How Do You Solve These Challenging Calculus Problems?

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Kobrakai
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Calculus Figure
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around two challenging calculus problems involving optimization and related rates. The first problem concerns finding the altitude of an inscribed cylinder with maximum volume within a sphere, while the second problem involves determining the speed of a man's shadow as he walks away from a light source.

Discussion Character

  • Homework-related
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests starting the first problem by expressing the radius of the cylinder in terms of its height and calculating its volume.
  • Another participant proposes using an angular variable to relate the man's height and the light source to derive the shadow's length as a function of the angle.
  • A participant expresses concern that key relations, such as those from Pythagorean theorem and similar triangles, may have been overlooked due to the brevity of their explanation.
  • Another participant notes that the same question has been previously posted in a different forum section, implying a potential redundancy in the discussion.
  • A participant expresses confusion regarding the repetition of questions in the forum.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not appear to reach a consensus on the clarity of the explanations provided or the handling of repeated questions. Multiple viewpoints on the sufficiency of the information shared are present.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions regarding the relationships between the variables in the problems may not be fully articulated, and there is a lack of detailed mathematical steps in the initial posts.

Kobrakai
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
I am having trouble with these two problems, I was wondering if anyone here could help me.

1. Given a sphere of radius 10 inches. Calculate the altitude of the inscribed right circular cylinder of maximum volume.

2. A man 6 feet tall walks away from a light 30 feet high at the rate of 3 miles per hour. How fast is the further end of his shadow moving, and how fast is his shadow lengthening?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Here's where to started with number 1:
If the height of the cylinder is h, what is its radius (in terms of h)? What is its volume?
 
For 2:
Introduce an angular variable [itex]\theta[/itex] which is the angle between the line connecting the mans head and the light source and the vertical.
Express how theta changes with the mans velocity and get the length of the shadow as a function of theta.
 
i think my post pointing out the key relations needed to sove the rpoblem, i.e. pythagoras and simialr triangles repsectively, contain the most difficult part of the solution for most students. were they omitted because i gave my information too efficiently?, i.e. in one sentence?
 
mathwonk said:
i think my post pointing out the key relations needed to sove the rpoblem, i.e. pythagoras and simialr triangles repsectively, contain the most difficult part of the solution for most students. were they omitted because i gave my information too efficiently?, i.e. in one sentence?
Nothing's been omitted, but this exact same question has been posted in General Math too.
 
thanks. i am confused by all the repeat questions.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
5K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
7K