Solution:
Two particles, \(A\) and \(B\), are projected simultaneously towards each other from two points which are a distance \(d\) apart in a horizontal plane. Particle \(A\) has mass \(m\) and is projected at speed \(u\) at angle \(\alpha\) above the horizontal. Particle \(B\) has mass \(M\) and is projected at speed \(v\) at angle \(\beta\) above the horizontal. The trajectories of the two particles lie in the same vertical plane. The particles collide directly when each is at its point of greatest height above the plane. Given that both \(A\) and \(B\) return to their starting points, and that momentum is conserved in the collision, show that \[ m\cot \alpha = M \cot \beta\,. \] Show further that the collision occurs at a point which is a horizontal distance \(b\) from the point of projection of \(A\) where \[ b= \frac{Md}{m+M}\, , \] and find, in terms of \(b\) and \(\alpha\), the height above the horizontal plane at which the collision occurs.
Solution: Since \(A\) and \(B\) return to their starting points, and at their highest points there is no vertical component to their velocities, their horizontal must perfectly reverse, ie \begin{align*} && m u \cos \alpha - M v \cos \beta &= -m u \cos \alpha + M v \cos \beta \\ \Rightarrow && mu \cos \alpha &= Mv \cos \beta \end{align*} Since they reach their highest points at the same time, they must have the same initial vertical speed, ie \(u \sin \alpha = v \sin \beta\), so \begin{align*} && m v \frac{\sin \beta}{\sin \alpha} \cos \alpha &= M v \cos \beta \\ \Rightarrow && m \cot \alpha &= M \cot \beta \end{align*} The horizontal distance travelled by \(A\) & \(B\) will be: \begin{align*} && d_A &= u \cos \alpha t \\ && d_B &= v \cos \beta t \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{d_A}{d_A+d_B} &= \frac{u \cos \alpha}{u \cos \alpha + v \cos \beta} \\ &&&= \frac{\frac{M}{m}v \cos \beta}{\frac{M}{m}v \cos \beta + v \cos \beta} \\ &&&= \frac{M}{M+m} \\ \Rightarrow && d_A = b &= \frac{Md}{m+M} \end{align*} Applying \(v^2 = u^2 + 2as\) we see that \begin{align*} && 0 &= u \sin \alpha - gt \\ \Rightarrow && t &= \frac{u \sin \alpha}{g} \\ && b &=u \cos \alpha \frac{u \sin \alpha}{g} \\ \Rightarrow && u^2 &= \frac{2bg}{\sin 2 \alpha} \\ && 0 &= u^2 \sin^2 \alpha - 2g h \\ \Rightarrow && h &= \frac{u^2 \sin^2 \alpha}{2g} \\ &&&= \frac{2bg}{\sin 2 \alpha} \frac{ \sin^2 \alpha}{2g} \\ &&&= \frac12 b \tan \alpha \end{align*}
Two parallel vertical barriers are fixed a distance \(d\) apart on horizontal ice. A small ice hockey puck moves on the ice backwards and forwards between the barriers, in the direction perpendicular to the barriers, colliding with each in turn. The coefficient of friction between the puck and the ice is \(\mu\) and the coefficient of restitution between the puck and each of the barriers is \(r\). The puck starts at one of the barriers, moving with speed \(v\) towards the other barrier. Show that \[ v_{i+1}^2 - r^2 v_i^2 = - 2 r^2 \mu gd\, \] where \(v_i\) is the speed of the puck just after its \(i\)th collision. The puck comes to rest against one of the barriers after traversing the gap between them \(n\) times. In the case \(r\ne1\), express \(n\) in terms of \(r\) and \(k\), where \(k= \dfrac{v^2}{2\mu g d}\,\). If \(r=\e^{-1}\) (where \(\e\) is the base of natural logarithms) show that \[ n = \tfrac12 \ln\big(1+k(\e^2-1)\big)\,. \] Give an expression for \(n\) in the case \(r=1\).
Solution: \begin{align*} \text{W.E.P.}: && \text{change in energy} &= \text{work done on particle} \\ \Rightarrow && \underbrace{\frac12mv^2}_{\text{speed before hitting barrier}} - \underbrace{\frac12mu^2}_{\text{speed leaving first barrier}} &= \underbrace{\left( -\mu mg \right)}_{F} \cdot \underbrace{d}_{d} \\ \Rightarrow && v^2 &= v_i^2-2\mu gd \end{align*} Newton's experimental law tells us that the speed leaving the barrier will be \(r\) times the speed approaching, ie \begin{align*} && v_{i+1} &= rv \\ \Rightarrow && v_{i+1}^2 &= r^2 v^2 \\ &&&= r^2v_i^2 - 2r^2\mu gd \\ \Rightarrow && v_{i+1}^2 - r^2v_i^2 &= - 2r^2\mu gd \end{align*} It must be the case that after \(n+1\) collisions the speed is zero, ie \(v_{n+1}^2 = 0\). Not that we can consider \(w_i = \frac{v_i^2}{2\mu gd}\) and we have the recurrence: \begin{align*} && w_{i+1} &=r^2w_i -r^2 \\ \end{align*} Looking at this we have a linear recurrence with a constant term, so let's try \(w_i = C\), then \begin{align*} && C &= r^2 C - r^2 \\ \Rightarrow && C &= \frac{-r^2}{1-r^2} \\ \end{align*} So \(w_i = Ar^{2i} - \frac{r^2}{1-r^2}\). \(w_0 = k \Rightarrow A = k+\frac{r^2}{1-r^2}\) Therefore \(w_n = \left (k+\frac{r^2}{1-r^2} \right)r^{2n} - \frac{r^2}{1-r^2}\) Suppose \(w_n = 0\) then, \begin{align*} && 0 &= \left (k+\frac{r^2}{1-r^2} \right)r^{2n} - \frac{r^2}{1-r^2} \\ \Rightarrow && r^{2n} &= \frac{r^2}{1-r^2} \frac{1}{k+\frac{r^2}{1-r^2}} \\ &&&= \frac{r^2}{k(1-r^2)+r^2} \\ \Rightarrow && 2n \ln r &= 2\ln r - \ln[k(1-r^2)+r^2] \\ \Rightarrow && n &= 1 - \frac1{2\ln r} \ln[k(1-r^2)+r^2)] \end{align*} If \(r = e^{-1}\) then \(\ln r = -1\) \begin{align*} && n &= 1 + \frac12 \ln [k(1-e^{-2}) + e^{-2}] \\ &&&= 1 + \frac12 \ln [e^{-2}(k(e^2-1)+1)] \\ &&&= 1 + \frac12 \ln e^{-2} + \frac12 \ln [1+k(e^2-1)] \\ &&&= \frac12 \ln [1+k(e^2-1)] \end{align*} If \(r = 1\) the recurrence becomes: \(w_{i+1} = w_i - 1\), so \(w_i = k-n\), so we have \(k\) collisions.
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Solution:
Each day, I have to take \(k\) different types of medicine, one tablet of each. The tablets are identical in appearance. When I go on holiday for \(n\) days, I put \(n\) tablets of each type in a container and on each day of the holiday I select \(k\) tablets at random from the container.
Solution:
From the integers \(1, 2, \ldots , 52\), I choose seven (distinct) integers at random, all choices being equally likely. From these seven, I discard any pair that sum to 53. Let \(X\) be the random variable the value of which is the number of discarded pairs. Find the probability distribution of \(X\) and show that \(\E (X) = \frac 7 {17}\). Note: \(7\times 17 \times 47 =5593\).
Solution: There are \(\binom{26}3\binom{23}{1}2\) ways to obtain \(3\) pairs There are \(\binom{26}2 \binom{24}3 \cdot 2^3\) ways to obtain \(2\) pairs There are \(\binom{26}1 \binom{25}5 \cdot 2^5\) ways to obtain \(1\) pairs There are \(\binom{26}7 \cdot 2^7\) ways to obtain \(0\) pairs There are \(\binom{52}{7}\) ways to choose our integers, so \begin{align*} && \mathbb{P}(X = 3) &= \frac{\binom{26}{3} \cdot \binom{23}{1} \cdot 2}{\binom{52}{7}} \\ &&&= \frac{7! \cdot 26 \cdot 25 \cdot 24 \cdot 23 \cdot 2}{3! \cdot 52 \cdot 51 \cdot 50 \cdot 49 \cdot 48 \cdot 47 \cdot 46} \\ &&&= \frac{7 \cdot 6 \cdot 5 \cdot 4 }{51 \cdot 2\cdot 49 \cdot 2\cdot 47 \cdot 2} \\ &&&= \frac{ 5 }{17\cdot 7\cdot 47} = \frac{5}{5593} \\ \\ && \mathbb{P}(X = 2) &= \frac{\binom{26}2 \binom{24}3 \cdot 2^3}{\binom{52}{7}} \\ &&&= \frac{220}{5593} \\ \\ && \mathbb{P}(X = 1) &= \frac{\binom{26}1 \binom{25}5 \cdot 2^5}{\binom{52}{7}} \\ &&&= \frac{1848}{5593} \\ \\ && \mathbb{P}(X = 0) &= \frac{\binom{26}7 \cdot 2^7}{\binom{52}{7}} \\ &&&= \frac{3520}{5593} \\ \\ && \mathbb{E}(X) &= \frac{1848}{5593} + 2 \cdot \frac{220}{5593} + 3 \cdot \frac{5}{5593} \\ &&&= \frac{2303}{5593} = \frac{7}{17} \end{align*} Notice we can find the expected value directly: Let \(X_i\) be the random variable the \(i\)th number is discarded. Notice that \(\mathbb{E}(X) = \mathbb{E}\left (\frac12 \left (X_1 +X_2 +X_3 +X_4 +X_5 +X_6 +X_7\right) \right)\) and also notice that each \(X_i\) has the same distribution (although not independent!). Then \begin{align*} &&\mathbb{E}(X) &= \frac72 \mathbb{E}(X_i) \\ &&&= \frac72 \cdot \left (1 - \frac{50}{51} \cdot \frac{49}{50} \cdots \frac{45}{46} \right) = \frac74 \left ( 1 - \frac{45}{51}\right) \\ &&&= \frac72 \cdot \frac{6}{51} \\ &&&= \frac7{17} \end{align*}
Solution: \begin{questionparts} \item The tangent to \(y = \ln x\) is \begin{align*} && \frac{y - \ln x_1}{x - x_1} &= \frac{1}{x_1} \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{x_1y -x_1 \ln x_1}{ x- x_1} &= 1 \\ \Rightarrow && x_1 y - x_1 \ln x_1 &= x - x_1 \end{align*} So to run through the origin, we need \(\ln x_1 = 1 \Rightarrow x_1 = e\) so the line will be \(y = \frac1{e} x\) If \(ma = \ln a \Rightarrow m = \frac{\ln a}{a} = \frac{\ln b}{b} \Rightarrow b \ln a = a \ln b \Rightarrow a^b = b^a\). \item
For \(n\ge 0\), let \[ I_n = \int_0^1 x^n(1-x)^n\d x\,. \]
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 \(M = \left ( \frac{ab^2}{1+b^2}, \frac{ab^3}{1+b^2}-ba \right)=\left ( \frac{ab^2}{1+b^2}, \frac{-ba}{1+b^2} \right)\)