Finding n for Arc Length of $\pi+e$ over Interval 0 to 6

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The discussion focuses on solving the integral equation \(\int^{6}_{0} \sqrt{1-n^2x^2}dx=\pi+e\) to find the value of \(n\) for the function \(y=x^n\). The integral evaluates to \(3\sqrt{1 - 36n^2} + \frac{\arcsin(6n)}{2n}\), which must equal \(\pi + e\). Numerical approximations suggest that \(n\) is approximately \(\frac{10000000}{162011025}\). The discussion highlights the challenges of finding an analytical solution for \(n\).

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\int^{6}_{0} \sqrt{1-n^2x^2}dx=\pi+e


I need to solve this for n. I believe there should only be one possible function of the form y=x^n that gives an arclength of \pi+e over the interval x=0 to x=6, and wish to find the value of n that such a function must have.
Does anyone know how to do this? I haven't the slightest idea, as I only know as much calculus as I've managed to teach myself over the past few months... Thank you!


Ah, additionally, I'm assuming (as I, regrettably, read somewhere) that

\int^{b}_{a} \sqrt{1-[f'(x)]^2}dx

is equal to arclength (actually, I didn't just accept it completely--I lack the mathematics to evaluate whether or not it actually is such a formula, but my TI-89 is capable of calculating for whatever values I plug in so... They have thus far matched up perfectly with the values produced by the method I came up with myself:)

\lim_{x \rightarrow 0}\sum^{\frac{m}{x}-1}_{n=0}\sqrt{x^2+(f(x(n+1))-f(nx))^2}

Anyway, again, thank you.
 
Last edited:
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Well the integral is well-known, you'll get an arcsin and square root part so evaluating the integral isn't really a problem. I doubt though that you'll be able to solve for n analytically, after that - unless a numerical approximation would satisfy you.
 
Thank you, TD... Mm... Why not, and how would you get a numerical approximation?
 
The easy way, of course, would be relying on a computer program. I tried it with Mathematica.

Integration yields

\int\limits_0^6 {\sqrt {1 - n^2 x^2 } dx} = 3\sqrt {1 - 36n^2 } + \frac{{\arcsin \left( {6n} \right)}}<br /> {{2n}}

So what you want to solve for n is

3\sqrt {1 - 36n^2 } + \frac{{\arcsin \left( {6n} \right)}}<br /> {{2n}} = e + \pi
 
Last edited:
This is an interesting problem. I found that n is approx. 1000/16201, but I haven't found an elegant solution for n.
 
I refined my solution to:

n \approx {10000000 \over 162011025}
 

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