218 problems found
A curve is given parametrically by \begin{align*} x&= a\big( \cos t +\ln \tan \tfrac12 t\big)\,,\\ y&= a\sin t\,, \end{align*} where \(0 < t < \frac12 \pi\) and \(a\) is a positive constant. Show that \(\ds \frac{\d y}{\d x} = \tan t\) and sketch the curve. Let \(P\) be the point with parameter \(t\) and let \(Q\) be the point where the tangent to the curve at \(P\) meets the \(x\)-axis. Show that \(PQ=a\). The {\sl radius of curvature}, \(\rho\), at \(P\) is defined by \[ \rho= \frac {\big(\dot x ^2+\dot y^2\big)^{\frac32}} {\vert \dot x \ddot y - \dot y \ddot x\vert \ \ } \,, \] where the dots denote differentiation with respect to \(t\). Show that \(\rho =a\cot t\). The point \(C\) lies on the normal to the curve at \(P\), a distance \(\rho\) from \(P\) and above the curve. Show that \(CQ\) is parallel to the \(y\)-axis.
In this question \(b\), \(c\), \(p\) and \(q\) are real numbers.
Solution:
By sketching on the same axes the graphs of \(y=\sin x\) and \(y=x\), show that, for \(x>0\):
Solution:
Using the series \[ \e^x = 1 + x +\frac{x^2}{2!} + \frac{x^3}{3!} + \frac{x^4}{4!}+\cdots\,, \] show that \(\e>\frac83\). Show that \(n!>2^n\) for \(n\ge4\) and hence show that \(\e<\frac {67}{24}\). Show that the curve with equation \[ y= 3\e^{2x} +14 \ln (\tfrac43-x)\,, \qquad {x<\tfrac43} \] has a minimum turning point between \(x=\frac12\) and \(x=1\) and give a sketch to show the shape of the curve.
Solution: \begin{align*} && e &= 1 + 1 + \frac{1}{2!} + \frac{1}{3!} + \cdots \\ &&&> 1 + 1+ \frac12 + \frac16 \\ &&&= \frac{12+3+1}{6} = \frac83 \end{align*} \(4! = 24 > 16 = 2^4\), notice that \(n! = \underbrace{n \cdot (n-1) \cdots 5}_{>2^{n-4}} \cdot \underbrace{4!}_{>2^4} >2^n\). \begin{align*} && e &= 1 + 1 + \frac{1}{2!} + \frac{1}{3!} + \cdots \\ &&&< \frac83 + \frac{1}{2^4} + \frac{1}{2^5} + \cdots \\ &&&= \frac83 + \frac{1}{2^4} \frac{1}{1-\tfrac12} \\ &&&= \frac83 + \frac1{8} \\ &&&= \frac{67}{24} \end{align*} \begin{align*} && y &= 3e^{2x} +14 \ln(\tfrac43-x) \\ && y' &= 6e^{2x} - \frac{14}{\tfrac43-x} \\ && y'(\tfrac12) &= 6e - \frac{14}{\tfrac43-\tfrac12} \\ &&&= 6e -\tfrac{84}{5} = 6(e-\tfrac{14}5) < 0 \\ && y'(1) &= 6e^2 - \frac{14}{\tfrac43-1} \\ &&&= 6e^2 - 42 = 6(e^2-7) \\ &&&> 6(\tfrac{64}{9} - 7) > 0 \end{align*} Therefore \(y'\) changes from negative (decreasing) to positive (increasing) in our range, and therefore there is a minima in this range.
The notation \({\lfloor } x \rfloor\) denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to the real number \(x\). Thus, for example, \(\lfloor \pi\rfloor =3\,\), \(\lfloor 18\rfloor =18\,\) and \(\lfloor-4.2\rfloor = -5\,\).
Solution:
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 \(k=1\).
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*}
Show that in polar coordinates the gradient of any curve at the point \((r,\theta)\) is \[ \frac{ \ \ \dfrac{\d r }{\d\theta} \tan\theta + r \ \ } { \dfrac{\d r }{\d\theta} -r\tan\theta}\,. \] \noindent
Show that, if \(y^2 = x^k \f(x)\), then $\displaystyle 2xy \frac{\mathrm{d}y }{ \mathrm{d}x} = ky^2 + x^{k+1} \frac{\mathrm{d}\f }{ \mathrm{d}x}$\,.
A particle moves so that \({\bf r}\), its displacement from a fixed origin at time \(t\), is given by \[{\bf r} = \l \sin{2t} \r {\bf i} + \l 2\cos t \r \bf{j}\,,\] where \(0 \le t < 2\pi\).
Solution:
Find the three values of \(x\) for which the derivative of \(x^2 \e^{-x^2}\) is zero. Given that \(a\) and \(b\) are distinct positive numbers, find a polynomial \(\P(x)\) such that the derivative of \(\P(x)\e^{-x^2}\) is zero for \(x=0\), \(x=\pm a\) and \(x=\pm b\,\), but for no other values of \(x\).
Solution: \begin{align*} && y &= x^2e^{-x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && y' &= 2xe^{-x^2} +x^2 \cdot (-2x)e^{-x^2} \\ &&&= e^{-x^2}(2x-2x^3) \\ &&&= 2e^{-x^2}x(1-x^2) \end{align*} Therefore the derivative is zero iff \(x = 0, \pm 1\) \begin{align*} && y &= \P(x) e^{-x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && y' &= e^{-x^2} (\P'(x)-2x\P(x)) \end{align*} Therefore we want \(\P'(x) - 2x\P(x) = Kx(x^2-a^2)(x^2-b^2)\) Since this has degree \(5\), we should look at polynomials degree \(4\) for \(\P\). We can also immediately see that \(0\) is a root of \(\P'(x)\), so \(\P(x) = a_4x^4+a_3x^3+a_2x^2+a_0\). WLOG \(a_4 = 1\) and \(K = -2\), so \begin{align*} && -2(x^5-(a^2+b^2)x^3+a^2b^2x) &= 4x^3+3a_3x^2+2a_2x- 2x(x^4+a_3x^3+a_2x^2+a_0) \\ &&&= -2x^5-2a_3 x^4+(4-2a_2)x^3+(2a_2-2a_0)x \\ \Rightarrow && a_3 &= 0 \\ && a^2+b^2 &= 2-a_2 \\ \Rightarrow && a_2 &= 2-a^2-b^2 \\ && a^2b^2 &= a_0-a_2 \\ \Rightarrow && a_0 &= a^2b^2 + 2-a^2-b^2 \\ \Rightarrow && \P(x) &= x^4+(2-a^2-b^2)x^2+(a^2-1)(b^2-1)x \end{align*}
Give a sketch, for \(0 \le x \le \frac{1}{2}\pi\), of the curve $$ y = (\sin x - x\cos x)\;, $$ and show that \(0\le y \le 1\,\). Show that:
Solution: