A definite integral which shows us how close our approximation is to a transcendental number.

Calculus Level 4

0 1 x 4 ( 1 x ) 4 1 + x 2 d x = A \large \int_0^1 \frac {x^4(1-x)^4}{1+x^2} dx=A

The equation above holds true for real number A A . What is 10000 A \lceil 10000A\rceil ?

Notation: \lceil \cdot \rceil denotes the ceiling function .


The answer is 13.

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1 solution

Chew-Seong Cheong
Mar 29, 2017

I = 0 1 x 4 ( 1 x ) 4 1 + x 2 d x = 0 1 x 4 ( x 4 4 x 3 + 6 x 2 4 x + 1 ) 1 + x 2 d x = 0 1 x 8 4 x 7 + 6 x 6 4 x 5 + x 4 x 2 + 1 d x = 0 1 ( x 6 4 x 5 + 5 x 4 4 x 2 + 4 4 x 2 + 1 ) d x = x 7 7 4 x 6 6 + 5 x 5 5 4 x 3 3 + 4 x 4 tan 1 x 0 1 = 1 7 2 3 + 1 4 3 + 4 π = 22 7 π 0.0012645 \begin{aligned} I & = \int_0^1 \frac {x^4(1-x)^4}{1+x^2} dx \\ & = \int_0^1 \frac {x^4(x^4-4x^3+6x^2-4x+1)}{1+x^2} dx \\ & = \int_0^1 \frac {x^8-4x^7+6x^6-4x^5+x^4}{x^2+1} dx \\ & = \int_0^1 \left(x^6-4x^5+5x^4-4x^2+4- \frac 4{x^2+1} \right) dx \\ & = \frac {x^7}7- \frac {4x^6}6 + \frac {5x^5}5 - \frac {4x^3}3 + 4x - 4\tan^{-1}x \ \bigg|_0^1 \\ & = \frac 17- \frac 23 + 1 - \frac 43 + 4 - \pi \\ & = \frac {22}7 - \pi \approx 0.0012645 \end{aligned}

10000 A = 12.645 = 13 \implies \lceil 10000A \rceil = \lceil 12.645 \rceil = \boxed{13}

Correct ! This is one way to demonstrate to a class of students that the approximation 22/7 we use is greater than pi.

Vijay Simha - 4 years, 2 months ago

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Nice question

Kushal Bose - 4 years, 2 months ago

Yes, Thats quite a brainy one @Vijay Simha . Good way to show them mathematically that π \pi and 22 7 \dfrac{22}{7} are different.

Md Zuhair - 4 years, 2 months ago

You know that a problem is great when it's on Youtube! You know that a problem is great when it's on Youtube!

Tapas Mazumdar - 4 years, 2 months ago

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Haha, Copied Problem :P

Md Zuhair - 4 years, 2 months ago

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