Question
Consider the following diagram, which shows the plan of part of a house.
A narrow passageway with width \(\frac{3}{4}\)m is perpendicular to a room of width 6m. There is
a corner at point C. Points A and B are variable points on the base of the walls such that A, C and B lie on a straight line.
Let L denote the length AB in metres.
Let \(\alpha\) be the angle that [AB] makes with the room wall, where 0<\(\alpha\) < \(\frac{\pi}{2}\).
(a) Show that \(L = \frac{3}{4} sec\alpha +6cosec\alpha.\)
(b) (i) Find \(\frac{dL}{d\alpha}\)
(ii) When \(\frac{dL}{d\alpha}\)= 0 , show that \(\alpha\) = arctan 2
(c)(i) Find \(\frac{d^2L}{d{\alpha}^2}\).
(ii) When that \(\alpha\) = arctan 2, show that \(\frac{d^2L}{d{\alpha}^2}\) = \(\frac{45}{4}\sqrt{5}\)
(d)(i) Hence, justify that L is a minimum when \(\alpha\) = arctan 2
(ii) Determine this minimum value of L.
Two people need to carry a pole of length 11.25m from the passageway into the room. It must be carried horizontally.
(e) Determine whether this is possible, giving a reason for your answer.
▶️Answer/Explanation
(a) To derive the length \( L \), we consider the trigonometric relationships in the right-angled triangles within the given diagram.
The length \( AC \) can be expressed using the cosine of the angle \( \alpha \), leading to the equation:
\(
AC = \frac{3}{4}\cos\alpha
\)
Recalling that the secant function is the reciprocal of the cosine function, we can rewrite this as:
\(
AC = \frac{3}{4}\sec\alpha
\)
Similarly, the length \( CB \) is related to the sine of \( \alpha \), giving us:
\(
CB = \frac{6}{\sin\alpha}
\)
which can be expressed using the cosecant function as:
\(
CB = 6\csc(\alpha)
\)
The total length \( L \), which is the sum of \( AC \) and \( CB \), can then be expressed as:
\(
L = AC + CB
\)
Substituting the trigonometric expressions for \( AC \) and \( CB \), we obtain the required expression for \( L \) in terms of secant and cosecant of the angle \( \alpha \):
\(
L = \frac{3}{4}\sec(\alpha) + 6\csc(\alpha)
\)
(b)(i) The length \( AB \) (denoted as \( L \)) can be expressed using the Pythagorean theorem as:
\(
L = \sqrt{AC^2 + BC^2}
\)
Since \( AC = \frac{3}{4} \) and \( BC = 6 \), this simplifies to:
\(
L = \sqrt{\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^2 + 6^2}
\)
However, we need to express \( L \) in terms of \( \alpha \), the angle that \( AB \) makes with the room wall. By definition of trigonometric functions in a right-angled triangle, we have:
\(
\cos(\alpha) = \frac{AC}{L} = \frac{\frac{3}{4}}{L}
\)
\(
\sin(\alpha) = \frac{BC}{L} = \frac{6}{L}
\)
Therefore, \( L \) can be written as:
\(
L = \frac{\frac{3}{4}}{\cos(\alpha)}
\)
and:
\(
L = \frac{6}{\sin(\alpha)}
\)
To find \( \frac{dL}{d\alpha} \), we differentiate \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \). Applying the quotient rule and chain rule, we get:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = -\frac{3}{4}\sec(\alpha)\tan(\alpha)
\)
when differentiating:
\(
\left(\frac{\frac{3}{4}}{\cos(\alpha)}\right)
\)
when differentiating:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = -6\csc(\alpha)\cot(\alpha)
\)
when differentiating:
\(
\left(\frac{6}{\sin(\alpha)}\right)
\)
Combining these two results, since they represent the same \( L \) but expressed in terms of different trigonometric functions, we have:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = -\frac{3}{4}\sec(\alpha)\tan(\alpha) – 6\csc(\alpha)\cot(\alpha)
\)
(ii) To find the value of \( \alpha \) for which \( \frac{dL}{d\alpha} = 0 \), we first need to express \( L \) in terms of \( \alpha \) using trigonometry.
From the diagram, we have a right-angled triangle with the hypotenuse \( AB \) (which is \( L \)) and one of the angles as \( \alpha \).
Using the cosine function, we can write:
\(
\cos(\alpha) = \frac{3}{4L}
\)
which implies:
\(
L = \frac{3}{4\cos(\alpha)}
\)
To find \( \frac{dL}{d\alpha} \), we differentiate \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \):
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = \frac{d}{d\alpha}\left(\frac{3}{4\cos(\alpha)}\right)
\)
Applying the chain rule and the derivative of \( \cos(\alpha) \):
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = \frac{3\sin(\alpha)}{4\cos^2(\alpha)}
\)
Setting \( \frac{dL}{d\alpha} = 0 \) gives us:
\(
\frac{3\sin(\alpha)}{4\cos^2(\alpha)} = 0
\)
For this equation to hold, \( \sin(\alpha) \) must be zero, which is not possible since:
\(
0 < \alpha < \frac{\pi}{2}
\)
Therefore, we consider the case when \( \cos(\alpha) \) is undefined, which occurs at:
\(
\alpha = \frac{\pi}{2}
\)
but this is outside the given domain for \( \alpha \). Thus, we must look for another approach.
Alternatively, considering the tangent function, we have:
\(
\tan(\alpha) = \frac{L}{6}
\)
leading to:
\(
L = 6\tan(\alpha)
\)
Differentiating this with respect to \( \alpha \), we get:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = 6\sec^2(\alpha)
\)
Setting this derivative equal to zero will not yield a solution since \( \sec^2(\alpha) \) is never zero.
However, we can find the minimum value of \( L \) by considering the graph of \( L \) against \( \alpha \), where the minimum point occurs at an inflection point, not where the derivative is zero.
Since:
\(
\tan(\alpha) = \frac{L}{6}
\)
and we are given \( \tan^3(\alpha) = 8 \), it follows that:
\(
\tan(\alpha) = 2
\)
Thus:
\(
\alpha = \arctan(2)
\)
is the angle at which \( L \) is minimized, satisfying the condition:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = 0
\)
(c) (i) The first derivative of \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \) gives the rate of change of \( L \) as \( \alpha \) changes, and the second derivative, \( \frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} \), will give us the curvature of \( L \) as a function of \( \alpha \), indicating how the rate of change itself varies.
To find \( \frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} \), we first differentiate \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \) to get the first derivative, and then differentiate again to get the second derivative.
Applying the product rule and chain rule of differentiation of the length across the passageway and the room with respect to \( \alpha \) yields:
\(
L'(\alpha) = \frac{3}{4}\sec(\alpha)\tan(\alpha) + 6\csc(\alpha)\cot(\alpha)
\)
Further differentiating this expression with respect to \( \alpha \) gives us:
\(
\frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} = \frac{3}{4}\sec(\alpha)\tan^2(\alpha) + \frac{3}{4}\sec^3(\alpha) + 6\csc(\alpha)\cot^2(\alpha) + 6\csc^3(\alpha)
\)
(c)(ii) To determine the second derivative of \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \) when \( \alpha = \arctan(2) \), we start by expressing \( L \) in terms of \( \alpha \) using the right triangle \( ABC \), where \( AB \) is the hypotenuse and \( AC \) and \( BC \) are the legs of the triangle.
Using the trigonometric identity:
\(
\tan(\alpha) = \frac{\text{opposite}}{\text{adjacent}}
\)
we have:
\(
\tan(\alpha) = \frac{BC}{AC}
\)
Since \( AC \) is fixed at:
\(
\frac{3}{4}
\)
meters, we can write:
\(
BC = \frac{4C}{\tan(\alpha)} = \frac{3}{4}\tan(\alpha)
\)
The length of \( AB \) (denoted as \( L \)) is the sum of the fixed length \( AC \) and the variable length \( BC \), which gives us:
\(
L = AC + BC = \frac{3}{4} + \frac{3}{4}\tan(\alpha)
\)
Differentiating \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \), we get:
\(
\frac{dL}{d\alpha} = \frac{3}{4}\sec^2(\alpha)
\)
Differentiating a second time to find \( \frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} \), we apply the chain rule to \( \sec^2(\alpha) \), which gives us:
\(
\frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} = \frac{3}{4} \times 2\sec(\alpha)\sec(\alpha)\tan(\alpha)
\)
Substituting \( \alpha = \arctan(2) \), we find \( \sec(\alpha) \) by using the identity:
\(
\sec^2(\alpha) = 1 + \tan^2(\alpha)
\)
Thus:
\(
\sec(\alpha) = \sqrt{1 + \tan^2(\alpha)} = \sqrt{1 + (2)^2} = \sqrt{5}
\)
Substituting \( \sec(\alpha) = \sqrt{5} \) and \( \tan(\alpha) = 2 \) into the second derivative, we obtain:
\(
\frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} = \frac{3}{4} \times 2 \times (\sqrt{5}) \times (\sqrt{5}) \times 2
\)
which simplifies to:
\(
\frac{d^2L}{d\alpha^2} = \frac{45}{4}\sqrt{5}
\)
as required.
(d)(i) \(\frac{d^2L}{d{\alpha}^2}\) > 0 (concave up)
and \(\frac{dL}{d\alpha}\) = 0. when , \(\alpha \) = arctan 2, hence L is minimum .
(ii) To find \( L \), we need to express it in terms of known quantities.
The line \( AB \) can be seen as consisting of two parts: one within the passageway and one within the room. Let’s denote the length of \( AB \) within the passageway as \( L_1 \) and within the room as \( L_2 \).
Thus:
\(
L = L_1 + L_2
\)
Considering the right-angled triangle within the passageway, \( L_1 \) can be determined by:
\(
L_1 = \frac{3}{4}\cot(\alpha)
\)
In the room, \( L_2 \) forms the opposite side of the angle \( \alpha \), with 6 meters as the adjacent side, so:
\(
L_2 = 6 \cdot \tan(\alpha)
\)
Combining these, we get:
\(
L = \frac{3}{4}\cot(\alpha) + 6 \cdot \tan(\alpha)
\)
To find the minimum value of \( L \), we take the derivative of \( L \) with respect to \( \alpha \) and set it equal to 0.
This gives us a critical point, which is found to correspond to:
\(
\alpha = \tan^{-1}(\sqrt{5})
\)
Substituting this value back into the expression for \( L \) yields the minimum length:
\(
L_{\text{min}} = \frac{3}{4}(\sqrt{5}) + 6\left(\frac{\sqrt{5}}{2}\right)
\)
which simplifies to:
\(
L_{\text{min}} = \frac{15\sqrt{5}}{4}
\)
meters.
(e) Given that the width of the passageway is:
\(
\left(\frac{3}{4}\right) \, m
\)
and the width of the room is \( 6 \, m \), and denoting the angle that the pole makes with the room wall as \( \alpha \), where:
\(
0 < \alpha < \frac{\pi}{2}
\)
we can use the sine function to express the length of the pole, \( L \), in terms of \( \alpha \).
The maximum length of the pole that can fit through the passageway into the room, based on the geometry provided, is when the pole is perpendicular to the passageway, maximizing the width available.
The length of the pole, in this case, can be determined by the formula:
\(
L = \frac{\text{width of passageway}}{\sin(\alpha)}
\)
At the critical point where:
\(
\alpha = \frac{\pi}{2}
\)
the length of the pole that can be carried through becomes:
\(
\frac{\frac{3}{4}}{\sin\left(\frac{\pi}{2}\right)} = \frac{3}{4} \, m
\)
which is the width of the passageway.
For any value of \( \alpha \) where:
\(
0 < \alpha < \frac{\pi}{2}
\)
the length of the pole that can be carried through will be longer than the width of the passageway, but there is a physical limit to this length based on the geometry of the room and passageway.
To determine if an \( 11.25 \, m \) pole can be carried through, we compare this length to the maximum length calculated through trigonometry.
It’s given that:
\(
11.25 \, m = \frac{15\sqrt{5}}{4}
\)
which is greater than:
\(
\frac{15\sqrt{5}}{4}
\)
a derived value based on the maximum achievable length through the passageway considering the given dimensions and angle.
Therefore, due to the trigonometric limitations imposed by the dimensions of the passageway and room, a pole of length \( 11.25 \, m \) cannot be carried horizontally through the passageway into the room.
The reasoning above clearly demonstrates, through trigonometric relations and geometric constraints, that carrying an \( 11.25 \, m \) pole through the given passageway into the room is not feasible, as the length of the pole exceeds the maximum length that these geometric constraints allow.
Question
If \(f(x) = x – 3{x^{\frac{2}{3}}},{\text{ }}x > 0\) ,
(a) find the x-coordinate of the point P where \(f'(x) = 0\) ;
(b) determine whether P is a maximum or minimum point.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
(a) \(f'(x) = 1 – \frac{2}{{{x^{\frac{1}{3}}}}}\) A1
\( \Rightarrow 1 – \frac{2}{{{x^{\frac{1}{3}}}}} = 0 \Rightarrow {x^{\frac{1}{3}}} = 2 \Rightarrow x = 8\) A1
(b) \(f”(x) = \frac{2}{{3{x^{\frac{4}{3}}}}}\) A1
\(f”(8) > 0 \Rightarrow {\text{ at }}x = 8,{\text{ }}f(x){\text{ has a minimum.}}\) M1A1
[5 marks]
Examiners report
Most candidates were able to correctly differentiate the function and find the point where \(f'(x) = 0\) . They were less successful in determining the nature of the point.
Question
If \(f(x) = x – 3{x^{\frac{2}{3}}},{\text{ }}x > 0\) ,
(a) find the x-coordinate of the point P where \(f'(x) = 0\) ;
(b) determine whether P is a maximum or minimum point.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
(a) \(f'(x) = 1 – \frac{2}{{{x^{\frac{1}{3}}}}}\) A1
\( \Rightarrow 1 – \frac{2}{{{x^{\frac{1}{3}}}}} = 0 \Rightarrow {x^{\frac{1}{3}}} = 2 \Rightarrow x = 8\) A1
(b) \(f”(x) = \frac{2}{{3{x^{\frac{4}{3}}}}}\) A1
\(f”(8) > 0 \Rightarrow {\text{ at }}x = 8,{\text{ }}f(x){\text{ has a minimum.}}\) M1A1
[5 marks]
Examiners report
Most candidates were able to correctly differentiate the function and find the point where \(f'(x) = 0\) . They were less successful in determining the nature of the point.
Question
The function f is defined by \(f(x) = x{{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) .
It can be shown that \({f^{(n)}}(x) = ({2^n}x + n{2^{n – 1}}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) for all \(n \in {\mathbb{Z}^ + }\), where \({f^{(n)}}(x)\) represents the \({n^{{\text{th}}}}\) derivative of \(f(x)\) .
(a) By considering \({f^{(n)}}(x){\text{ for }}n = 1{\text{ and }}n = 2\) , show that there is one minimum point P on the graph of f , and find the coordinates of P.
(b) Show that f has a point of inflexion Q at x = −1.
(c) Determine the intervals on the domain of f where f is
(i) concave up;
(ii) concave down.
(d) Sketch f , clearly showing any intercepts, asymptotes and the points P and Q.
(e) Use mathematical induction to prove that \({f^{(n)}}(x) = ({2^n}x + n{2^{n – 1}}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}{\text{ for all }}n \in {\mathbb{Z}^ + },{\text{ where }}{f^{(n)}}{\text{ represents the }}{n^{{\text{th}}}}{\text{ derivative of }}f(x)\) .
▶️Answer/Explanation
Markscheme
(a) \(f'(x) = (1 + 2x){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) A1
\(f'(x) = 0\) M1
\( \Rightarrow (1 + 2x){{\text{e}}^{2x}} = 0 \Rightarrow x = – \frac{1}{2}\) A1
\(f”(x) = ({2^2}x + 2 \times {2^{2 – 1}}){{\text{e}}^{2x}} = (4x + 4){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) A1
\(f”\left( { – \frac{1}{2}} \right) = \frac{2}{{\text{e}}}\) A1
\(\frac{2}{{\text{e}}} > 0 \Rightarrow {\text{at }}x = – \frac{1}{2},{\text{ }}f(x){\text{ has a minimum.}}\) R1
\({\text{P}}\left( { – \frac{1}{2}, – \frac{1}{{2{\text{e}}}}} \right)\) A1
[7 marks]
(b) \(f”(x) = 0 \Rightarrow 4x + 4 = 0 \Rightarrow x = – 1\) M1A1
\({\text{Using the }}{{\text{2}}^{{\text{nd}}}}{\text{ derivative }}f”\left( { – \frac{1}{2}} \right) = \frac{2}{{\text{e}}}{\text{ and }}f”( – 2) = – \frac{4}{{{{\text{e}}^4}}},\) M1A1
the sign change indicates a point of inflexion. R1
[5 marks]
(c) (i) f(x) is concave up for \(x > – 1\) . A1
(ii) f(x) is concave down for \(x < – 1\) . A1
[2 marks]
(d)
A1A1A1A1
Note: Award A1 for P and Q, with Q above P,
A1 for asymptote at y = 0 ,
A1 for (0, 0) ,
A1 for shape.
[4 marks]
(e) Show true for n = 1 (M1)
\(f'(x) = {{\text{e}}^{2x}} + 2x{{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) A1
\( = {{\text{e}}^{2x}}(1 + 2x) = (2x + {2^0}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\)
Assume true for \(n = k{\text{ , }}i.e.{\text{ }}{f^{(k)}}x = ({2^k}x + k \times {2^{k – 1}}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}{\text{, }}k \geqslant 1\) M1A1
Consider \(n = k + 1{\text{ , }}i.e.{\text{ an attempt to find }}\frac{{\text{d}}}{{{\text{d}}x}}\left( {{f^k}(x)} \right)\) . M1
\({F^{(k + 1)}}(x) = {2^k}{{\text{e}}^{2x}} + 2{{\text{e}}^{2x}}({2^k}x + k \times {2^{k – 1}})\) A1
\( = \left( {{2^k} + 2({2^k}x + k \times {2^{k – 1}})} \right){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\)
\( = (2 \times {2^k}x + {2^k} + k \times 2 \times {2^{k – 1}}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\)
\( = ({2^{k + 1}}x + {2^k} + k \times {2^k}){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) A1
\( = \left( {{2^{k + 1}}x + \left( {k + 1} \right){2^k}} \right){{\text{e}}^{2x}}\) A1
P(n) is true for \(k \Rightarrow P(n)\) is true for k + 1, and since true for n = 1, result proved by mathematical induction \(\forall n \in {\mathbb{Z}^ + }\)
Note: Only award R1 if a reasonable attempt is made to prove the \({(k + 1)^{{\text{th}}}}\) step.
[9 marks]
Total [27 marks]
Examiners report
This was the most accessible question in section B for these candidates. A majority of candidates produced partially correct answers to part (a), but a significant number struggled with demonstrating that the point is a minimum, despite the hint being given in the question. Part (b) started quite successfully but many students were unable to prove it is a point of inflexion or, more commonly, did not attempt to justify it. Correct answers were often seen for part (c). Part (d) was dependent on the successful completion of the first three parts. If candidates made errors in earlier parts, this often became obvious when they came to sketch the curve. However, few candidates realised that this part was a good way of checking that the above answers were at least consistent. The quality of curve sketching was rather weak overall, with candidates not marking points appropriately and not making features such as asymptotes clear. It is not possible to tell to what extent this was an effect of candidates not having a calculator, but it should be noted that asking students to sketch curves without a calculator will continue to appear on non-calculator papers. In part (e) the basic idea of proof by induction had clearly been taught with a significant majority of students understanding this. However, many candidates did not understand that they had to differentiate again to find the result for (k + 1) .