The points \(A\) and \(B\) have position vectors \(\bf a\) and \(\bf b\), respectively, relative to the origin \(O\). The points \(A\), \(B\) and \(O\) are not collinear. The point \(P\) lies on \(AB\) between \(A\) and \(B\) such that \[ AP : PB = (1-\lambda):\lambda\,. \] Write down the position vector of \(P\) in terms of \(\bf a\), \(\bf b\) and \(\lambda\). Given that \(OP\) bisects \(\angle AOB\), determine \(\lambda\) in terms of \(a\) and \(b\), where \(a=\vert \bf a\vert\) and $b=\vert \bb\vert$. The point \(Q\) also lies on \(AB\) between \(A\) and \(B\), and is such that \(AP=BQ\). Prove that $$OQ^2-OP^2=(b-a)^2\,.$$
In this question, use \(g=10\,\)m\,s\(^{-2}\). In cricket, a fast bowler projects a ball at \(40\,\)m\,s\(^{-1}\) from a point \(h\,\)m above the ground, which is horizontal, and at an angle \(\alpha\) above the horizontal. The trajectory is such that the ball will strike the stumps at ground level a horizontal distance of \(20\,\)m from the point of projection.
The lengths of the sides of a rectangular billiards table \(ABCD\) are given by \(AB = DC = a\) and \(AD=BC = 2b\). There are small pockets at the midpoints \(M\) and \(N\) of the sides \(AD\) and \(BC\), respectively. The sides of the table may be taken as smooth vertical walls. A small ball is projected along the table from the corner \(A\). It strikes the side \(BC\) at \(X\), then the side \(DC\) at \(Y\) and then goes directly into the pocket at \(M\). The angles \(BAX\), \(CXY\) and \(DY\!M\) are \(\alpha\), \(\beta\) and \(\gamma\) respectively. On each stage of its path, the ball moves with constant speed in a straight line, the speeds being \(u\), \(v\) and \(w\) respectively. The coefficient of restitution between the ball and the sides is \(e\), where \(e>0\).
Solution:
A wedge of mass \(km\) has the shape (in cross-section) of a right-angled triangle. It stands on a smooth horizontal surface with one face vertical. The inclined face makes an angle \(\theta\) with the horizontal surface. A particle \(P\), of mass \(m\), is placed on the inclined face and released from rest. The horizontal face of the wedge is smooth, but the inclined face is rough and the coefficient of friction between \(P\) and this face is \(\mu\).
In the High Court of Farnia, the outcome of each case is determined by three judges: the ass, the beaver and the centaur. Each judge decides its verdict independently. Being simple creatures, they make their decisions entirely at random. Past verdicts show that the ass gives a guilty verdict with probability \(p\), the beaver gives a guilty verdict with probability \(p/3\) and the centaur gives a guilty verdict with probability \(p^2\). Let \(X\) be the number of guilty verdicts given by the three judges in a case. Given that \(\E(X)= 4/3\), find the value of \(p\). The probability that a defendant brought to trial is guilty is \(t\). The King pronounces that the defendant is guilty if at least two of the judges give a guilty verdict; otherwise, he pronounces the defendant not guilty. Find the value of \(t\) such that the probability that the King pronounces correctly is \(1/2\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && \mathbb{E}(X) &= p + \frac{p}{3} + p^2 = \frac43p+p^2 \\ \Rightarrow && \frac43 &= \frac43p+p^2 \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= 3p^2+4p-4 \\ &&&= (3p-2)(p+2) \\ \Rightarrow && p &= \frac23, -2 \end{align*} Since \(p \in [0,1]\) we must have \(p = \frac23\). \begin{align*} && \mathbb{P}(\text{correct verdict}) &= t p+ (1-t) (1-p) \\ &&&= t(2p-1)+(1-p)\\ \Rightarrow && \frac12 &= t(2p-1)+(1-p) \\ \Rightarrow && t &= \frac{\frac12-(1-p)}{2p-1} \\ &&&= \frac{2p-1}{2(2p-1)} = \frac12 \end{align*} (so it doesn't depend at all on what the judges are doing, the only way to be fair is if the trials happen at random!)
Bag \(P\) and bag \(Q\) each contain \(n\) counters, where \(n\ge2\). The counters are identical in shape and size, but coloured either black or white. First, \(k\) counters (\(0\le k\le n\)) are drawn at random from bag \(P\) and placed in bag \(Q\). Then, \(k\) counters are drawn at random from bag \(Q\) and placed in bag \(P\).
Solution:
Find all values of \(a\), \(b\), \(x\) and \(y\) that satisfy the simultaneous equations \begin{alignat*}{3} a&+b & &=1 &\\ ax&+by & &= \tfrac13& \\ ax^2&+by^2& &=\tfrac15& \\ ax^3 &+by^3& &=\tfrac17\,.& \end{alignat*} \noindent{\bf [} {\bf Hint}: you may wish to start by multiplying the second equation by \(x+y\). {\bf ]}
Solution: This is a second order recurrence relation, so we need to find \(m\) and \(n\) such that; \begin{align*} &&\frac15 &= m\frac13 + n \\ &&\frac17 &= m \frac15 + n\frac13 \\ \Rightarrow && m,n &= \frac67, - \frac{3}{35} \end{align*} So we now need to solve the characteristic equation: \(\lambda^2 - \frac67 \lambda + \frac{3}{35} = 0\) So \(x,y = \frac{15 \pm 2 \sqrt{30}}{35}\). We need, \begin{align*} && 1 &= a+ b \\ && \frac13 &= a \frac{15 + 2 \sqrt{30}}{35} + b \frac{15 - 2 \sqrt{30}}{35} \\ && \frac13 &= \frac{15}{35} + \frac{2 \sqrt{30}}{35}(a-b) \\ \Rightarrow && -\frac{\sqrt{30}}{18} &= a-b \\ \Rightarrow && a &= \frac{18-\sqrt{30}}{36} \\ && b &= \frac{18+\sqrt{30}}{38} \end{align*} So our two answers are: \[ (a,b,x,y) = \left (\frac{18\pm\sqrt{30}}{36} ,\frac{18\mp\sqrt{30}}{36},\frac{15 \pm 2 \sqrt{30}}{35},\frac{15 \mp 2 \sqrt{30}}{35}, \right)\]
Let \(S_k(n) \equiv \sum\limits_{r=0}^n r^k\,\), where \(k\) is a positive integer, so that \[ S_1(n) \equiv \tfrac12 n(n+1) \text{ and } S_2(n) \equiv \tfrac16 n(n+1)(2n+1)\,. \]
Solution:
The point \(P(a\cos\theta\,,\, b\sin\theta)\), where \(a>b>0\), lies on the ellipse \[\dfrac {x^2}{a^2} + \dfrac {y^2}{b^2}=1\,.\] The point \(S(-ea\,,\,0)\), where \(b^2=a^2(1-e^2)\,\), is a focus of the ellipse. The point \(N\) is the foot of the perpendicular from the origin, \(O\), to the tangent to the ellipse at \(P\). The lines \(SP\) and \(ON\) intersect at \(T\). Show that the \(y\)-coordinate of \(T\) is \[\dfrac{b\sin\theta}{1+e\cos\theta}\,.\] Show that \(T\) lies on the circle with centre \(S\) and radius \(a\).
Solution: Find the gradient of the tangent of the ellipse at \(P\): \begin{align*} && \frac{2x}{a^2} + \frac{2y}{b^2} \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= 0 \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= - \frac{2xb^2}{2ya^2} \\ &&&=- \frac{a \cos \theta b^2}{b \sin \theta a^2} \\ &&&=-\frac{b}{a} \cot \theta \end{align*} Therefore the gradient of \(ON\) is \(\frac{a}{b} \tan \theta\). \begin{align*} && y &= \frac{a}{b} \tan \theta x \\ && \frac{y-0}{x-(-ea)} &= \frac{b\sin \theta-0}{a\cos \theta -(-ea)} \\ && y &= \frac{b \sin \theta}{a(e+\cos \theta)}(x+ea) \\ \Rightarrow && y &= \frac{b \sin \theta}{a(\cos \theta+e)}\frac{b}{a} \cot \theta y+ \frac{eb \sin \theta}{\cos \theta + e} \\ &&&= \frac{b^2 \cos \theta}{a^2(\cos \theta +e)}y + \frac{eb \sin \theta}{\cos \theta + e} \\ \Rightarrow && (\cos \theta+e)y &= (1-e^2)\cos \theta y +eb \sin \theta\\ && e(1+e\cos \theta)y &= eb \sin \theta \\ \Rightarrow && y &= \frac{b \sin \theta}{1+e\cos \theta} \\ && x &= \frac{b \sin \theta}{1+e\cos \theta} \frac{b}{a} \cot \theta \\ &&&= \frac{b^2 \cos \theta}{a(1+e\cos \theta)} \end{align*} Therefore \(\displaystyle T\left (\frac{b^2 \cos \theta}{a(1+e\cos \theta)}, \frac{b \sin \theta}{1+e\cos \theta} \right)\). Finally, we can look at the distance of \(T\) from \(S\) \begin{align*} && d^2 &= \left (\frac{b^2 \cos \theta}{a(1+e\cos \theta)}-(-ea) \right)^2 + \left (\frac{b \sin \theta}{1+e\cos \theta} -0\right)^2 \\ &&&= \frac{\left (b^2 \cos \theta+ea^2(1+e\cos\theta)\right)^2 + \left ( ab \sin \theta\right)^2}{a^2(1+e\cos \theta)^2} \\ &&&= \frac{b^4\cos^2\theta+e^2a^4(1+e\cos\theta)^2+2ea^2b^2(1+e\cos\theta)+a^2b^2\sin^2\theta}{a^2(1+e\cos\theta)^2} \\ &&&= \frac{a^4(1-e^2)^2\cos^2\theta+e^2a^4(1+e\cos\theta)^2+2ea^2a^2(1-e^2)(1+e\cos\theta)+a^4(1-e^2)\sin^2\theta}{a^2(1+e\cos\theta)^2} \\ &&&= a^2 \left ( \frac{(1-e^2)^2\cos^2\theta+e^2(1+e\cos\theta)^2+2e(1-e^2)(1+e\cos\theta)+(1-e^2)(1-\cos^2\theta)}{(1+e\cos\theta)^2} \right) \\ &&&= a^2 \left ( \frac{e^2(1+e\cos\theta)^2+(1-e^2)((1-e^2)\cos^2\theta+2e(1+e\cos\theta)+(1-\cos^2\theta))}{(1+e\cos\theta)^2} \right) \\ &&&= a^2 \left ( \frac{e^2(1+e\cos\theta)^2+(1-e^2)(1+e\cos\theta)^2}{(1+e\cos\theta)^2} \right) \\ &&&= a^2 \end{align*} Therefore a circle radius \(a\) centre \(S\).
Solution: