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Worked solution

Optimise and differentiate a triangle on an implicit curve

Point Q(x,y)Q(x,y) lies on 4x2+xy+y2=364x^2+xy+y^2=36, with y≥0y\ge0. The curve meets the x-axis at P,RP,R as drawn.

(i) Show that triangle PQRPQR has area A=3yA=3y. marks

(ii) Find dy/dxdy/dx in terms of x,yx,y. marks

(iii) Hence find the x-value where AA is stationary and use the second derivative test to determine its nature. marks

If xx increases at 88 units/s, find the rate of change of AA when x=0x=0. marks

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Upper part, y≥0, of the closed curve 4x²+xy+y²=36, with x-axis intersections P and R and a general point Q(x,y) on the upper-left arc. No numerical intercepts are supplied in this given diagram.
Upper part, y≥0, of the closed curve 4x²+xy+y²=36, with x-axis intersections P and R and a general point Q(x,y) on the upper-left arc. No numerical intercepts are supplied in this given diagram.
Upper part, y≥0, of the closed curve 4x²+xy+y²=36, with x-axis intersections P and R and a general point Q(x,y) on the upper-left arc. No numerical intercepts are supplied in this given diagram.

[2013/DHS/I/11]

CJC · Review problems · Question 9

Answer

A=3yA=3y; y′=−(8x+y)/(x+2y)y^{\prime}=-(8x+y)/(x+2y). Maximum stationary area at x=−3/5x=-\sqrt{3/5}; at x=0x=0, dA/dt=−12dA/dt=-12 square units/s.

(i) Find the fixed base

At y=0y=0, 4x2=364x^2=36, so P=(−3,0)P=(-3,0) and R=(3,0)R=(3,0). The base length is 66 and perpendicular height is yy, hence A=12(6)y=3yA=\tfrac12(6)y=3y.

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(ii) Differentiate the implicit curve

8x+xy′+y+2yy′=08x+xy^{\prime}+y+2yy^{\prime}=0, so (x+2y)y′=−(8x+y)(x+2y)y^{\prime}=-(8x+y) and dy/dx=−(8x+y)/(x+2y)dy/dx=-(8x+y)/(x+2y) wherever x+2y≠0x+2y\ne0.

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(iii) Find the admissible stationary x-value

A′=3y′=0A^{\prime}=3y^{\prime}=0 gives y=−8xy=-8x. Substitute into the curve: 4x2−8x2+64x2=364x^2-8x^2+64x^2=36, so x2=3/5x^2=3/5. The positive root would make y<0y<0, so reject it. Thus x=−3/5x=-\sqrt{3/5} and y=83/5y=8\sqrt{3/5}.

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(iii) Use the second derivative test

Differentiate 8x+(x+2y)y′+y=08x+(x+2y)y^{\prime}+y=0:

8+(x+2y)y′′+2y′+2(y′)2=0.\begin{aligned}&8+(x+2y)y^{\prime\prime}+2y^{\prime}+2(y^{\prime})^2\\ & =0.\end{aligned}

At the stationary point, y′=0y^{\prime}=0, y=−8xy=-8x, so y′′=−8/(x+2y)=8/(15x)<0y^{\prime\prime}=-8/(x+2y)=8/(15x)<0. Since A′′=3y′′<0A^{\prime\prime}=3y^{\prime\prime}<0, the stationary area is a maximum.

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Rate method 1: chain through x

At x=0x=0, the upper curve has y=6y=6. The differentiated equation gives y′=−1/2y^{\prime}=-1/2, so dA/dt=3(dy/dx)(dx/dt)=3(−1/2)(8)=−12dA/dt=3(dy/dx)(dx/dt)=3(-1/2)(8)=-12 square units/s. The area decreases at 1212 square units/s.

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Rate method 2: differentiate directly in time

8xx˙+xy˙+yx˙+2yy˙=08x\dot x+x\dot y+y\dot x+2y\dot y=0. At x=0x=0, yx˙+2yy˙=0y\dot x+2y\dot y=0, so y˙=−x˙/2=−4\dot y=-\dot x/2=-4. Hence A˙=3y˙=−12\dot A=3\dot y=-12 square units/s, again a decrease of 1212.

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Compare your sketch

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The same upper curve with triangle PQR drawn. Its fixed base runs from P(−3,0) to R(3,0), with vertical height y from Q(x,y) to the x-axis, giving area 3y.
The same upper curve with triangle PQR drawn. Its fixed base runs from P(−3,0) to R(3,0), with vertical height y from Q(x,y) to the x-axis, giving area 3y.
The same upper curve with triangle PQR drawn. Its fixed base runs from P(−3,0) to R(3,0), with vertical height y from Q(x,y) to the x-axis, giving area 3y.

Common mistakes

Keep the negative stationary x-root because the corresponding y-coordinate must be nonnegative.

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