Connect the curve 5

Calculus Level 2

The curve of sin ( a x ) \sin { \left( ax \right) } is tangent to the curve of sin ( x ) \sin { \left( x \right) } at x = 5 π 2 x=\frac { 5\pi }{2 } .

If minimum positive value of a a can be expressed as A B \frac { A }{B } for co-prime A A and B B , then find A + B A+B .


The answer is 6.

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3 solutions

Kyle Finch
May 1, 2015

a c o s a x = 0 acosax=0

at x=5pi/2

c o s ( a 5 π 2 ) cos(a\frac{5\pi}{2})

a=1/5 for minimum as cospi/2 is zero

Moderator note:

Your solution is vastly insufficient. Can you elaborate on it?

Jason Hughes
May 2, 2015

The curve of s i n ( a x ) sin(ax) is tangent to the curve of s i n ( x ) sin(x) at x = 5 π 2 x=\frac{5\pi}{2} . This means that the derivative of the curves are equal at x = 5 π 2 x=\frac{5\pi}{2} . This means that a c o s ( a x ) = c o s ( x ) acos(ax)=cos(x) and since c o s ( 5 π 2 ) = 0 cos(\frac{5\pi}{2})=0 then a c o s ( 5 π 2 a ) = 0 acos(\frac{5\pi}{2}a)=0

So a = 0 a=0 or c o s ( 5 π 2 a ) = 0 cos(\frac{5\pi}{2}a)=0

a cannot be zero to be written in form of co-prime A and B. so c o s ( 5 π 2 a ) = 0 cos(\frac{5\pi}{2}a)=0

and since c o s ( π 2 ) = 0. cos(\frac{\pi}{2})=0. Then 5 π 2 a = π 2 \frac{5\pi}{2}a=\frac{\pi}{2}

a = 1 5 a=\frac{1}{5}

1 + 5 = 6 1+5=6

Carsten Meyer
Feb 23, 2019

Let f ( x ) : = sin ( x ) , g ( x ) : = sin ( a x ) f(x):=\sin(x),\quad g(x):=\sin(ax) . The demand " f f is tangent to g g at x = 5 π 2 x=\frac{5\pi}{2} " yields two equations:

f ( x ) = ! g ( x ) 1 = sin ( 5 π 2 ) = ! sin ( a x ) = sin ( 5 a π 2 ) 5 a π 2 = π 2 + 2 π n , cos ( a x ) = 0 f ( x ) = ! g ( x ) 0 = cos ( 5 π 2 ) = ! a cos ( a x ) = a 0 = 0 true \begin{aligned} f(x)&\overset{!}{=}g(x)&\Rightarrow&&1&=\sin\left(\frac{5\pi}{2}\right)\overset{!}{=}\sin(ax)=\sin\left(\frac{5a\pi}{2}\right)&\Rightarrow &&\frac{5a\pi}{2}&=\frac{\pi}{2}+2\pi n,\quad \cos(ax)=0\\\\ f'(x)&\overset{!}{=}g'(x)&\Rightarrow&&0&=\cos\left(\frac{5\pi}{2}\right)\overset{!}{=}a\cos(ax)=a\cdot0=0&\text{true} \end{aligned}

The second expression true for any a a . Solving the first expression we have a = 1 5 + 4 n 5 a=\frac{1}{5}+\frac{4n}{5} , the minimal positive value being a = 1 5 \boxed{a=\frac{1}{5}}

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