An ellipse has equation $\dfrac{x^2}{a^2} +\dfrac {y^2}{b^2} = 1$. Show that the equation of the tangent at the point \((a\cos\alpha, b\sin\alpha)\) is \[ y=- \frac {b \cot \alpha} a \, x + b\, {\rm cosec\,}\alpha\,. \] The point \(A\) has coordinates \((-a,-b)\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are positive. The point \(E\) has coordinates \((-a,0)\) and the point \(P\) has coordinates \((a,kb)\), where \(0 < k < 1\). The line through \(E\) parallel to \(AP\) meets the line \(y=b\) at the point \(Q\). Show that the line \(PQ\) is tangent to the above ellipse at the point given by \(\tan(\alpha/2)=k\). Determine by means of sketches, or otherwise, whether this result holds also for \(k=0\) and \(k=1\).
Show that the line through the points with position vectors \(\bf x\) and \(\bf y\) has equation \[{\bf r} = (1-\alpha){\bf x} +\alpha {\bf y}\,, \] where \(\alpha\) is a scalar parameter. The sides \(OA\) and \(CB\) of a trapezium \(OABC\) are parallel, and \(OA>CB\). The point \(E\) on \(OA\) is such that \(OE : EA = 1:2\), and \(F\) is the midpoint of \(CB\). The point \(D\) is the intersection of \(OC\) produced and \(AB\) produced; the point \(G\) is the intersection of \(OB\) and \(EF\); and the point \(H\) is the intersection of \(DG\) produced and \(OA\). Let \(\bf a\) and \(\bf c\) be the position vectors of the points \(A\) and \(C\), respectively, with respect to the origin \(O\).
A painter of weight \(kW\) uses a ladder to reach the guttering on the outside wall of a house. The wall is vertical and the ground is horizontal. The ladder is modelled as a uniform rod of weight \(W\) and length \(6a\). The ladder is not long enough, so the painter stands the ladder on a uniform table. The table has weight \(2W\) and a square top of side \(\frac12 a\) with a leg of length \(a\) at each corner. The foot of the ladder is at the centre of the table top and the ladder is inclined at an angle \(\arctan 2\) to the horizontal. The edge of the table nearest the wall is parallel to the wall. The coefficient of friction between the foot of the ladder and the table top is \(\frac12\). The contact between the ladder and the wall is sufficiently smooth for the effects of friction to be ignored.
Three particles, \(A\), \(B\) and \(C\), of masses \(m\), \(km\) and \(3m\) respectively, are initially at rest lying in a straight line on a smooth horizontal surface. Then \(A\) is projected towards \(B\) at speed \(u\). After the collision, \(B\) collides with \(C\). The coefficient of restitution between \(A\) and \(B\) is \(\frac12\) and the coefficient of restitution between \(B\) and \(C\) is \(\frac14\).
Solution:
A projectile of unit mass is fired in a northerly direction from a point on a horizontal plain at speed \(u\) and an angle \(\theta\) above the horizontal. It lands at a point \(A\) on the plain. In flight, the projectile experiences two forces: gravity, of magnitude \(g\); and a horizontal force of constant magnitude \(f\) due to a wind blowing from North to South. Derive an expression, in terms of \(u\), \(g\), \(f\) and \(\theta\) for the distance \(OA\).
A cricket team has only three bowlers, Arthur, Betty and Cuba, each of whom bowls 30 balls in any match. Past performance reveals that, on average, Arthur takes one wicket for every 36 balls bowled, Betty takes one wicket for every 25 balls bowled, and Cuba takes one wicket for every 41 balls bowled.
Solution:
I know that ice-creams come in \(n\) different sizes, but I don't know what the sizes are. I am offered one of each in succession, in random order. I am certainly going to choose one - the bigger the better - but I am not allowed more than one. My strategy is to reject the first ice-cream I am offered and choose the first one thereafter that is bigger than the first one I was offered; if the first ice-cream offered is in fact the biggest one, then I have to put up with the last one, however small. Let \(\P_n(k)\) be the probability that I choose the \(k\)th biggest ice-cream, where \(k=1\) is the biggest and \(k=n\) is the smallest.
Sketch the graph of \[ y= \dfrac1 { x \ln x} \text{ for \(x>0\), \(x\ne1\)}.\] You may assume that \(x\ln x \to 0\) as \(x\to 0\). The continuous random variable \(X\) has probability density function \[ \f(x) = \begin{cases} \dfrac \lambda {x\ln x}& \text{for \(a\le x \le b\)}\;, \\[3mm] \ \ \ 0 & \text{otherwise }, \end{cases} \] where \(a\), \(b\) and \(\lambda\) are suitably chosen constants.
Solution:
Sketch the curve with cartesian equation \[ y = \frac{2x(x^2-5)}{x^2-4} \] and give the equations of the asymptotes and of the tangent to the curve at the origin. Hence determine the number of real roots of the following equations:
Solution: \begin{align*} && y &= \frac{2x(x^2-5)}{x^2-4} \\ &&&= 2x(x^2-5)(-\tfrac14)(1-\tfrac14x^2)^{-1} \\ &&&= \tfrac52x + \cdots \\ &&&= \frac{2x(x^2-4)-2x}{x^2-4} \\ &&&= 2x - \frac{2x}{x^2-4} \end{align*}
Let \[ I = \int_{-\frac12 \pi}^{\frac12\pi} \frac {\cos^2\theta}{1-\sin\theta\sin2\alpha} \, \d\theta \text{ and } J = \int_{-\frac12 \pi}^{\frac12\pi} \frac {\sec^2\theta}{1+\tan^2\theta\cos^22\alpha} \, \d\theta \] where \(0 < \alpha < \frac14\pi\,\).
Solution: