14 problems found
My house has an attic consisting of a horizontal rectangular base of length \(2q\) and breadth \(2p\) (where \(p < q\)) and four plane roof sections each at angle \(\theta\) to the horizontal. Show that the length of the roof ridge is independent of \(\theta\) and find the volume of the attic and the surface area of the roof.
Solution:
Given that \(a\) is constant, differentiate the following expressions with respect to \(x\):
Solution: \begin{align*} && y &= x^a \\ && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= \begin{cases} ax^{a-1} & a \neq 0 \\ 0 & a = 0 \end{cases} \\ \\ && y &= a^x \\ &&&= e^{(\ln a) \cdot x} \\ && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= \ln a e^{(\ln a) x} \\ &&&= \ln a \cdot a^ x \\ \\ && y &= x^x \\ &&&= e^{x \ln x}\\ && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= e^{x \ln x} \cdot \left ( \ln x + x \cdot \frac1x \right) \\ &&&= x^x \left (1 + \ln x \right) \\ \\ && y&= x^{(x^x)} \\ &&&= e^{x^ x \cdot \ln x} \\ && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= e^{x^x \cdot \ln x} \left ( x^x \left (1 + \ln x \right) \cdot \ln x + x^x \cdot \frac1x\right) \\ &&&= x^{x^x} \left (x^x (1+ \ln x) \ln x +x^{x-1} \right) \\ &&&= x^{x^x+x-1} \left (1 + x \ln x + x (\ln x)^2 \right) \\ \\ && y &= (x^x)^x \\ &&&= x^{2x} \\ &&&= e^{2x \ln x} \\ && \frac{\d y}{\d x} &= e^{2 x \ln x} \left (2 \ln x + 2 \right) \\ &&&= 2(x^x)^x(1 + \ln x) \end{align*}
By considering the coefficient of \(x^{n}\) in the identity \((1-x)^{n}(1+x)^{n}=(1-x^{2})^{n},\) or otherwise, simplify \[ \binom{n}{0}^{2}-\binom{n}{1}^{2}+\binom{n}{2}^{2}-\binom{n}{3}^{2}+\cdots+(-1)^{n}\binom{n}{n}^{2} \] in the cases (i) when \(n\) is even, (ii) when \(n\) is odd.
Solution: The coefficient of \(x^n\) on the LHS is \begin{align*} && (1-x^2)^n &= (1-x)^n(1+x)^n \\ [x^n]: && \begin{cases} (-1)^{\lfloor \frac{n}2 \rfloor}\binom{n}{\lfloor \frac{n}2 \rfloor} &\text{if } n\text{ even} \\ 0 & \text{otherwise} \end{cases} &= \sum_{i=0}^n \underbrace{(-1)^i\binom{n}{i}}_{\text{take }(-x)^i\text{ from first bracket}} \cdot \underbrace{\binom{n}{n-i}}_{\text{take }x^{n-i}\text{ from second bracket}} \\ &&&= \sum_{i=0}^n (-1)^i\binom{n}{i}\binom{n}{i} \\ &&&= \sum_{i=0}^n (-1)^i\binom{n}{i}^2\\ \end{align*}
Show that
Solution:
A parabola has the equation \(y=x^{2}.\) The points \(P\) and \(Q\) with coordinates \((p,p^{2})\) and \((q,q^{2})\) respectively move on the parabola in such a way that \(\angle POQ\) is always a right angle.
Solution:
The function \(\mathrm{f}\) is defined, for any complex number \(z\), by \[ \mathrm{f}(z)=\frac{\mathrm{i}z-1}{\mathrm{i}z+1}. \] Suppose throughout that \(x\) is a real number.
Solution:
From the facts \begin{alignat*}{2} 1 & \quad=\quad & & 0\\ 2+3+4 & \quad=\quad & & 1+8\\ 5+6+7+8+9 & \quad=\quad & & 8+27\\ 10+11+12+13+14+15+16 & \quad=\quad & & 27+64 \end{alignat*} guess a general law. Prove it. Hence, or otherwise, prove that \[ 1^{3}+2^{3}+3^{3}+\cdots+N^{3}=\tfrac{1}{4}N^{2}(N+1)^{2} \] for every positive integer \(N\). [Hint. You may assume that \(1+2+3+\cdots+n=\frac{1}{2}n(n+1)\).]
Solution: \begin{align*} && (n^2+1) + (n^2+2) + \cdots + (n+1)^2 &= n^3+(n+1)^3 \\ \Leftrightarrow && \sum_{i=n^2+1}^{(n+1)^2} i &= n^3 + (n+1)^3 \\ && \sum_{i=n^2+1}^{(n+1)^2} i &= \sum_{i=1}^{(n+1)^2} i- \sum_{i=1}^{n^2} i \\ &&&= \frac{(n+1)^2((n+1)^2+1)}{2} - \frac{n^2(n^2+1)}{2} \\ &&&= \frac{(n+1)^2(n^2+2n+2) - n^2(n^2+1)}{2} \\ &&&= \frac{2(n+1)^3+n^2(n^2+2n+1) - n^2(n^2+1)}{2}\\ &&&= \frac{2(n+1)^3+2n^3 + n^2(n^2+1) - n^2(n^2+1)}{2}\\ &&&= (n+1)^3+n^3 \end{align*} \begin{align*} && \sum_{i=1}^{N^2} i &=(0^3+1^3)+ (1^3+2^3)+(2^3+3^3) + \cdots + ((N-1)^3+N^3) \\ &&&= 2 \left (1^3+2^3 + 3^3 + \cdots + (N-1)^3 \right) + N^3 \\ \Rightarrow && \sum_{i=1}^N i^3 &= \frac12 \left ( N^3+ \sum_{i=1}^{N^2} i \right) \\ &&&= \frac12 \left ( N^3 + \frac{N^2(N^2+1)}{2} \right) \\ &&&= \frac{N^2(N^2+1)+2N^3}{4} \\ &&&= \frac{N^2(N^2+2N+1)}{4} \\ &&&= \frac{N^2(N+1)^2}{4} \\ \end{align*}
By means of the change of variable \(\theta=\frac{1}{4}\pi-\phi,\) or otherwise, show that \[ \int_{0}^{\frac{1}{4}\pi}\ln(1+\tan\theta)\,\mathrm{d}\theta=\tfrac{1}{8}\pi\ln2. \] Evaluate \[ {\displaystyle \int_{0}^{1}\frac{\ln(1+x)}{1+x^{2}}\,\mathrm{d}x}\qquad\mbox{ and }\qquad{\displaystyle \int_{0}^{\frac{1}{2}\pi}\ln\left(\frac{1+\sin x}{1+\cos x}\right)\,\mathrm{d}x}. \]
Solution: \begin{align*} && I &= \int_0^{\frac14\pi} \ln (1 + \tan \theta) \d \theta \\ \theta = \tfrac14\pi - \phi, \d \theta = -\d\phi: &&&= \int_0^{\frac14 \pi} \ln ( 1 + \tan (\tfrac14\pi - \phi)) \d \phi \\ &&&= \int_0^{\frac14 \pi} \ln \left ( 1 + \frac{1 - \tan \phi}{1+\tan \phi} \right) \d \phi \\ &&&= \int_0^{\frac14 \pi} \ln \left ( \frac{2}{1+\tan \phi} \right) \d \phi \\ &&&= \tfrac14 \pi \ln 2 - I \\ \Rightarrow && I &= \tfrac18\pi \ln 2 \end{align*} \begin{align*} && J &= \int_0^1 \frac{\ln(1+x)}{1+x^2} \d x \\ x= \tan \theta \d \theta, \d \theta = \frac{\d x}{1+x^2} &&&= \int_0^{\frac14 \pi} \ln(1 + \tan \theta) \d \theta \\ &&&= \tfrac18 \pi \ln 2 \end{align*} \begin{align*} && K &= \int_0^{\frac12 \pi} \ln \left ( \frac{1 + \sin x}{1 + \cos x} \right) \d x \\ y = \tfrac12\pi - x, \d y = -\d x: &&&= \int_0^{\frac12\pi} \ln \left ( \frac{1+\cos y}{1+\sin y}\right) \d y \\ &&&= -K \\ \Rightarrow && K &= 0 \end{align*}
A cannon-ball is fired from a cannon at an initial speed \(u\). After time \(t\) it has reached height \(h\) and is at a distance \(\sqrt{x^{2}+h^{2}}\) from the cannon. Ignoring air resistance, show that \[ \tfrac{1}{4}g^{2}t^{4}-(u^{2}-gh)t^{2}+h^{2}+x^{2}=0. \] Hence show that if \(u^{2}>2gh\) then the horizontal range for a given height \(h\) and initial speed \(u\) is less than or equal to \[ \frac{u\sqrt{u^{2}-2gh}}{g}. \] Show that there is always an angle of firing for which this value is attained.
Solution: Suppose it is fired with angle to the horizontal \(\alpha\), then \begin{align*} \rightarrow: && x &= u\cos \alpha \cdot t \\ \uparrow: && h &= u \sin \alpha \cdot t - \frac12 g t^2 \\ \Rightarrow && u\cos \alpha &= \frac{x}{t} \\ && u \sin \alpha &= \frac{h + \frac12 gt^2}{t} \\ \Rightarrow && u^2 &= \frac{x^2}{t^2} + \frac{(h + \frac12 gt^2)^2}{t^2} \\ \Rightarrow && 0 &= x^2+h^2-u^2t^2+ght^2+\tfrac14 g^2 t^4 \\ &&&= \tfrac14 g^2 t^4 - (u^2 - gh)t^2 + h^2 + x^2 \end{align*} For a distance \(x\) to be achievable there must be a root to this quadratic in \(t^2\), ie \begin{align*} && 0 &\leq \Delta = (u^2-gh)^2 - 4 \cdot \tfrac14 g^2 (h^2 + x^2) \\ \Rightarrow && x^2 &\leq \frac{(u^2-gh)^2}{g^2} - h^2 \\ &&&= \frac{u^4+g^2h^2 - 2ghu^2-g^2h^2}{g^2} \\ &&&= \frac{u^2(u^2-2gh)}{g^2} \\ \Rightarrow && x &\leq \frac{u\sqrt{u^2-2gh}}{g} \end{align*} This is achieved when \begin{align*} && t^2 &= \frac{u^2-gh}{\tfrac12g^2}\\ &&&= \frac{2(u^2-gh)}{g^2} \\ \Rightarrow && \cos \alpha &= \frac{u\sqrt{u^2-2gh}}{g} \cdot \frac{g}{\sqrt{2(u^2-gh)}} \frac{1}{u} \\ &&&= \frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \end{align*} ie when \(\alpha = \frac{\pi}{4}\)
One end \(A\) of a light elastic string of natural length \(l\) and modulus of elasticity \(\lambda\) is fixed and a particle of mass \(m\) is attached to the other end \(B\). The particle moves in a horizontal circle with centre on the vertical through \(A\) with angular velocity \(\omega.\) If \(\theta\) is the angle \(AB\) makes with the downward vertical, find an expression for \(\cos\theta\) in terms of \(m,g,l,\lambda\) and \(\omega.\) Show that the motion described is possible only if \[ \frac{g\lambda}{l(\lambda+mg)}<\omega^{2}<\frac{\lambda}{ml}. \]
\(\,\)
There are 28 colleges in Cambridge, of which two (New Hall and Newnham) are for women only; the others admit both men and women. Seven women, Anya, Betty, Celia, Doreen, Emily, Fariza and Georgina, are all applying to Cambridge. Each has picked three colleges at random to enter on her application form.
Solution:
I have a bag containing \(M\) tokens, \(m\) of which are red. I remove \(n\) tokens from the bag at random without replacement. Let \[ X_{i}=\begin{cases} 1 & \mbox{ if the ith token I remove is red;}\\ 0 & \mbox{ otherwise.} \end{cases} \] Let \(X\) be the total number of red tokens I remove.
Solution:
Each of my \(n\) students has to hand in an essay to me. Let \(T_{i}\) be the time at which the \(i\)th essay is handed in and suppose that \(T_{1},T_{2},\ldots,T_{n}\) are independent, each with probability density function \(\lambda\mathrm{e}^{-\lambda t}\) (\(t\geqslant0\)). Let \(T\) be the time I receive the first essay to be handed in and let \(U\) be the time I receive the last one.
Solution: