1. In this problem you will prove that the shortest distance between two points is a line using the calculus of variations. Consider a curve y(x) whose endpoints are fixed: y(x = 0) = 0, y(x = d) = h. (1) That is, the curve goes from (0,0) to (d, h). (a) Write an integral expression for the arc length l of the curve in terms of the function y(x). Your expression should have the form = | dxo(y(x),y'(x)). (2) Determine the function o. Hint: Use the fact that the infinitesmal distance ds between two Vdx? + dy?. Write this in terms of dr points (x, y) and (x + dx, y + dy) is given by ds and the function y(x).

Calculus: Early Transcendentals
8th Edition
ISBN:9781285741550
Author:James Stewart
Publisher:James Stewart
Chapter1: Functions And Models
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RCC: (a) What is a function? What are its domain and range? (b) What is the graph of a function? (c) How...
icon
Related questions
Question
1. In this problem you will prove that the shortest distance between two points is a line
using the calculus of variations. Consider a curve y(x) whose endpoints are fixed:
y(x = 0) = 0,
y(x = d) = h.
(1)
That is, the curve goes from (0,0) to (d, h).
(a) Write an integral expression for the arc length l of the curve in terms of the function
y(x). Your expression should have the form
l =
dr o (y(x), y'(x)).
(2)
Determine the function o. Hint: Use the fact that the infinitesmal distance ds between two
points (x, y) and (x + dx, y + dy) is given by ds = vdx² + dy?. Write this in terms of dx
and the function y(x).
Transcribed Image Text:1. In this problem you will prove that the shortest distance between two points is a line using the calculus of variations. Consider a curve y(x) whose endpoints are fixed: y(x = 0) = 0, y(x = d) = h. (1) That is, the curve goes from (0,0) to (d, h). (a) Write an integral expression for the arc length l of the curve in terms of the function y(x). Your expression should have the form l = dr o (y(x), y'(x)). (2) Determine the function o. Hint: Use the fact that the infinitesmal distance ds between two points (x, y) and (x + dx, y + dy) is given by ds = vdx² + dy?. Write this in terms of dx and the function y(x).
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps with 2 images

Blurred answer
Recommended textbooks for you
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus
ISBN:
9781285741550
Author:
James Stewart
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Thomas' Calculus (14th Edition)
Thomas' Calculus (14th Edition)
Calculus
ISBN:
9780134438986
Author:
Joel R. Hass, Christopher E. Heil, Maurice D. Weir
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)
Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)
Calculus
ISBN:
9780134763644
Author:
William L. Briggs, Lyle Cochran, Bernard Gillett, Eric Schulz
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus: Early Transcendentals
Calculus
ISBN:
9781319050740
Author:
Jon Rogawski, Colin Adams, Robert Franzosa
Publisher:
W. H. Freeman
Precalculus
Precalculus
Calculus
ISBN:
9780135189405
Author:
Michael Sullivan
Publisher:
PEARSON
Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions
Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions
Calculus
ISBN:
9781337552516
Author:
Ron Larson, Bruce H. Edwards
Publisher:
Cengage Learning