Remember
(1) ![]()
We know that
for odd integer multiples of
, i.e.
, which is
for ![]()
Hence,
![]()
for ![]()
We can factorise our
expansion
![]()
We know ![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Remember
(1) ![]()
We know that
for odd integer multiples of
, i.e.
, which is
for ![]()
Hence,
![]()
for ![]()
We can factorise our
expansion
![]()
We know ![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
I went down a rabbit hole while reading An Imaginary Tale by Paul J Nahin and I decided I wanted to do this…
![]()
![]()
The power series expansion of
is
![]()
![]()
![]()
Hence ![]()
![]()
Let’s consider the integral
(1) ![]()
Let
then
and
where ![]()
When
and when ![]()
(2) ![]()
(3) ![]()
Integrate by parts using the tabular method.
| Sign | Differentiate | Integrate |
| + | ||
| – | ||
| + | ||
| – | ||
| + | ||
When we substitute
or
the differentiation column is zero except for
, which is
,
Thus ![]()
![]()
![]()
Now we just need to think about the sign.
![]()
The integral is now
![]()
So ![]()
Let’s work out some partial sums
![]()
Filed under Definite, Integration, Integration by Parts, Tabular Integration
(1) ![]()
I am going to do this integral in two ways; the traditional method and the tabular method.
Traditional Method
Remember ![]()
Let
and ![]()
Then
and ![]()
![]()
Now we need to do integration by parts on ![]()
Let
and ![]()
Then
and ![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Tabular Integration
Similar to before, select a
and a
,
and ![]()
| Sign | D(ifferentiate) | I(ntegrate) |
| + | ||
| – | ||
| + | ||
| – |
Stop when the differentiating column reaches zero.
Then we multiply diagonally
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
It is only worth using this method if integration by parts is required more than once. Also, the
has to eventually differentiate to
.
Let’s try another one
(2) ![]()
Let
and ![]()
| Sign | D | I |
| + | ||
| – | ||
| + | ||
| – | ||
| + |
![]()
![]()
Filed under Integration, Integration by Parts, Tabular Integration
At 10am, object
travelling with constant velocity
km/h is sighted at the point with position vector
km. At 11am object
travelling with constant velocity
km/h is sighted at the point with position vector
km respectively. Use a scalar product method to determine
given that the two objects were closest together at a distance of
km at 4pm.
OT Lee Mathematics Specialist Year 11
At 4pm
is at the point with position vector
and
is at the point with position vector ![]()
We know the distance between
and
at 4pm is
km.
Hence,
![]()
![]()
![]()
(1) ![]()
In the diagram below, I have found the position vector of
relative to
and the velocity of
relative to
![]()

We know that when
and
are the closest distance apart.
![]()
![]()
![]()
(2) ![]()
Two equations and two unknowns which we can solve simultaneously. Both equations are circles.

Equation
becomes
(3) ![]()
and equation
becomes
(4) ![]()
From equation ![]()
![]()
We will worry about the negative version later.
Substitute for
into equation ![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Square both sides of the equation
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
(5) ![]()
Substitute
into ![]()
![]()
(6) ![]()
Substitute
into ![]()
![]()
(7) ![]()
Now we need to consider the negative version of
. If you work through (like I did above) you end with the same equation for
.
Hence our two values for
are
or
.
Would someone be expected to do this in an exam? I hope not, but I think its worth doing.
Filed under Closest Approach, Vectors, Year 11 Specialist Mathematics
Sequences are part of the Year 12 Mathematics Applications course and sometimes it’s tricky to work out which terms the question requires.
For example, ATAR 2020 Question 11
Judith monitors the water quality in her garden pond at the same time everyday. She likes to maintain the concentration of algae between 200 and 250 unites per 100 litres (L). Her measurements show that the concentration increases daily according to the recursive rule
where
units per 100 L (the minimum concentration)
When the concentration gets above the 250 units per 100 L limit, she treats the water to bring the concentration back to the minimum 200 units per 100 l.
(a) If Judith treated the water on Sunday 6 December 2020, determine
(i) the concentration on Wednesday, 9 December 2020.
(ii) the day when she next treated the water.(b) During the first week of January 2021, Judith monitored the water and recorded the following readings
| Day | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Concentration (C) | 200 | 206 | 212.28 | 218.55 | 225.10 | 231.85 | 238.81 |
(i) Determine the revised recursive rule.
(ii) If she treated the water on 10 January and went on holiday until 20 January, when she next treated the water, calculate the concentration of the water on her return. Assuming the recursive rule from (b)(i) is used.
| (a)(i) If I find most students simply do It’s better to list them 6th 7th 8th 9th Hence we want to find The concentration on Wednesday 9 December is 215.38 units per 100 L a(ii) We need to find when the concentration is greater than 250 The 9th is Judith next treats the water on Wednesday 16 December (b) (i) (ii) The concentration of the water on Judith’s return is 268.78 units per 100 L |
I get my students to count on their fingers to ensure they get the correct term or day.
My year 12 Mathematical Methods students have questions like this
Given that
is continuous everywhere and that
, find:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
OT Lee Mathematics Methods Textbook Ex 8.3 question 6
For the most part these questions aren’t too difficult, but the horizontal dilations cause issues.
| (a) (b) (c) Let When (d) Let When (e) Let When (f) Let When | Split the integral Integrate the first part. This is a horizontal translation (one unit to the right) so the shape of the curve doesn’t change. The integration bounds have also shifted one unit to the right. This is a horizontal dilation and translation. The easiest method is to use a change of variable |
Once you get the hang of it, you can skip the change of variable and multiply the value of the definite integral by the scale factor of the horizontal dilation (only if the integration bounds are also changed).
Filed under Definite, Integration, Uncategorized, Year 12 Mathematical Methods
What happens with an investment or a loan when the compounding periods are not the same as the payment periods?
For example,
Gerald invests $450 000 at a rate of 6.4% p.a. compounding monthly. At the end of every quarter he receives $35 000 from his investment.
(a) Write a recursive rule that will enable you to find the balance of the account,
after
payments.
(b) Find the balance of the account after
years.
(c) How long will it take for the balance in the account to reach zero?
(d) What will be the amount of Gerald’s last payment?
| The interest is compounding at a different rate to the payments. We need to raise the multiplier (a) (b) (c) 21 years (d) The final repayment is |
I have been reading An Imaginary Tale – The Story of
by Paul J Nahin, which is fabulous. There was a bit in chapter 4 where he found the closed form of the generalised Fibonacci sequence. I thought it would be a good exercise to find the closed from of the Fibonacci sequence.
Just to remind you, the Fibonacci sequence is
![]()
and it is defined recursively
![]()
That is, the next term is the sum of the two previous terms, i.e.
![]()
Now the starting off point is slightly dodgy as it involves and educated guess as Paul Nahin writes,
How do I know that works? Because I have seen it before, that’s how! […] There is nothing dishonourable about guessing correct solutions – indeed, great mathematicians and scientists, are invariable great guessers – just as long as eventually the guess is verified to work. The next time you encounter a recurrence formula, you can guess the answer too because then you will have already seen how it works.
We start with ![]()
This means
is ![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
or ![]()
Hence
and we can use the initial conditions
and
to find
and ![]()
When ![]()
(1) ![]()
When ![]()
(2) ![]()
From equation
,
, substitute into equation ![]()
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![]()
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Does it work?
Remember the sequence is ![]()
If ![]()
![]()

As you can see it works!
A circle of radius
, is inscribed within an isosceles triangle
.
. Given that
is acute, find the ratio of the area of the circle to that of triangle
.
Mathematics Specialist 3AB Question15 page 55
I came across this question while searching for an area of sectors and segments question.
Here’s a diagram

We know
are tangents to the circle. Because the triangle is isosceles, the distance from
to the circle is the same as the distance from
to the circle.

is perpendicular to
(because the triangle is isosceles).
Because it is proportional, i.e.
and
, we can let ![]()
Let ![]()
(1) ![]()
but
also equals
(2) ![]()
Set equation
equal to equation ![]()
![]()
Square both sides
![]()
Expand and simplify
![]()
![]()
Divide by ![]()
![]()
![]()
Square both sides
![]()
![]()
![]()
I solved this using a graphics calculator
![]()
We can reject
,
, and
. If
, there isn’t a triangle, and if
is not acute.
Hence the area of triangle ![]()
![]()
(3) ![]()
(4) ![]()
Hence, equation
divided by equation
is
![]()
Perhaps I approached this question in the wrong way. Is there an easier process?
Filed under Area, Geometry, Pythagoras