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jaejoon89
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Finding line integrals -- please help!
Given
F = y/(x^2 + y^2) i - x / (x^2 + y^2) j
Find the line integral of the tangential component of F from (-1,0) to (0,1) to (1,1) to (1,0) (assuming F is NOT path independent).
---
I tried parameterizing each of the three paths using the formula
r(t) = (1-t)r_0 + tr_1
---
I've been racking my brain on this for hours. The book says the answer is pi. My teacher says it isn't.
For path 1:
x = -1 + t, y = t
=> dx = dt = dy
For path 2:
x = t, y = 1
=> dy = 0
For path 3:
x = 1, y = 1-t
=> dx = 0
I then substituted these values in the original equation for F and integrated from t = 0 to t = 1 for each step. I get
[tan^-1 (1) - tan^-1 (1)] + [tan^-1 (1) - tan^-1 (0)] + [tan^-1 (0) - tan^-1 (1)] = 0 + pi/4 - pi/4 = 0
Perhaps I take one of the tan^-1 (0) to be pi instead? What am I doing wrong? Please help!
Given
F = y/(x^2 + y^2) i - x / (x^2 + y^2) j
Find the line integral of the tangential component of F from (-1,0) to (0,1) to (1,1) to (1,0) (assuming F is NOT path independent).
---
I tried parameterizing each of the three paths using the formula
r(t) = (1-t)r_0 + tr_1
---
I've been racking my brain on this for hours. The book says the answer is pi. My teacher says it isn't.
For path 1:
x = -1 + t, y = t
=> dx = dt = dy
For path 2:
x = t, y = 1
=> dy = 0
For path 3:
x = 1, y = 1-t
=> dx = 0
I then substituted these values in the original equation for F and integrated from t = 0 to t = 1 for each step. I get
[tan^-1 (1) - tan^-1 (1)] + [tan^-1 (1) - tan^-1 (0)] + [tan^-1 (0) - tan^-1 (1)] = 0 + pi/4 - pi/4 = 0
Perhaps I take one of the tan^-1 (0) to be pi instead? What am I doing wrong? Please help!
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