Express Area as a function of r

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    Area Function
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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a geometric problem involving a rectangle with semicircles at each end. Participants are analyzing the relationships between the perimeter and area of the figure, given a specific perimeter constraint.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants explore the correct expressions for perimeter and area, questioning the assumptions made about the shape and dimensions. There is a focus on clarifying the contributions of the semicircles and rectangle to the overall perimeter and area.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided insights into the correct interpretation of the perimeter and area calculations, while others express confusion about the problem's wording and the assumptions being made. There is ongoing exploration of how to express the area as a function of the radius.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of accurately defining the dimensions of the rectangle and semicircles, as well as the need for the exact phrasing of the problem to resolve discrepancies in their calculations.

rocomath
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Ok, so I have this picture. A semi-circle at the ends of a rectangle. It tells me that the perimeter is [tex]\frac 1 4[/tex]. So, isn't the total perimeter just the sum of the circle and rectange? [tex]P=2\pi r+2(L+W)[/tex]

[tex]r=radius[/tex]
[tex]W=2r[/tex]

[tex]P=2\pi r+2(L+2r)[/tex]

And isn't the total area just the sum of the areas? [tex]A=A_{circle}+A_{rectange}\rightarrow A=\pi r^2 + 2rL[/tex]
 
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Almost. It's only a semi-circle. So the circumerence of that is just pi*r. And the perimeter of partial rectangle is just 2L+r. Why did you double everything?
 
Does it look like this:
.._____
(|____|)

or not? If it does look like the above then total perimeter is not the sum of the circle & rectangle.
 
EnumaElish said:
Does it look like this:
.._____
(|____|)

or not? If it does look like the above then total perimeter is not the sum of the circle & rectangle.
Yes, that is the correct picture! :-]

So it's not? eek.
 
If by perimeter you mean "edges exposed to the outside" then it is the two half-circles plus the 2 long edges of the rectangle. The short edges are "internalized."
 
EnumaElish said:
If by perimeter you mean "edges exposed to the outside" then it is the two half-circles plus the 2 long edges of the rectangle. The short edges are "internalized."
AHH! Yes, very true.

Thanks a lot :-]
 
EnumaElish said:
If by perimeter you mean "edges exposed to the outside" then it is the two half-circles plus the 2 long edges of the rectangle. The short edges are "internalized."
So even after ignoring the width, I still was unable to solve it. The person I was helping me showed me the solution and the internal parts were included. Blah.
 
Then I guess they tricked you. What was the exact phrasing of the problem?
 
Dick said:
Then I guess they tricked you. What was the exact phrasing of the problem?
Sorry, I don't have the book, I will post it tomorrow. >:-[
 
  • #10
The wording you gave was clear. You have a rectangle with a semicircle at each end of radius r. That end of the rectangle, then, has length 2r. For the moment call the length of the other sides l. Then the area of the two semi-circles totals [itex]\pi r^2[/itex] and the area of the rectangle is lr. The total area of figure is [itex]\pi r^2+ lr[/itex].

The perimeter of the figure is the distance around the two semi-circles, [itex]2\pi r[/itex] and the two lengths, 2l: the perimeter is [itex]2\pi r+ 2l= 1/4[/itex]. You can solve that for l as a function of r and replace l by that in the area formula.
 
  • #11
HallsofIvy said:
The wording you gave was clear. You have a rectangle with a semicircle at each end of radius r. That end of the rectangle, then, has length 2r. For the moment call the length of the other sides l. Then the area of the two semi-circles totals [itex]\pi r^2[/itex] and the area of the rectangle is lr. The total area of figure is [itex]\pi r^2+ lr[/itex].

The perimeter of the figure is the distance around the two semi-circles, [itex]2\pi r[/itex] and the two lengths, 2l: the perimeter is [itex]2\pi r+ 2l= 1/4[/itex]. You can solve that for l as a function of r and replace l by that in the area formula.
[tex]\frac 1 4=2\pi r+2l \rightarrow l=\frac{1-8\pi r}{8}[/tex]

[tex]A=\pi r^2+lr[/tex]

[tex]A=\pi r^2 +\left(\frac{1-8\pi r}{8}\right)r[/tex]

[tex]A=\frac r 8[/tex]

That's still not the answer in the book! Is the book wrong? I will post the actual problem in a few hours, got to go library.
 
Last edited:
  • #12
... and the area of the rectangle is lr

Wait a minute guys! Is not the area of the rectangle = [itex](2r)l[/itex]
?

This would make

[tex]A=\pi r^2+2lr[/tex]
 
  • #13
Your right. I have no idea why I wrote rl!
 

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