \begin{align*} && nu_{n}u_{n-1} &= \tfrac{1}{2}\pi \\ \Rightarrow && nu_n u_n &< \tfrac{1}{2}\pi \tag{\(u_n < u_{n-1}\)} \\ \Rightarrow && nu_{n-1} u_{n-1} &> \tfrac{1}{2}\pi \tag{\(u_n < u_{n-1}\)} \\ \Rightarrow && nu_n^2 &< \tfrac12 \pi < n u_{n-1}^2 \end{align*} However we also have \(\tfrac12 \pi < (n+1)u_n^2\) (by considering the next inequality), so \(\left ( \frac{n}{n+1}\right) \tfrac12 \pi < n u_n^2 < \tfrac12 \pi\) but since as \(n \to \infty\) the right hand bound is constant and the left hand bound tends to \(\tfrac12 \pi\) therefore \(n u_n^2 \to \tfrac12 \pi\)

1995 Paper 3 Q2
D: 1700.0 B: 1586.3

If \[ \mathrm{I}_{n}=\int_{0}^{a}x^{n+\frac{1}{2}}(a-x)^{\frac{1}{2}}\,\mathrm{d}x, \] show that \(\mathrm{I}_{0}=\pi a^{2}/8.\) Show that \((2n+4)\mathrm{I}_{n}=(2n+1)a\mathrm{I}_{n-1}\) and hence evaluate \(\mathrm{I}_{n}\).


Solution: \begin{align*} && I_n &= \int_{0}^{a}x^{n+\frac{1}{2}}(a-x)^{\frac{1}{2}}\,\mathrm{d}x\\ && I_0 &= \int_0^a x^{\frac12}(a-x)^{\frac12} \d x \\ x = a \sin^2 \theta, \d x = 2a \sin \theta \cos \theta \d \theta &&&= \int_{\theta =0}^{\theta = \pi/2} \sqrt{a}\sin \theta\sqrt{a} \cos \theta 2a \sin \theta \cos \theta \d \theta \\ &&&= \frac{a^2}{2} \int_0^{\pi/2} \sin^2 2 \theta \d \theta \\ &&&= \frac{a^2}{4} \int_0^{\pi/2}(1- \underbrace{\cos 4\theta}_{\text{runs round the whole unit circle}}) \d \theta \\ &&&= \frac{\pi a^2}{8} \\ \\ && I_n &= \int_0^a x^{n+\frac12}(a-x)^{\frac12} \d x \\ &&&=\underbrace{\left [-\frac23x^{n+\frac12}(a-x)^\frac32 \right]_0^a}_{=0} + \frac23 \left(n+\frac12\right) \int_0^ax^{n-1+\frac12}(a-x)^\frac32 \d x \\ &&&= \frac23 \left(n+\frac12\right) \int_0^ax^{n-1+\frac12}(a-x)(a-x)^\frac12 \d x \\ &&&= \frac23 \left(n+\frac12\right)aI_{n-1}-\frac23 \left(n+\frac12\right)I_{n} \\ \Rightarrow && \left(n+\frac12+\frac32\right)I_{n} &= \left(n+\frac12\right)aI_{n-1}\\ \Rightarrow && (2n+4)I_n &= (2n+1)aI_{n-1} \\ \\ \Rightarrow && I_n &= \frac{2n+1}{2n+4}a I_{n-1} \\ &&&=\frac{2n+1}{2n+4}\frac{2n-1}{2n+2}a^2 I_{n-2} \\ &&&= \frac{(2n+1)!!}{(2n+4)!!} \pi a^{n+2} \end{align*}