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Tiiba
Jul12-04, 10:00 AM
I did this three times, and always come up with utter nonsense.

What is the derivative of 4x(16-x^2)^0.5?
(Root of (16 minus x-squared) by 4x.) What are its zilches? How did you calculate that?



This derivative is part of the solution to this problem: "What are the dimentions of the largest rectangle (by area) inscribable in a circle with radius 4?"

I drew the circle and the square (see attachment), divided the square into four parts, drew a diagonal through one, and called it a hypotenuse, which is equal to 4. X and y are the sides of the mini squares. A = 4xy (since there are 4 mini-squares). Then I used Pythagoras to come up with that equation above. But I can't differentiate it now...

The final answer is supposed to be 32 square units.

matt grime
Jul12-04, 10:25 AM
you can differentiate it, just keep trying, or you could make your life easier: the maximizing the area is the same as maximizing the square of the area.

homology
Jul12-04, 10:36 AM
What is the derivative of 4x(16-x^2)^0.5?
(Root of (16 minus x-squared) by 4x.) What are its zilches? How did you calculate that?


Use the product rule and chain rule. I'll get you started:

(d/dx)(4x(16-x^2)^0.5)=4((16-x^2)^0.5)+(4x)(...

As for the zeros, the only important one is 2(2)^.5


This derivative is part of the solution to this problem: "What are the dimentions of the largest rectangle (by area) inscribable in a circle with radius 4?"


matt grime is right, it ends up being a square, but you should start with a rectangle to prove it to yourself.


I drew the circle and the square (see attachment), divided the square into four parts, drew a diagonal through one, and called it a hypotenuse, which is equal to 4. X and y are the sides of the mini squares. A = 4xy (since there are 4 mini-squares). Then I used Pythagoras to come up with that equation above. But I can't differentiate it now...


Sure you can, finish the above differentiation, simplify and then find a root that makes sense in this problem. Use the root to find y and then you'll know the area (which is, as you stated, 32 square units).

Good Luck,

Kevin

Tiiba
Jul12-04, 11:45 AM
(d/dx)(4x(16-x^2)^0.5)=4((16-x^2)^0.5)+(4x)(...

(d/dx)(4x(16-x^2)^0.5)=4((16-x^2)^0.5) - (4x^2)(16-x^2)^.5 =

-4x^2
-------------- + 4sqrt(16-x^2) = 0;
sqrt(16-x^2)

4x^2
-------------- = 4sqrt(16-x^2) = 0;
sqrt(16-x^2)

4x^2 = 4(16-x^2)

x^2 = 16 - x^2

0 = 16 :yuck:

BTW, this means x = sqrt(16-x^2), which is y.
So x=y, and if this is a square, that's perfectly true.

So there you have it: a full mathematical proof that 0=16.

homology
Jul12-04, 11:55 AM
(d/dx)(4x(16-x^2)^0.5)=4((16-x^2)^0.5) - (4x^2)(16-x^2)^.5 =

-4x^2
-------------- + 4sqrt(16-x^2) = 0;
sqrt(16-x^2)

The above is good


4x^2 = 4(16-x^2)

x^2 = 16 - x^2

This is bad. "add" x^2 to both sides to get 2(x^2)=16 which yields x=2sqrt(2) and not 0=16

So there you have it: a full mathematical proof that 0=16.

So there you have it: a full mathematical proof that you can't add
:biggrin:

Cheers,

Kevin

Tiiba
Jul12-04, 12:23 PM
You needed calculus to prove THAT?

God, I'm sure glad I'm not studying arithmetic any more.

dedaNoe
Jul12-04, 12:47 PM
10 = 2 really
I mean:

102=210

1*2^1+0*2^0=2*10^0