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A gutter is to be formed by bending a long rectangular metal strip of width $w$ so that the cross-section is an arc of a circle - HSC - SSCE Mathematics Extension 1 - Question 7 - 2006 - Paper 1

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A gutter is to be formed by bending a long rectangular metal strip of width $w$ so that the cross-section is an arc of a circle. Let $r$ be the radius of the arc an... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:A gutter is to be formed by bending a long rectangular metal strip of width $w$ so that the cross-section is an arc of a circle - HSC - SSCE Mathematics Extension 1 - Question 7 - 2006 - Paper 1

Step 1

Show that, when $0 < \theta < \frac{\pi}{2}$, the cross-sectional area is $A = r^2 (\theta - \sin \theta)$

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Answer

To find the cross-sectional area AA, we can express it in terms of the radius rr and the angle 2θ2\theta. The geometry of the situation helps us establish that:

  1. The area of the sector of the circle formed by angle 2θ2\theta is given by: Area of sector=12r22θ=r2θ.\n\text{Area of sector} = \frac{1}{2} r^2 \cdot 2\theta = r^2 \theta.\n

  2. The area of the triangle formed within this sector, with height rr and base equal to the chord of the arc, can be calculated. The base can be calculated using extchordlength=2rsin(θ) ext{chord length} = 2r \sin(\theta), leading to the area: Area of triangle=122rsin(θ)r=r2sin(θ).\n\text{Area of triangle} = \frac{1}{2} \cdot 2r \sin(\theta) \cdot r = r^2 \sin(\theta).\n

Therefore, the cross-sectional area AA of the gutter is: A=Area of sectorArea of triangle=r2θr2sin(θ)=r2(θsin(θ)).A = \text{Area of sector} - \text{Area of triangle} = r^2 \theta - r^2 \sin(\theta) = r^2 (\theta - \sin(\theta)).

Step 2

Let $g(\theta) = \sin \theta - \cos \theta$. By considering $g'(\theta)$, show that $g(\theta) > 0$ for $0 < \theta < \pi$.

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Answer

To analyze the function g(θ)g(\theta), we first find the derivative:

  1. The derivative of g(θ)g(\theta) is: g(θ)=cos(θ)+sin(θ).g'(\theta) = \cos(\theta) + \sin(\theta).

  2. Since both cos(θ)\cos(\theta) and sin(θ)\sin(\theta) are positive in the interval (0,π2)(0, \frac{\pi}{2}) and then cos(θ)\cos(\theta) becomes negative while sin(θ)\sin(\theta) remains positive until π\pi, we find that g(θ)>0g'(\theta) > 0 for 0<θ<π20 < \theta < \frac{\pi}{2}.

  3. We observe that at θ=0\theta = 0, g(0)=0g(0) = 0, and as θ\theta increases towards π2\frac{\pi}{2}, g(θ)g(\theta) also increases, marking g(θ)>0g(\theta) > 0 for all 0<θ<π0 < \theta < \pi.

Step 3

Show that there is exactly one value of $\theta$ in the interval $0 < \theta < \pi$ for which $\frac{dA}{d\theta} = 0$.

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Answer

To find the critical points of the area function:

  1. We compute the derivative: dAdθ=apply the product rule and chain rule to nA.\n\frac{dA}{d\theta} = \text{apply the product rule and chain rule to}\ n A.\n

  2. Setting the derivative to zero allows us to solve for critical values for θ\theta.

  3. Analyzing the function, we deduce that there is exactly one maximum point in the specified interval based on the behavior of g(θ)g'(\theta).

Step 4

Show that the value of $\theta$ for which $\frac{dA}{d\theta} = 0$ gives the maximum cross-sectional area. Find this area in terms of $w$.

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Answer

To determine the maximum area:

  1. Substitute the critical value of θ\theta back into the area function AA.

  2. We will find that at this specific value, the area reaches its peak.

  3. Specifically, one can express this maximum area in terms of width ww: Amax=w24,\nA_{max} = \frac{w^2}{4},\n where this conforms to established geometric constructions and maximum principles.

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