M2 Projectiles

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  1. Julii92's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Posts: 443
    M2 Projectiles
    I'm given the equation x^2\tan^2 \theta - 2ax\tan \theta + (x^2 - 2ab) = 0.
    From this I'm meant to show that the maximum value of x as  \theta varies is \sqrt {a(a+2b)} and that this is achieved when  \tan \theta = \sqrt {\frac {a}{a+2b}} .

    I get that the maximum value of  x occurse when  \theta = 45 , giving me the quadratic equation x^2 - ax - ab = 0 . Solving this quadratic gives me  2x = a \pm \sqrt {a(a+4b)} , which kinda looks like what I'm aiming for, but it isn't quite right. Can anyone tell me what I should be doing?

    Thanks for any help.

    ETA: This isn't the full question - the first part is where the projectiles element is, and all it asks is to derive the first equation given above (which wasn't a problem).
    Last edited by Julii92; 25-07-2012 at 14:42.
  2. Bric's Avatar
    • New Member
    • Posts: 23
    Re: M2 Projectiles
    For the first bit, there may be better ways, but you can differentiate the expression w.r.t theta. Then as dx/dtheta = 0 at max, 3 of the terms go away, leaving a nice tan theta = a/x.

    Now sub this tan theta back into the original expression to get what you need.

    Then for the next bit, sub this value of x back into the tan theta = a/x bit (found earlier) and you're there.

    Bric
  3. TenOfThem's Avatar
    • TSR Royalty
    Re: M2 Projectiles
    (Original post by Bric)
    For the first bit, there may be better ways, but you can differentiate the expression w.r.t theta. Then as dx/dtheta = 0 at max, 3 of the terms go away, leaving a nice tan theta = a/x.

    Now sub this tan theta back into the original expression to get what you need.

    Then for the next bit, sub this value of x back into the tan theta = a/x bit (found earlier) and you're there.

    Bric
    You can get the tan = a/x by completing the square
  4. Julii92's Avatar
    • Adored and Respected Member
    • Posts: 443
    Re: M2 Projectiles
    (Original post by Bric)
    For the first bit, there may be better ways, but you can differentiate the expression w.r.t theta. Then as dx/dtheta = 0 at max, 3 of the terms go away, leaving a nice tan theta = a/x.

    Now sub this tan theta back into the original expression to get what you need.

    Then for the next bit, sub this value of x back into the tan theta = a/x bit (found earlier) and you're there.

    Bric
    Thanks, seems I'll have to complete C3 and C4 before tackling questions like this.
  5. Jammy4410's Avatar
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    • Location: London
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    Re: M2 Projectiles
    (Original post by Julii92)
    Thanks, seems I'll have to complete C3 and C4 before tackling questions like this.
    On the spec, it says prior knowledge is C1/C2/C3/M1
    I tried M2 but gave up after I saw trig identities.
  6. Julii92's Avatar
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    • Posts: 443
    Re: M2 Projectiles
    (Original post by Jammy4410)
    On the spec, it says prior knowledge is C1/C2/C3/M1
    I tried M2 but gave up after I saw trig identities.
    I think it says C4 aswell - for OCR in any case.
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