Vertical and horizontal gaps to a parabola
The curve and the line have equations and respectively.
(i) The point on and the point on are such that they have the same -coordinate. Find the coordinates of and that gives the shortest distance . marks
(ii) The point on and the point on are such that they have the same -coordinate. Find the coordinates of and that gives the shortest distance . marks
(iii) Find the exact area of the polygon formed by joining the points found in (i) and (ii). marks
(iv) A variable point on with coordinates starts from origin and moves along the curve with increasing at a rate of 2 units/s. Find the rate of change of the area bounded by the curve, the -axis and the line , at the instant when . marks
[2017/ACJC/Prelim/I/8]
Solution
If this part uses an earlier result, revisit (iii) Area of a polygon or open all working together.
Related rates with an integral
A point starts at and moves along with increasing at 2 units/s. Find the rate of change of the area bounded by the curve, the -axis and the line when .
Hint
The area is .
Differentiate with respect to , then multiply by .
The region is between the -axis and the curve, so is the natural integral (or rectangle minus ).
Answer · (iv)
8 square units/s.
The area
Integrate horizontal strips with respect to . Alternatively, subtract the area under the parabola from the enclosing rectangle: .
Chain rule
.
Evaluate
.