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November 01, 2025, 04:59:09 pm

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JackSonSmith

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Difficult calculus question
« on: April 19, 2015, 02:21:20 pm »
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A curve has parametric equations  x= t - cos(t)  and y = sin(t)
Find the equation to the curve when t = pi/6

I keep on getting y = (root 3 /3) x  -  (root 3) pi / 18  + 1/2

However the answers say that it's y = (root 3 /3) x  -  (root 3) pi / 18  + 1
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kinslayer

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Re: Difficult calculus question
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2015, 10:54:50 pm »
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A curve has parametric equations  x= t - cos(t)  and y = sin(t)
Find the equation to the curve when t = pi/6

I keep on getting y = (root 3 /3) x  -  (root 3) pi / 18  + 1/2

However the answers say that it's y = (root 3 /3) x  -  (root 3) pi / 18  + 1

r'(t) = (x'(t), y'(t)) = (1 + sin(t), cos(t))

r'(pi/6) = (3/2, sqrt(3)/2)

A tangent to the curve is r(pi/6) + t*r'(pi/6) = (pi/6 - sqrt(3/2), 1/2) + (3*t/2, sqrt(3)*t/2)

= (pi/6 - sqrt(3)/2 + 3*t/2, 1/2 + sqrt(3)*t/2)

Converting to cartesian we have

t = (2/3)*(x + sqrt(3)/2 - pi/6) = (y - 1/2)*(2/sqrt(3))

after algebra we get :

y = sqrt(3)*x/3 - sqrt(3)*pi/18 + 1
« Last Edit: April 19, 2015, 11:24:14 pm by kinslayer »