Maximizing a Line Integral

Calculus Level 5

Let r ( t ) = < f ( t ) , g ( t ) > r(t)=<f(t),g(t)> be a simple closed curve in 2-space for 0 t < T 0 \leq t < T , and r ( 0 ) = r ( T ) r(0)=r(T) .

It is known that 0 T [ f ( t ) ] 2 + [ g ( t ) ] 2 d t = 24 \int_{0}^{T} \sqrt{[f'(t)]^{2}+[g'(t)]^{2}} \, dt=24

If the maximum value of c ( x 2 + 8 x ) d y + ( 2 x y ) d x \oint_{c}( x^{2}+8x ) \, dy + ( 2xy ) \, dx integrated along r ( t ) r(t) from 0 t < T 0 \leq t < T is I I , find I \lfloor I \rfloor

Details and Assumptions:

  • The region enclosed by r ( t ) r(t) from 0 t < T 0 \leq t < T is simple, closed, piecewise smooth, and positively oriented in the x y xy -plane.
  • You may use that fact that π 1 0.3183 \pi^{-1}\approx0.3183 .


The answer is 366.

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1 solution

Brandon Monsen
Oct 7, 2016

Green's Theorem helps us evaluate the line integral, call it L L :

L = c ( x 2 + 8 x ) d y + ( 2 x y ) d x = R ( x x 2 + 8 x y 2 x y ) d A = 8 R d A L=\oint_{c} \left( x^{2}+8x \right) dy + \left( 2xy \right) dx= \iint _{ R } \left( { \frac { \partial }{ \partial x } x^{ 2 }+8x }-\frac { \partial }{ \partial y } 2xy \right) dA = 8 \iint_{R} dA

Where R R is the region enclosed by r ( t ) r(t) , A e n c A_{enc} .

In essence, L L is simply 8 A e n c 8A_{enc} .

Our other integral is simply the arclength formula for a parametric function, so we know that the perimeter of whatever region r ( t ) r(t) encloses will be 24 24 .

It is well known that the shape in 2-space that maximizes area for a given perimeter is a circle, therefore R R must be a circle of circumference 24 24 .

2 π r = 24 A e n c = 144 π I = 8 A e n c = 1152 π 366.69 2\pi r=24 \rightarrow A_{enc}=\frac{144}{\pi} \rightarrow I=8A_{enc}=\frac{1152}{\pi} \approx 366.69

And so I = 366 \lfloor I \rfloor=\boxed{366}

In similar manner one can also calculate the closed line integral (2nd form) along a circle with perimeter 24.

Andreas Wendler - 4 years, 8 months ago

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Yep, that's the idea.

The reason I had to go into all the detail above was to prove that a circle with circumference 24 was in fact the closed loop that would maximize the integral, hence why I showed that the line integral evaluated to 8 A e n c 8A_{enc} .

Otherwise how would you know that a square wouldn't maximize the integral? Or some other blob?

Brandon Monsen - 4 years, 8 months ago

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That's right. Of course your proof via Stokes' rule is correct!

Andreas Wendler - 4 years, 8 months ago

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