46 problems found
Let \(f(x)\) be defined and positive for \(x > 0\). Let \(a\) and \(b\) be real numbers with \(0 < a < b\) and define the points \(A = (a, f(a))\) and \(B = (b, -f(b))\). Let \(X = (m,0)\) be the point of intersection of line \(AB\) with the \(x\)-axis.
Solution:
The unit circle is the circle with radius 1 and centre the origin, \(O\). \(N\) and \(P\) are distinct points on the unit circle. \(N\) has coordinates \((-1, 0)\), and \(P\) has coordinates \((\cos\theta, \sin\theta)\), where \(-\pi < \theta < \pi\). The line \(NP\) intersects the \(y\)-axis at \(Q\), which has coordinates \((0, q)\).
Solution:
A plane circular road is bounded by two concentric circles with centres at point~\(O\). The inner circle has radius \(R\) and the outer circle has radius \(R + w\). The points \(A\) and \(B\) lie on the outer circle, as shown in the diagram, with \(\angle AOB = 2\alpha\), \(\tfrac{1}{3}\pi \leqslant \alpha \leqslant \tfrac{1}{2}\pi\) and \(0 < w < R\).
A straight line passes through the fixed point \((1 , k)\) and has gradient \(- \tan \theta\), where \(k > 0\) and \(0 < \theta < \frac{1}{2}\pi\). Find, in terms of \(\theta\) and \(k\), the coordinates of the points \(X\) and \(Y\) where the line meets the \(x\)-axis and the \(y\)-axis respectively.
Solution: \(y = (-\tan \theta)(x-1)+k\) so when \(x = 0\), \(y = k + \tan \theta\), so \(Y = (0, k+\tan \theta)\). When \(y = 0\), \(x = 1 + \frac{k}{\tan \theta}\)
The points \(R\) and \(S\) have coordinates \((-a,\, 0)\) and \((2a,\, 0)\), respectively, where \(a > 0\,\). The point \(P\) has coordinates \((x,\, y)\) where \(y > 0\) and \(x < 2a\). Let \(\angle PRS = \alpha \) and \(\angle PSR = \beta\,\).
Solution:
The points \(P(ap^2, 2ap)\) and \(Q(aq^2, 2aq)\), where \(p>0\) and \(q<0\), lie on the curve \(C\) with equation $$y^2= 4ax\,,$$ where \(a>0\,\). Show that the equation of the tangent to \(C\) at \(P\) is $$y= \frac 1 p \, x +ap\,.$$ The tangents to the curve at \(P\) and at \(Q \) meet at \(R\). These tangents meet the \(y\)-axis at \(S\) and \(T\) respectively, and \(O\) is the origin. Prove that the area of triangle \(OPQ\) is twice the area of triangle \(RST\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && 2yy' &= 4a \\ \Rightarrow && y' &= \frac{2a}{y} = \frac{2a}{2ap} = \frac1p \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{y-2ap}{x-ap^2} &= \frac1p \\ \Rightarrow && y &= \frac1p x +ap \end{align*} The other tangent will be \(y = \frac1qx+aq\) \begin{align*} &&& \begin{cases} py-x &= ap^2 \\ qy - x &= aq^2 \end{cases} \\ \Rightarrow && y(p-q) &= a(p^2-q^2) \\ \Rightarrow && y &= a(p+q) \\ && x &= apq \end{align*} Therefore \(R(apq, a(p+q)), S(0, ap), T(0, aq)\).
Solution:
A circle \(C\) is said to be bisected by a curve \(X\) if \(X\) meets \(C\) in exactly two points and these points are diametrically opposite each other on \(C\).
Solution:
The point \(P\) has coordinates \((x,y)\) which satisfy \[ x^2+y^2 + kxy +3x +y =0\,. \]
Solution:
The line passing through the point \((a,0)\) with gradient \(b\) intersects the circle of unit radius centred at the origin at \(P\) and \(Q\), and \(M\) is the midpoint of the chord \(PQ\). Find the coordinates of \(M\) in terms of \(a\) and \(b\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && y &= bx-ba \\ && 1 &= x^2 + y^2 \\ \Rightarrow && 1 &= x^2 + b^2(x-a)^2 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= (1+b^2)x^2-2ab^2x+b^2a^2-1 \end{align*} This will have roots which sum to \(\frac{2ab^2}{1+b^2}\), therefore \(M = \left ( \frac{ab^2}{1+b^2}, \frac{ab^3}{1+b^2}-ba \right)=\left ( \frac{ab^2}{1+b^2}, \frac{-ba}{1+b^2} \right)\)
A movable point \(P\) has cartesian coordinates \((x,y)\), where \(x\) and \(y\) are functions of \(t\). The polar coordinates of \(P\) with respect to the origin \(O\) are \(r\) and \(\theta\). Starting with the expression \[ \tfrac12 \int r^2 \, \d \theta \] for the area swept out by \(OP\), obtain the equivalent expression \[ \tfrac12 \int \left( x\frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}\right)\d t \,. \tag{\(*\)} \] The ends of a thin straight rod \(AB\) lie on a closed convex curve \(\cal C\). The point \(P\) on the rod is a fixed distance \(a\) from \(A\) and a fixed distance \(b\) from \(B\). The angle between \(AB\) and the positive \(x\) direction is \(t\). As \(A\) and \(B\) move anticlockwise round \(\cal C\), the angle \(t\) increases from \(0\) to \(2\pi\) and \(P\) traces a closed convex curve \(\cal D\) inside \(\cal C\), with the origin \(O\) lying inside \(\cal D\), as shown in the diagram.
Solution: \begin{align*} && \tan \theta &= y/x \\ \Rightarrow && \sec^2 \theta \frac{\d \theta}{\d t} &= \frac{x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}}{x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d \theta}{\d t} &=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{\cos^2 \theta}{x^2} \\ &&&=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{\cos^2 \theta}{r^2 \cos^2 \theta } \\ &&&=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{1}{r^2 } \\ && \tfrac12 \int r^2 \, \d \theta &= \tfrac12 \int \left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \d t \end{align*} \(A = (x - a \cos t, y - a \sin t), B = (x + b \cos t , y + b \sin t)\) \begin{align*} && [A] &= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x-a \cos t) \frac{\d (y-a \sin t)}{\d t} - (y-a \sin t) \frac{\d (x-a \cos t)}{\d t} \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x - a \cos t) \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d t} - a \cos t \right) - (y - a \sin t) \left ( \frac{\d x}{\d t} + a \sin t \right)\right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ( x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} - a \cos t \frac{\d y}{\d t}-ax \cos t +a^2 \cos^2 t + a \sin t \frac{\d x}{\d t}-y a \sin t + a^2 \sin^2 t \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ( \underbrace{x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}}_{[P]}-a\left ((x + \frac{\d y}{\d x}) \cos t + (y - \frac{\d x}{\d t}) \sin t \right) + \underbrace{a^2}_{\pi a^2} \right) \d t \\ &&&= [P] + \pi a^2 - af \end{align*} \begin{align*} && [B] &= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x+b \cos t) \frac{\d (y+b \sin t)}{\d t} - (y+b \sin t) \frac{\d (x+b \cos t)}{\d t} \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x+b \cos t) (\frac{\d y}{\d t} + b \cos t) - (y+b \sin t)(\frac{\d x}{\d t} - b \sin t) \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} + b^2 + b(\cos t (x + \frac{\d y}{\d t}) +(y - \frac{\d x}{\d t})\sin t\right) \d t \\ &&&= [P] + \pi b^2 + b f \end{align*} Since \(A\) and \(B\) trace out the same area, we must have \(\pi a^2 - af = \pi b^2 + bf \Rightarrow \pi (a^2-b^2) = f(b+a) \Rightarrow f = \pi (a-b)\). In particular the area inbetween is \([A] - [P] = \pi a^2 - a \pi (a-b)\)