Finding x and y Equations without t: Tips and Tricks

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding a relationship between the variables x and y given their parametric equations x(t) = 30t - t³ and y(t) = 22t - 4t². Participants are exploring how to express one variable as a function of the other without the parameter t.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Problem interpretation, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the challenge of eliminating the parameter t from the equations. Some suggest solving for t in terms of y and substituting it back into the equation for x, while others express confusion about the method and the implications of the functions not being one-to-one.

Discussion Status

The conversation is ongoing, with various approaches being considered. Some participants have provided insights into using the quadratic formula to solve for t, while others are questioning the validity of certain substitutions and the overall approach to converting parametric equations to Cartesian form.

Contextual Notes

There is a recognition that the functions are not one-to-one, which complicates the process of finding a single function relating x and y. Participants are also grappling with the implications of the quadratic nature of the equations involved.

devanlevin
given x(t)=30t-t[tex]^{3}[/tex]
y(t)=22t-4t[tex]^{2}[/tex]
what i need to do in this excercise is fine an equation with x as a function of y x(y) or the opposite y(x)---- 1 function without any variable t.
i have managed up till now by finding an expression for t and plugging that in instead of t in the 2nd equation, problem here is the extra t's, sqared and cubed, tried dividing both by t-not much help.. any ideas?
 
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devanlevin said:
given x(t)=30t-t[tex]^{3}[/tex]
y(t)=22t-4t[tex]^{2}[/tex]
what i need to do in this exercise is fine an equation with x as a function of y x(y) or the opposite y(x)---- 1 function without any variable t.
i have managed up till now by finding an expression for t and plugging that in instead of t in the 2nd equation, problem here is the extra t's, sqared and cubed, tried dividing both by t-not much help.. any ideas?
There won't be one way to do that because the two functions are not one-to-one: x(0)= 0 and x([itex]\sqrt{30})= 0[/itex]. There is no single function that will give both of those.
Similarly, y(0)= y(11/2)= 0.

What you can do is, for example, is treat the second equation as a quadratic equation in t: 4t2- 22t+ y= 0 and use the quadratic formula to solve for t:
[tex]t= \frac{22\pm\sqrt{(22)^2- 4(4)y}}{8}= \frac{22\pm\sqrt{484- 16y}}{8}[/tex]
It's that "[itex]\pm[/itex]" that is the problem. Choose either "+" or "-" and put that value of t into the equation x= 30t- t3 to get x as a function of y.
 
Do you mean like composition y(t) [itex]\circ[/itex] x(t) = h(t), or y(x(t))=h(t).

For y(30t-t3)=22(30t-t3)-4(30t-t3)2

Can you continue out of here?
 
no, can't continue from there, i don't see how you got there either, from what i see you did was placed (30t-t^3) in place of "t", which doesn't seem right to me, i need an equation that will be y as a function of x, that i can plug in a given y/x and find the other.
 
Дьявол said:
Do you mean like composition y(t) [itex]\circ[/itex] x(t) = h(t), or y(x(t))=h(t).

For y(30t-t3)=22(30t-t3)-4(30t-t3)2

Can you continue out of here?

devanlevin said:
no, can't continue from there, i don't see how you got there either, from what i see you did was placed (30t-t^3) in place of "t", which doesn't seem right to me, i need an equation that will be y as a function of x, that i can plug in a given y/x and find the other.
No, that's not what you want to do: you want to convert parametric equations to a Cartesian equation, not find a composition. The simplest thing to do is to solve for t as a function of y, as I showed and then replace t by that expression in the formula for x.
 
so what would i do to solve that, can't see what youre doing from here
 

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