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

AI Thread Summary
To find the value of n for the arc length of the function y=x^n over the interval from 0 to 6, the integral equation is set as ∫ from 0 to 6 of √(1-n²x²) dx = π + e. The integral evaluates to 3√(1 - 36n²) + (arcsin(6n))/(2n). Solving this equation for n analytically is challenging, but numerical methods can yield approximate solutions. The approximate value of n found is 10000000/162011025. The discussion emphasizes the complexity of the problem and the reliance on numerical approximation techniques.
Trepidation
Messages
29
Reaction score
0
\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:
Mathematics news on Phys.org
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}
 
Thread 'Video on imaginary numbers and some queries'
Hi, I was watching the following video. I found some points confusing. Could you please help me to understand the gaps? Thanks, in advance! Question 1: Around 4:22, the video says the following. So for those mathematicians, negative numbers didn't exist. You could subtract, that is find the difference between two positive quantities, but you couldn't have a negative answer or negative coefficients. Mathematicians were so averse to negative numbers that there was no single quadratic...
Insights auto threads is broken atm, so I'm manually creating these for new Insight articles. In Dirac’s Principles of Quantum Mechanics published in 1930 he introduced a “convenient notation” he referred to as a “delta function” which he treated as a continuum analog to the discrete Kronecker delta. The Kronecker delta is simply the indexed components of the identity operator in matrix algebra Source: https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/what-exactly-is-diracs-delta-function/ by...
Thread 'Unit Circle Double Angle Derivations'
Here I made a terrible mistake of assuming this to be an equilateral triangle and set 2sinx=1 => x=pi/6. Although this did derive the double angle formulas it also led into a terrible mess trying to find all the combinations of sides. I must have been tired and just assumed 6x=180 and 2sinx=1. By that time, I was so mindset that I nearly scolded a person for even saying 90-x. I wonder if this is a case of biased observation that seeks to dis credit me like Jesus of Nazareth since in reality...
Back
Top