Finding Magnitude of Velocity: Using Differentiation and Implicit Equations

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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves finding the magnitude of velocity using implicit differentiation and equations relating position and time. The equations provided are 8y² + 4y = -4x + 6 and x + y = 4t, with the goal of determining the velocity at a specific time.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need for implicit differentiation of the first equation and how to relate the variables x and y through the second equation. There are attempts to express dy/dt and dx/dt in terms of each other and to find y at a specific time. Some participants express uncertainty about how to proceed after substituting values.

Discussion Status

Several participants have offered guidance on differentiating the equations and solving for y. There is ongoing exploration of how to derive the components of velocity and how to handle the relationships between x, y, and t. While some have reached numerical results, there is no explicit consensus on the final approach or outcome.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of the equations provided and the requirement that y must be positive. There is also a noted correction regarding the initial equations, which affects the subsequent calculations.

Sheen91
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Homework Statement



Given that:

8y^{2} + 4y = -4x + 6
x + y = 4t

where x and y are in metres, and t is in seconds.

If y is positive, what is the magnitude of the velocity when t = 0.1875s?

Homework Equations



N/A

The Attempt at a Solution



I am a little unsure on how to start.

I think I have to differentiate:

8y^{2} + 4y = -4x + 6

Using implicit, then sub in x + y = 4t

And solve for x and y.

If all that is right, which I doubt it is. I then have to some how find the magnitude of velocity, which I am unsure how to do.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. :D
 
Last edited:
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You're pretty close.

Use implicit differentiation on the first equation, and solve for y' in terms of x and y.

Also, solve for y in the first equation when x = 4(0.1875) - 7. Take the positive root of y since the problem says y > 0.

Now plug in the positive root you found for y and x = 4(0.1875) - 7 into the equation you found for y' in the first step. This should be the velocity at t = 0.1875 s.
 
what i basically see is that u have been given the equation of the trajectory of a particle and the relation between its x co-ordinate ad time is given.
So what u do is:

obtain, dx/dt=4, which is the velocity along x-axis,
at t=0.1875s, u can find x from the 2nd equation and hence plug its value into the 1st equation to obtain y. Once u have the x and y values of the function at t=0.1875s,
differentiate the 1st equation u wrote, with respect to 't',
u will get dy/dt in terms of y and dx/dt. hence, dy/dt is the velocity along y axis.
at t=0.1875s, plug the value of y u obtained, and u have already calculated dx/dt, so u can obtain dy/dt.

So the magnitude of velocity of the particle at that instant is just {(dy/dt)^2+(dx/dt)^2]^0.5
 
First of I must say, sorry that the equation was x + y = 4t. My bad I accidentally wrote x + 7 for some reason. T.TOk so first I implicit differentiate:

8y^{2} + 4y = -4x + 616y . \frac{dy}{dx} + 4 . \frac{dy}{dx} = -4\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{-4}{16y + 4}

Ok so now I solve for y in the second equation:

x + y = 4t = \frac{3}{4} = 0.75

y = 0.75 - xNow I am kinda stuck again. Because I am unsure what to do. If you sub in that equation you will always have one variable in it. Not sure what to do.
 
Last edited:
I would split this into two parts. First put your value for t in. Now you have two equations in two unknowns for x and y. Find them. Then differentiate d/dt. Now you have two equations in two unknowns for x'=dx/dt and y'=dy/dt. Use the value you found for y in the first part. Then the magnitude of the velocity is sqrt(x'^2+y'^2). I haven't tried to work it out, but does that make sense?
 
x = 4t - y

dx/dt = 4 (because then y would be a contant.)

You want me to sub in x + y = 4t into the equation below?...?...

8y² + 4y = -4x + 6

8y² + 4y = -4(4t - y) + 6

8y² + 4y = -16t + 4y + 6

8y² = -16t + 6

y = sqrt(-2t + 6/8)

dy/dt = 0.5 x -2 / sqrt(-2t + 6/8) = - 1/sqrt(-2t + 6/8)

I guess I will sub in t = 0.1875, and I get 1.63, square that and 4, and root it. I get 4.320 m/s. Which unfortunately is not right.
 
Last edited:
These aren't partial derivatives. y isn't constant. It's a function of t. Differentiating x=4t-y gives you dx/dt=4-dy/dt.
 
Ok so

8y² + 4y = -4x + 6

16y dy/dt + 4 dy/dt = -4 dx/dt

(16y + 4) dy/dt = -4 . dx/dt

sub in dx/dt = 4 - dy/dt

(16y + 4) dy/dt = -4 (4 - dy/dt)

(16y + 4) dy/dt = -16 + 4 dy/dt

(16y) dy/dt = -16

(y) dy/dt = -1

dy/dt = -(1 / y)

And

dx/dt = 4 - dy/dt

dx/dt = 4 + (1 / y)

Now I we have dy/dt and dx/dt, I hope. :S

I am unsure how to get the velocity?


I know velocity = sqrt(x'^2+y'^2)

but there is still the y in the equation, and I can't remove it using "x + y = 4t"

because that just changes y into x, and vise versa, and you still get an x or a y in your answer.
 
Last edited:
Close, but you made a sign error right at the start when you differentiated -4x. Try fixing that first.
 
  • #10
fixed

I am still a little stuck at the same point
 
  • #11
If you can figure out what y equals at t=0.1875 s, you can calculate the two components. So following Dick's suggestion, set t=0.1875 s in the original equations, and you'll get

8 y^2 + 4y = -4x + 6

x + y = 0.75

You have two equations and two unknowns. Solve for y.
 
  • #12
8y² + 4y = -4x + 6

sub in : "x = 0.75 - y"

8y² + 4y = -4(0.75 - y) + 6

8y² + 4y = -3 + 4y + 6

8y² = 3

y = sqrt(3/8) - because y > 0

If I sub that value into dx/dt and dy/dt

dy/dt = -(1 / y)

dy/dt = -(1 / sqrt(3/8)) = -1.633

dx/dt = 4 + (1 / y)

dx/dt = 4 + (1 / sqrt(3/8)) = 5.633

velocity = sqrt( 5.633² + (-1.633)² ) = 5.865 m/s

WHICH IS CORRECT! Thank you so so much :D
 

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