Programme 9 Additional Problems

Differentiation applications
1 A metal window frame is to be constructed from a continuous strip of
metal in the form of a rectangle surmounted by a semicircle. If the length
of the metal strip is 10 m, find the dimensions of the window that permits
the maximum amount of light to pass through.
Solutions Working
2 One component of a whiskey still consists of a cylinder made from copper
sheet with a cone of copper on the top, also made from copper sheet. To
optimise production the still has to have the greatest volume possible but
the gains made from production have to be offset by the high cost of pure
copper sheet. For a given total volume and a circular base of a given radius
prove that the amount of copper used is a minimum when the semi-
vertical angle of the cone c is such that cos c 2,3.
Working
3 To create a visual impact an artist wishes to frame a rectangular picture in a
rectangular frame where the sides of the frame are not parallel to the sides
of the picture. The sides of a picture are a and b and the frame is
constructed so that the each of the sides touches a corner of the picture.
What is the maximum area of the frame?
Solutions Working
4 An engineering component is in the form of solid sphere with a hole cut
into it in the shape of a right circular cone. Show that the maximum
possible volume of the conical hole is 8,27 times the volume of the sphere.
Solutions Working
5 One component of a mechanical governor for an engine consists of metal
sphere of radius r through which a cylindrical hole has been cut. To
optimise the efficiency of operation the cylindrical hole has to have the
maximum surface area possible. Find the height h of the cylinder when the
surface area of the cylinder is a maximum.
Solutions Working
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
6 The spectrum of black body radiation is given as:
u`
8:c
`
5
1
e
hc,`kT
1
where u` is the energy density between ` and ` d` where ` is the
wavelength of the radiation, h, c, T are Planks constant, the speed of light
and the absolute temperature respectively and k is the Boltzman constant.
Show that for a given temperature the wavelength of maximum energy
density `
max
is given by the equation:
`
max
T
hc
4
.
965k
Hint: Use the Newton-Raphson procedure to solve
x
1 e
x
5 0
Working
7 In a submarine cable the range of signalling rx is given by the expression:
rx Ax
2
ln1,x
where A is a positive constant and x is the ratio of the radius of the core to
that of the cable.
(a) Find the stationary point of rx.
(b) Show that this stationary point maximises rx.
Solutions Working
8 An electric cable has one end fixed to the floor and the other end fixed to a
wall. Between these two points the cable hangs forming the shape
given by:
y 5e
wx,f
where y is the height of a point on the cable distant x horizontally from the
lower fixed point and where w and f are constants.
(a) Find the change in the calculated value of y produced by small errors
in the measurement ofw and f .
(b) Show further that the percentage error in y is equal to:
wx,f difference in percentage errors in w and f )
Solutions Working
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
9 The deflection y at the centre of a circular plate suspended at its
circumference and uniformly loaded is given by:
y
kwd
4
t
3
where w total load, d diameter of the plate, t thickness of the plate
and k is a constant. If errors of 1%, 2% and 1% can occur in measuring
the values of w, d and t respectively, use the first-order approximation to
determine that maximum error possible in the calculated value of y.
Solutions Working
10 In a tangent galvanometer the current is proportional to the tangent of the
deflection of the needle. Show that if an observer always makes the same
error when reading a deflection of the needle the percentage error in the
current is least when the needle reading is 458.
Working
11 As part of a costing exercise it was necessary to know how costs changed
when manufacturing processes deviated from their intended mode of
operation. One process involved the construction of a right circular cone
and it was required to know how the surface area S varied with variations
in the semi-vertical angle c given that the area of the slanting surface of a
right circular cone with semi-vertical angle c is given as:
S :h
2
tancsec c
where h is the height of the cone. Show that a small increase in the semi-
vertical angle cc results in an increase in the surface area of the cone of:
cS
1 sin
2
ccc
sinccos c
and that this is least for a given value of cc when sinc 1,

3
p
.
Working
Solutions
1 2
.
80 metres wide by 2
.
80 metres high
Questions Working
3
a b
2
2
Questions Working
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
4
Volume of conical hole is
1
3
:r
3
32,27
Questions Working
5 h

2r
p
Questions Working
7 (a) x 1,

e
p
Questions Working
8
(a)
wxy
f
cw
w

cf
f
_ _
Questions Working
9 12%
Questions Working
Working
1 The maximum amount of light will pass when the window has maximum
area. Keeping the perimeter of the window constant any change in the
height of the window will be accompanied by a corresponding change in
the width. Let D be the diameter of the semicircle and h the height of the
rectangle. The perimeter of the window is then:
D2h
:D
2
10
From this we find that:
h 5
D
2
1
:
2
_ _
The area of the window is then the area of the rectangle plus the area of the
semicircle:
A Dh
:
2
D
2
_ _
2
5D
D
2
2
1
:
2
_ _

:D
2
8
5D
D
2
2
1
:
4
_ _
Differentiating with respect to D we find
dA
dD
5 D 1
:
4
_ _
and
d
2
A
dD
2
1
:
4
_ _
< 0
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
So the window has a maximum area when
dA
dD
0. That is when:
5 D 1
:
4
_ _
0 that is when D 5 1
:
4
_ _ _
2.80 metres to 2 dp.
The height of the rectangular part of the window is then:
h 5
2
.
80
2
1
:
2
_ _
1
.
40 metres to 2 dp
giving the total height of the window as 2
.
80 metres to 2 dp.
Questions Solutions
2 Let H be the height of the cylinder below the conical top, let h be the
height of the cone and let r be the radius of the cylinder and base of the
cone. The volume of the cylinder is then :r
2
H and the volume of the cone
is :r
2
h,3. Let V denote the volume of the still and we see that:
V :r
2
H
h
3
_ _
so that H
V
:r
2

h
3
The surface area of the cylinder is given as the area of the base plus the area
of the side which is:
S
cyl
:r
2
2:rH
The surface area of the conical cap is:
S
con
:r

r
2
h
2
_
To find the minimum surface area for a fixed volume and fixed radius we
must minimise:
S :r
2
2:rH :r

r
2
h
2
_
:r
2
2:r
V
:r
2

h
3
_ _
:r

r
2
h
2
_
which we do by varying the height of the cone (which is accompanied by a
corresponding change in the height of the cylinder). Now:
dS
dh

2:r
3

:rh

r
2
h
2
p 0 when
h

r
2
h
2
p
2
3
that is when the semi-vertical angle c of the cone is such that cos c 2,3.
The fact that this is a minimum can be seen from the second derivative:
d
2
S
dh
2

:rh

r
2
h
2

_
:r r
2
h
2
_ _
1,2
:rh
2
r
2
h
2
_ _
1,2
r
2
h
2


:r
3
r
2
h
2

3,2
0
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
3
a
b

Each of the sides of the exterior rectangle is inclined to the the adjacent
side of the interior rectangle by the same angle. If this angle is denoted
by c then the side lengths of the exterior rectangle are:
a sinc b cos c and a cos c b sinc.
Consequently, the area of the exterior rectangle is given as:
Ac a sinc b cos ca cos c b sinc
ab sin
2
c ab cos
2
c a
2
b
2
_ _
sinccos c
ab a
2
b
2
_ _
sin2c
2
Therefore
A
0
c a
2
b
2
_ _
cos 2c
0 when 2c :,2 so that c :,4
So there is a stationary point when c :,4. Since
A
00
c a
2
b
2
_ _
2sin2c < 0 when c :,4
the stationary point is a maximum. The area of the exterior rectangle is
then:
Ac ab a
2
b
2
_ _
sin:,2
2
ab
a
2
b
2
2
_ _

a b
2
2
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
4

If the semi-vertical angle of the cone is 0 then the height of the cone is
h r r cos 20 and the volume of the cone is given as:
V
1
3
:R
2
h where R r sin20 is the radius of the base.
Therefore:
V0
1
3
:R
2
h

1
3
:r
2
sin
2
20.r1 cos 20

1
3
:r
3
sin
2
20
1
3
:r
3
sin
2
20 cos 20
The volume V0 has a stationary point when V
0
0 0 which, if V
00
0 < 0
at that point, is a maximum. Now:
V
0
0
1
3
:r
3
2sin20.2cos 20
1
3
:r
3
2sin20.2cos
2
20 sin
2
20.2sin20

1
3
:r
3
2sin202cos 20
1
3
:r
3
2sin202cos
2
20 sin
2
20

1
3
:r
3
2sin20 2cos 20 2cos
2
20 1 cos
2
20
_ _ _

1
3
:r
3
2sin20 3cos
2
20 2cos 20 1
_ _
0 when
sin20 0 or 3cos
2
20 2cos 20 1 0. That is when 0 0 or when
3cos 20 1cos 20 1 0, that is cos 20 1 so 0 :,2 or
3cos 20 1 whence cos 20 1,3 and sin20 2

2
p
,3.
Stationary points exist at 0 0 which is clearly a cone of zero volume, at
0 :,2 which, again, is clearly a cone of zero volume and at
20 cos
1
1,3 which must be the cone of maximum volume.
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
Now, when cos 20 1,3:
V0
1
3
:r
3
sin
2
201 cos 20

1
3
:r
3
8,91 1,3
1
3
:r
3
32,27
Whereas, the volume of the sphere is
4
3
:r
3
making the volume of the cone
of maximum volume 8,27ths the volume of the sphere.
Questions Solutions
5

Let c be the angle between the radius of the sphere that has its end point
on the edge of the cylindrical hole and radius along the axis of the cylinder
then:
h,2
r
cos c so that h 2r cos c
Furthermore, the surface area of the cylinder, Sc, is given as:
perimeter of the circular end of the cylinder height of the cylinder
2:r sinc 2r cos c
2:r
2
sin2c
So that:
S
0
c 4:r
2
cos 2c and
S
00
c 8:r
2
sin2c
Therefore S
0
c 0 when cos 2c 0, that is when 2c :,2 so c :,4 and
S
00
:,4 < 0 which tells us that when c :,4 the surface area of the
cylinder is a maximum. Also when c :,4 then
h 2r cos :,4
2

2
p r

2
p
r
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
6
u`
8:c
`
5
1
e
hc,`kT
1
therefore:
u
0
` 5
8:c
`
6
1
e
hc,`kT
1

8:c
`
5
hc,`
2
kTe
hc,`kT
e
hc,`kT
1
2
5
8:c
`
6
1
e
hc,`kT
1

8:c
`
5
hc,`
2
kTe
hc,`kT
e
hc,`kT
1
2
5
8:c
`
6
1
e
x
1

8:c
`
6
xe
x
e
x
1
2
where x hc,`kT

8:c
`
6
1
e
x
1
xe
x
e
x
1
5
_ _

8:c
`
6
1
e
x
1
_
x
1 e
x
5
_
0
when
x
1 e
x
5 0
A plot of f x
x
1 e
x
5 will show that x 5 is a good approximate
solution to the equation f x 0 [notice that x 0 is not in the domain of
the function].
Using the Newton-Raphson procedure we find that:
f x
x
1 e
x
5 and so f
0
x
11 e
x
xe
x
1 e
x

2
where
x
n1

f x
n

f
0
x
n

and x
0
5.
This can be programmed into a spreadsheet to produce the following
result:
n x
n
f x
n
f
0
x
n

0 5.00 0.033918 0.972635

1 4.965127 1.28E-05 0.971896
2 4.965114 1.88E-12 0.971895
3 4.965114 0 0.971895
That is, when ` `
max
then x hc,`
max
kT 4
.
965 to 3 dp. Hence:
`
max
T
hc
4
.
965k
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
7 (a) Given rx Ax
2
ln1,x then a stationary point exists where r
0
x 0.
Now:
rx Ax
2
ln1,x Ax
2
lnx and so
r
0
x 2Ax lnx Ax
so stationary points exist where
r
0
x 2Ax lnx Ax Ax2 lnx 1 0
That is when:
2lnx 1 that is when x 1,

e
p
(the case x 0 is not permitted because ln0 is not defined)
(b) To determine the nature of the stationary point we need to consider
the second derivative.
r
00
x Ax2lnx 1
0
A 2lnx 1 Ax 21,x
then r
00
1,

e
p _ _
A 2ln 1,

e
p _ _
1
_ _
A 1,

e
p _ _
2 1, 1,

e
p _ _ _ _ _ _
A lne 1 A 1,

e
p _ _
2

e
p _ _ _
A 1,

e
p _ _
2

e
p
1
_ _
since lne 1
< 0
Since r
00
1,

e
p _ _
< 0 the stationary point at x 1,e is a maximum.
Questions Solutions
8 (a) Given y 5e
wx,f
then:
cy
0y
0w
cw
0y
0f
cf
5
x
f
e
wx,f
cw 5wxe
wx,f
1,f
2
_ _
cf

x
f
ycw
wx
f
2
ycf

wex
f
y
cw
w

wx
f
y
cf
f

wxy
f
cw
w

cf
f
_ _
(b) Therefore
cy
y
100
wx
f
cw
w

cf
f
_ _
100 as required
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
9
Given y
kwd
4
t
3
then the approximate error cy obtained due to measure-
ment errors of cw, cd and ct in w, d and t respectively is given as:
cy
0y
0w
cw
0y
0d
cd
0y
0t
ct

kd
4
t
3
cw 4
kwd
3
t
3
cd 3
kwd
4
t
4
ct

y
w
cw 4
y
d
cd 3
y
t
ct
Therefore:
cy
y
100
cw
w
100 4
cd
d
100 3
ct
t
100
1 4 2 3 1
1 8 8 12%
Questions Solutions
10 The current I0 is proportional to the tangent of the deflection 0 of the
needle so that:
I0 k tan0
The error cI0 in I0 due to a consistent error c0 in 0 is then:
cI0
dI0
d0
c0
k sec
2
0 c0
Therefore:
cI0
I0

k sec
2
0
k tan0
c0

2
sin20
c0
This has a stationary value when
2
sin20
_ _
0
that is when:
2
sin20
_ _

4cos 20
sin
2
20
0
So when cos 20 0, 20 :,2 so 0 :,4 then the proportionate error in
I0 has a stationary value.
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.
Taking the second derivative:
2
sin20
_ _
00

4cos 20
sin
2
20
_ _
0

8sin20 sin
2
20 4cos 20 4sin20 cos 20
sin
4
20
0
when 0 :,4.
Therefore the stationary point at 0 :,4 is a minimum.
Questions Solutions
11 Since Sc :h
2
tancsec c then:
S
0
c :h
2
sec
2
csec c tanctancsec c
_ _
:h
2
sec
3
c tan
2
csec c
:h
2
sec csec
2
c tan
2
c

Sc
tanc
sec
2
c tan
2
c
The change cSc in Sc due to a change in c of cc is given as:
cSc S
0
ccc

Sc
tanc
sec
2
c tan
2
c
_ _
Consequently the fractional change in Sc is:
cSc
Sc

sec
2
c tan
2
c
tanc
_ _
cc
1 sin
2
c
sinccos c
_ _
cc
To find the minimum value of this we must differentiate
1 sin
2
c
sinccos c
with
respect to c.
1 sin
2
c
sinccos c
_ _
0

2 sinccos c sinccos c cos

2
c sin
2
c
_
1 sin
2
c
_
sin
2
ccos
2
c
_ _

2sin
2
ccos
2
c cos
2
c sin
2
c
_
cos
2
csin
2
c sin
4
c
_
sin
2
ccos
2
c
_ _
since cos
2
c 1 sin
2
c

2sin
2
c 2sin
4
c 1 2sin
2
c
_
cos
2
csin
2
c sin
4
c
_
sin
2
ccos
2
c
_ _

3sin
2
c 1
sin
2
c sin
4
c
_ _
0 when 3 sin
2
c 1, that is when sinc 1,

3
p
Questions Solutions
Additional questions to accompany Engineering Mathematics sixth edition by K.A. Stroud with
additions by Dexter J. Booth. Visit www.palgrave.com/stroud for more resources.