Solution:
The polynomial \(\f(x)\) is defined by \[ \f(x) = x^n + a_{\low{n-1}}x^{n-1} + \cdots + a_{\low2} x^2+ a_{\low1} x + a_{\low0}\,, \] where \(n\ge2\) and the coefficients \(a_{\low0}\), \(\ldots,\) \(a_{\low{n-1}}\) are integers, with \(a_0\ne0\). Suppose that the equation \(\f(x)=0\) has a rational root \(p/q\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers with no common factor greater than \(1\), and \(q>0\). By considering \(q^{n-1}\f(p/q)\), find the value of \(q\) and deduce that any rational root of the equation \(\f(x)=0\) must be an integer.
Show that, provided \(q^2\ne 4p^3\), the polynomial \[ \hphantom{(p\ne0, \ q\ne0)\hspace{2cm}} x^3-3px +q \hspace {2cm} (p\ne0, \ q\ne0) \] can be written in the form \[ a(x-\alpha)^3 + b(x-\beta)^3\,, \] where \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) are the roots of the quadratic equation \(pt^2 -qt +p^2=0\), and \(a\) and \(b\) are constants which you should express in terms of \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\). Hence show that one solution of the equation \(x^3-24x+48=0\,\) is \[ x= \frac{2 (2-2^{\frac13})}{1-2^{\frac13}} \] and obtain similar expressions for the other two solutions in terms of \(\omega\), where \(\omega = \mathrm{e}^{2\pi\mathrm{i}/3}\,\). Find also the roots of \(x^3-3px +q=0\) when \(p=r^2\) and \(q= 2r^3\) for some non-zero constant \(r\).
The following result applies to any function \(\f\) which is continuous, has positive gradient and satisfies \(\f(0)=0\,\): \[ ab\le \int_0^a\f(x)\, \d x + \int_0^b \f^{-1}(y)\, \d y\,, \tag{\(*\)}\] where \(\f^{-1}\) denotes the inverse function of \(\f\), and \(a\ge 0\) and \(b\ge 0\).
A movable point \(P\) has cartesian coordinates \((x,y)\), where \(x\) and \(y\) are functions of \(t\). The polar coordinates of \(P\) with respect to the origin \(O\) are \(r\) and \(\theta\). Starting with the expression \[ \tfrac12 \int r^2 \, \d \theta \] for the area swept out by \(OP\), obtain the equivalent expression \[ \tfrac12 \int \left( x\frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}\right)\d t \,. \tag{\(*\)} \] The ends of a thin straight rod \(AB\) lie on a closed convex curve \(\cal C\). The point \(P\) on the rod is a fixed distance \(a\) from \(A\) and a fixed distance \(b\) from \(B\). The angle between \(AB\) and the positive \(x\) direction is \(t\). As \(A\) and \(B\) move anticlockwise round \(\cal C\), the angle \(t\) increases from \(0\) to \(2\pi\) and \(P\) traces a closed convex curve \(\cal D\) inside \(\cal C\), with the origin \(O\) lying inside \(\cal D\), as shown in the diagram.
Solution: \begin{align*} && \tan \theta &= y/x \\ \Rightarrow && \sec^2 \theta \frac{\d \theta}{\d t} &= \frac{x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}}{x^2} \\ \Rightarrow && \frac{\d \theta}{\d t} &=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{\cos^2 \theta}{x^2} \\ &&&=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{\cos^2 \theta}{r^2 \cos^2 \theta } \\ &&&=\left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \frac{1}{r^2 } \\ && \tfrac12 \int r^2 \, \d \theta &= \tfrac12 \int \left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} \right) \d t \end{align*} \(A = (x - a \cos t, y - a \sin t), B = (x + b \cos t , y + b \sin t)\) \begin{align*} && [A] &= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x-a \cos t) \frac{\d (y-a \sin t)}{\d t} - (y-a \sin t) \frac{\d (x-a \cos t)}{\d t} \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x - a \cos t) \left ( \frac{\d y}{\d t} - a \cos t \right) - (y - a \sin t) \left ( \frac{\d x}{\d t} + a \sin t \right)\right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ( x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} - a \cos t \frac{\d y}{\d t}-ax \cos t +a^2 \cos^2 t + a \sin t \frac{\d x}{\d t}-y a \sin t + a^2 \sin^2 t \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ( \underbrace{x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t}}_{[P]}-a\left ((x + \frac{\d y}{\d x}) \cos t + (y - \frac{\d x}{\d t}) \sin t \right) + \underbrace{a^2}_{\pi a^2} \right) \d t \\ &&&= [P] + \pi a^2 - af \end{align*} \begin{align*} && [B] &= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x+b \cos t) \frac{\d (y+b \sin t)}{\d t} - (y+b \sin t) \frac{\d (x+b \cos t)}{\d t} \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left ((x+b \cos t) (\frac{\d y}{\d t} + b \cos t) - (y+b \sin t)(\frac{\d x}{\d t} - b \sin t) \right) \d t \\ &&&= \tfrac12 \int_0^{2\pi} \left (x \frac{\d y}{\d t} - y \frac{\d x}{\d t} + b^2 + b(\cos t (x + \frac{\d y}{\d t}) +(y - \frac{\d x}{\d t})\sin t\right) \d t \\ &&&= [P] + \pi b^2 + b f \end{align*} Since \(A\) and \(B\) trace out the same area, we must have \(\pi a^2 - af = \pi b^2 + bf \Rightarrow \pi (a^2-b^2) = f(b+a) \Rightarrow f = \pi (a-b)\). In particular the area inbetween is \([A] - [P] = \pi a^2 - a \pi (a-b)\)
The definite integrals \(T\), \(U\), \(V\) and \(X\) are defined by \begin{align*} T&= \int_{\frac13}^{\frac12} \frac{{\rm artanh}\, t}t \,\d t\,, & U&= \int _{\ln 2 }^{\ln 3 } \frac{u}{2\sinh u}\, \d u \,, \\[3mm] V&= - \int_{\frac13}^{\frac12} \frac{\ln v}{1-v^2} \,\d v \,, & X&= \int _{\frac12\ln2}^{\frac12\ln3} \ln ({\coth x})\, \d x\,. \end{align*} Show, without evaluating any of them, that \(T\), \(U\), \(V\) and \(X\) are all equal.
Solution: \begin{align*} && T &= \int_{\frac13}^{\frac12} \frac{{\rm artanh}\, t}t \,\d t \\ && &=\int_{\frac13}^{\frac12} \frac{1}{2t}\ln \left ( \frac{1+t}{1-t} \right) \,\d t \\ u = \tfrac{1+t}{1-t}, t= \tfrac{u-1}{u+1}, \d t = \tfrac{2}{(u+1)^2} \d t &&&= \int_{u=2}^{u=3} \frac{1}{2t} \ln u \frac{2}{(u+1)^2} \d u \\ &&&= \int_2^3 \frac{u+1}{u-1} \ln u \frac{1}{(u+1)^2} \d u \\ &&&= \int_2^3 \frac{1}{u^2-1} \ln u \d u \end{align*} \begin{align*} && U&= \int _{\ln 2 }^{\ln 3 } \frac{u}{2\sinh u}\, \d u \\ v = e^u, \d v = e^u \d u &&&= \int_{v=2}^{v=3} \frac{\ln v}{v - \frac{1}{v}} \frac{1}{v} \d v \\ &&&= \int_2^3 \frac{1}{v^2-1} \ln v \d v \end{align*} \begin{align*} &&V &= - \int_{\frac13}^{\frac12} \frac{\ln v}{1-v^2} \,\d v \\ u = \tfrac1v, \d u = -\tfrac1{v^2} \d v &&&= -\int_{u=3}^{u=2} \frac{-\ln u}{1 - \frac{1}{u^2}} \frac{-1}{u^2} \d u \\ &&&= -\int_3^2 \frac{\ln u}{u^2-1} \d u \\ &&&= \int_2^3 \frac{1}{u^2-1} \ln u \d u \end{align*} \begin{align*} &&X&= \int _{\frac12\ln2}^{\frac12\ln3} \ln ({\coth x})\, \d x \\ u = \coth x, \d u =(1-u^2) \d x &&&= \int_{u = 3}^{u=2} \ln u \frac{1}{1-u^2} \d u \\ &&&= \int_2^3 \frac{\ln u}{u^2-1} \d u \end{align*} Therefore all integrals are equal to the same integral, namely \(\displaystyle \int_2^3 \frac{\ln u}{u^2-1} \d u\)
Let \[ T _n = \left( \sqrt{a+1} + \sqrt a\right)^n\,, \] where \(n\) is a positive integer and \(a\) is any given positive integer.
Solution:
The complex numbers \(z\) and \(w\) are related by \[ w= \frac{1+\mathrm{i}z}{\mathrm{i}+z}\,. \] Let \(z=x+\mathrm{i}y\) and \(w=u+\mathrm{i}v\), where \(x\), \(y\), \(u\) and \(v\) are real. Express \(u\) and \(v\) in terms of \(x\) and \(y\).
Solution: \begin{align*} w &= \frac{1+iz}{i+z} \\ &= \frac{1-y+ix}{x+i(1+y)} \\ &= \frac{((1-y)+ix)(x-i(1+y))}{x^2+(1+y)^2} \\ &= \frac{x(1-y)+x(1+y)}{x^2+(1+y)^2}+\frac{x^2+y^2-1}{x^2+(1+y)^2}i \\ &= \frac{2x}{x^2+(y+1)^2}+\frac{x^2+y^2-1}{x^2+(1+y)^2}i \end{align*} Therefore \(u = \frac{2x}{x^2+(y+1)^2}, v = \frac{x^2+y^2-1}{x^2+(1+y)^2}\)
Particles \(P\) and \(Q\) have masses \(3m\) and \(4m\), respectively. They lie on the outer curved surface of a~smooth circular cylinder of radius~\(a\) which is fixed with its axis horizontal. They are connected by a light inextensible string of length \(\frac12 \pi a\), which passes over the surface of the cylinder. The particles and the string all lie in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder, and the axis intersects this plane at \(O\). Initially, the particles are in equilibrium. Equilibrium is slightly disturbed and \(Q\) begins to move downwards. Show that while the two particles are still in contact with the cylinder the angle \(\theta\) between \(OQ\) and the vertical satisfies \[ 7a\dot\theta^2 +8g \cos\theta + 6 g\sin\theta = 10g\,. \]
Particles \(P\) and \(Q\), each of mass \(m\), lie initially at rest a distance \(a\) apart on a smooth horizontal plane. They are connected by a light elastic string of natural length \(a\) and modulus of elasticity \(\frac12 m a \omega^2\), where \(\omega\) is a constant. Then \(P\) receives an impulse which gives it a velocity \(u\) directly away from \(Q\). Show that when the string next returns to length \(a\), the particles have travelled a distance \(\frac12 \pi u/\omega\,\), and find the speed of each particle. Find also the total time between the impulse and the subsequent collision of the particles.