Solving a Complex Math Problem: Help Appreciated

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In summary, the problem discussed is how to proceed with a given formula and finding the length and volume of a curve. The formula is given as 1+\frac{(e^x-e^{-x})^2}{4} and the community is unsure of how to expand it correctly. Through the use of the exponent rule and simplifying the terms, it is determined that the formula can be rearranged to (\frac{e^{x}+e^{-x}}{2})^2. Additionally, the formula for finding the length of the curve is given as Length=\int_{a}^{b}\sqrt{1+f'(x)^2} \,dx and the volume is given as \pi\int_{a}^{b
  • #1
Nemo1
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Hi Community,

I have the following problem and I would like some help in understanding part a.
View attachment 5624

So far I far I have been able to show that:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^x-e^{-x})^2}{4}\) = \(\displaystyle \frac{(e^x)^2-2(e^x-e^{-x})+(e^{-x})2}{4}+1\)

But I am unsure of how to proceed.

Also any pointers on how to look at the other two parts would be appreciated.

Finding the length of the curve I am thinking I need to use an arc length formula, but unsure of which?

For finding the volume I am thinking I can use \(\displaystyle \pi\int_{a}^{b}r^2 \,dx\) but need to understand how to find $f(x)$ from $x=0$ & $x=1$ from the formula as I am thinking that the $y$ value should be my radius.

Many thanks for your time in advance.

Cheers Nemo.
 

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  • #2
For part a), you are not expanding the given square correctly...recall:

\(\displaystyle (a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2\)

Let's write:

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{e^x-e^{-x}}{2}\right)^2=\frac{1}{4}\left(e^x-e^{-x}\right)^2\)

What do you get now when expanding the remaining square?
 
  • #3
MarkFL said:
For part a), you are not expanding the given square correctly...recall:

\(\displaystyle (a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2\)

Let's write:

\(\displaystyle \left(\frac{e^x-e^{-x}}{2}\right)^2=\frac{1}{4}\left(e^x-e^{-x}\right)^2\)

What do you get now when expanding the remaining square?

Would it be?

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}(e^x)^2+2(e^x)(-e^{-x})+(-e^{-x})^2\)
 
  • #4
Nemo said:
Would it be?

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}(e^x)^2+2(e^x)(-e^{-x})+(-e^{-x})^2\)

Yes...can you simplify further?
 
  • #5
MarkFL said:
Yes...can you simplify further?

So I have been working on this and must admit I am overwhelmed!

I have found that we are missing a $1+$ to the front of our formula to be equal to the original \(\displaystyle 1+({\frac{e^{x}-e^{-x}}{2}})^2\)

By using the exponent rule \(\displaystyle a^b\cdot a^c=a^{b+c}\)

I can simplify the centre to:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^{x})^2-2+(-e^{-x})^2}{4}\)

Rearranging:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

From here I am totally stumped, Sorry Mark, I really am trying to understand this!

Cheers Nemo(Sweating)
 
  • #6
Yes, I wanted you to focus on the expansion of the square first, and then we would add the $1$. You simplified correctly, and so what we have now is:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

Get a common denominator and add those two terms, and simplify by combining like terms in the numerator...what do you have?
 
  • #7
MarkFL said:
Yes, I wanted you to focus on the expansion of the square first, and then we would add the $1$. You simplified correctly, and so what we have now is:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

Get a common denominator and add those two terms, and simplify by combining like terms in the numerator...what do you have?

Slight light bulb moment:

\(\displaystyle 1+\frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

Can become:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{4}+\frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

Then can become:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4+(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2-2}{4}\)

Then:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(e^{x})^2+(-e^{-x})^2+2}{4}\)

Then:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(e^{x})(e^{x})+(-e^{-x})(-e^{-x})+2}{4}\)

Then:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(e^{x})(e^{x})-e^{-x}(-e^{-x})+2}{4}\)

Then:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}--e^{-2x}+2}{4}\)

Then:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+e^{-2x}+2}{4}\)

What do you recommend from here?
Or should I have gone a different route on a prior step?

Cheers Nemo
 
  • #8
You have correctly found:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+e^{-2x}+2}{4}\)

Let's arrange this as:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+2+e^{-2x}}{4}\)

Now, recalling that \(\displaystyle 1=e^xe^{-x}\)

Can we rewrite that middle term so that we can then apply the formula for the square of a binomial? (Thinking)
 
  • #9
MarkFL said:
You have correctly found:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+e^{-2x}+2}{4}\)

Let's arrange this as:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+2+e^{-2x}}{4}\)

Now, recalling that \(\displaystyle 1=e^xe^{-x}\)

Can we rewrite that middle term so that we can then apply the formula for the square of a binomial? (Thinking)

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+2+e^{-2x}}{4}\)

Can become:

\(\displaystyle \frac{e^{2x}+2(e^xe^{-x})+e^{-2x}}{4}\)

Which is in the format of:

\(\displaystyle (a+b)^2=A^2+2ab+b^2\)

Which then gives us:

\(\displaystyle \frac{(e^{x}+e^{-x})^2}{4}\)

Which is finally equal to:

\(\displaystyle (\frac{e^{x}+e^{-x}}{2})^2\)

which is the function we are trying to get.

Wow! I would not have ever realized that \(\displaystyle 1=e^xe^{-x}\)

Thanks Mark, now onto attempting the next bit.
 
  • #10
Hi Mark, to find the length,

I think its the following,

Using the formula:

\(\displaystyle Length=\int_{a}^{b}\sqrt{1+f'(x)^2} \,dx\)

Knowing that the derivative of \(\displaystyle \frac{e^{x}+e^{-x}}{2}\) = \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}(e^{-x}+e^{x})\)

We can plug this into get:

\(\displaystyle Length=\int_{a}^{b}\sqrt{1+(\frac{1}{2}(e^{-x}+e^{x}))^2} \,dx\)

Which without showing the working out is equal to \(\displaystyle \frac{e^2-1}{2e}=\approx 1.1752\)

Do you concur?

Cheers Nemo
 
  • #11
Okay for part b), I would write:

\(\displaystyle f(x)=\frac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle f'(x)=\frac{e^x-e^{-x}}{2}\)

So the arc-length $s$ is given by

\(\displaystyle s=\int_0^1 \sqrt{1+[f'(x)]^2}\,dx\)

We found in part a) that:

\(\displaystyle 1+[f'(x)]^2=\left(\frac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}\right)^2\)

And so we have:

\(\displaystyle s=\frac{1}{2}\int_0^1 e^x+e^{-x}\,dx=\frac{1}{2}\left[e^x-e^{-x}\right]_0^1=\frac{1}{2}\left(\left(e-\frac{1}{e}\right)-(1-1)\right)=\frac{e^2-1}{2e}\)

So yes, I concur. :D
 
  • #12
For Part C:

Using the formula for volume around an axis:

\(\displaystyle \pi\int_{a}^{b}r^2 \,dx\)

I can set up my integral as:

\(\displaystyle \pi\int_{0}^{1}(\frac{e^{x}+e^{-x}}{2})^2 \,dx\)

Simplifying and taking the indefinite integral (Take too long to type in my working out):

\(\displaystyle \pi \int \frac{1}{4}(e^{x}+e^{-x})^2 \,dx\) = \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\pi(x+sinh(2x))+c\)

Then I can calculate the boundaries using the (F.T.O.C)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\pi(1+sinh(2\cdot1))-\frac{1}{2}\pi(0+sinh(2\cdot0))\)

Which is equal to:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\pi(2+sinh(2)) = \approx 4.41932583\)

I think I am getting a handle on calculating integrals, but I must admit, that I find it difficult to know when to use substitution or when there is a suitable trig id available and or how to manipulate the functions so I can use one.

Practice, practice, practice I suppose.

Many thanks for your teaching Mark!

Cheers Nemo
 
  • #13
I will check your result with the shell method. We have:

\(\displaystyle y=\frac{e^x+e^{-x}}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2y=e^x+e^{-x}\)

\(\displaystyle 2ye^x=e^{2x}+1\)

Arranging as a quadratic in $e^x$, we get:

\(\displaystyle \left(e^{x}\right)^2-2ye^x+1=0\)

And so, by the quadratic formula, we get:

\(\displaystyle e^x=\frac{-(-2y)\pm\sqrt{(-2y)^2-4(1)(1)}}{2(1)}=y\pm\sqrt{y^2-1}\)

Now, observing that:

\(\displaystyle y(1)=\frac{e^2+1}{2e}\)

we find:

\(\displaystyle e^1=\frac{e^2+1}{2e}\pm\sqrt{\left(\frac{e^2+1}{2e}\right)^2-1}\)

\(\displaystyle 2e^2=\left(e^2+1\right)\pm\sqrt{\left(e^2+1\right)^2-4e^2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2e^2=\left(e^2+1\right)\pm\left(e^2-1\right)\)

From this, we can see we want the larger of the two quadratic roots:

\(\displaystyle e^x=y+\sqrt{y^2-1}\)

Hence:

\(\displaystyle x=\ln\left(y+\sqrt{y^2-1}\right)\)

And so we may state:

\(\displaystyle V=\pi+2\pi\int_{y(0)}^{y(1)} u\left(1-\ln\left(u+\sqrt{u^2-1}\right)\right)\,du=\pi\left(1+\frac{1}{4}(\sinh(2)-2)\right)=\frac{\pi}{4}\left(\sinh(2)+2\right)\checkmark\)

It appears the two methods agree. (Yes)
 

FAQ: Solving a Complex Math Problem: Help Appreciated

How do I approach solving a complex math problem?

Solving a complex math problem requires breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. Start by understanding the problem and identifying what information is given and what is being asked. Then, use relevant formulas and techniques to solve the problem.

What should I do if I get stuck on a complex math problem?

If you get stuck, don't panic. Take a break and come back to the problem with a fresh mind. You can also try working backwards from the answer or seeking help from a peer or teacher.

How can I improve my problem-solving skills in math?

Practice makes perfect! The more you work on solving complex math problems, the better you will become. Also, try to understand the underlying concepts and logic behind each problem, rather than just memorizing formulas.

Are there any resources that can help me with solving complex math problems?

Yes, there are many resources available such as textbooks, online tutorials, and practice problems. You can also seek help from a tutor or join a study group to improve your problem-solving skills.

Is there a specific approach or strategy for solving complex math problems?

There is no one-size-fits-all approach for solving complex math problems. However, some common strategies include breaking the problem down into smaller parts, using diagrams or visual aids, and checking your work for errors. It is important to find a strategy that works best for you.

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