Query 8

#$&*

course MTH 272

If your solution to a stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions at http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm.

Your solution, attempt at solution: If you are unable to attempt a solution, give a phrase-by-phrase interpretation of the problem along with a statement of what you do or do not understand about it. This response should be given, based on the work you did in completing the assignment, before you look at the given solution.

008. `query 8

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.2 (previously 5.4.7 (was 5.4.4) (was 5.4.4)) integrate `sqrt(9-x^2) from -3 to 3

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

9^.5-X

@&

(9-x^2)^.5 is not 9^.5 - (x^2)^.5. The square root operation does not distribute over addition or subtraction.

*@

=(9^.5X-2x/2)

=(9^.5*-3-2*-3/2)-(9^.5*3-2*3/2)

-12

confidence rating #$&*: 2

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a The graph of y = `sqrt( 9-x^2) is a half-circle of radius 3 centered at the origin. We can tell this because any point (x, `sqrt(9-x^2) ) lies at a distance of `sqrt( x^2 + (`sqrt (9-x^2))^2 ) = `sqrt(x^2 + 9-x^2) = `sqrt(9) = 3 from the origin.

The area of the entire circle is 9 `pi square units. The region beneath the graph is a half-circle is half this, 9/2 `pi square units, which is about 14.1 square units.

This area is the integral of the function from x=-3 to x=3. **SERIOUS STUDENT ERROR: Take the int and get 9x -1/3(x^3)

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT: The integral of `sqrt( 9 - x^2) is not 9x - 1/3 x^3. The derivative of 9x - 1/3 x^3 function is 9 - x^2, not `sqrt(9-x^2). **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I’m a bit confused just because the only examples I’ve worked with involved graphs rather than doing geometric shapes, so I’m not quite sure how to work those types of problems.

@&

The reasoning here follows from a precalculus-level course. If the reasoning doesn't occur to you (and it doesn't occur to many students), it's difficult to solve this problem.

If

y = sqrt(9 - x^2)

then

y^2 = 9 - x^2

so that

x^2 + y^2 = 9.

This is the equation of a circle of radius 3 centered at the origin.

*@

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.4. (previously 5.4.17 (was 5.4.13) (was 5.4.10) ) (x^2+4)/x from 1 to 4

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

(x^3/3+4x)/x

(1^3/3+4)/1-(4^3/3+16)/4

13/3-5

-2/3

@&

This would be good if you had the correct antiderivative. But that's not the case.

The derivative of (x^3 / 3 + 4 x) / x is not (x^2 + 4) / x.

So (x^3 / 3 + 4 x) / x is not an antiderivative of (x^2 + 4) / x.

Any time you integrate a function, you need to then take the derivative of the integral to verify that it really does match the original function.

You can't break apart multiplications, divisions and other operations (except addition and subtraction), integrate the parts and reassemble them into a valid integral.

*@

confidence rating #$&*: 2

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a The correct integral is not too difficult to find once you see that (x^2 + 4 ) / x = x + 4/x. There is an addition rule for integration, so you can integrate x and 4/x separately and recombine the results to get x^2/2 + 4 ln(x) + c.

The definite integral is found by evaluating this expression at 4 and at 1 and subtracting to get (4^2 / 2 + 4 ln(4) ) - (1^2 / 2 + 4 ln(1) ) = 8 + 4 * 1.2 - (1/2 + 0) = 12 (approx).

As usual check my mental calculations. **

STUDENT ERROR:

The int is((x^3)/3 + 4x)(ln x) + C

INSTRUCTOR CORRECTION:

** That does not work. You can't integrate the factors of the function then recombine them to get a correct integral.

The error is made clear by taking the derivative of your expression. The derivative of (x^3/3 + 4x) ln(x) is (x^2 + 4) ln(x) + (x^2/3 + 4).

Your approach does not work because it violates the product rule. **

STUDENT QUESTION

not seeing were (x^2 + 4) / x = x + 4 / x. What happened to the power of two

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

Division by x is the same as multiplication by 1/x, so the distributive law applies. We obtain

• (x^2 + 4) / x = (x^2 / x) + (4 / x),

which simplifies to x + (4 / x).

To detail the distributive law a little more:

(x^2 + 4) / x =

(x^2 + 4) * (1/x) =

x^2 * (1/x) + 4 * (1/x) =

x^2 / x + 1 / x. =

x + 1 / x.

By the order of operations x^2 / x + 1 / x means (x^2 / x) + (1 / x), which is equal to x + (1 / x). The parentheses aren't necessary but they can be used to clarify the expression.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I’m not sure where the ln comes into this equation nor do I see where I use the (1/x) because if the 1 is substituted for the first variable then why isn’t the second one.

@&

You have to find the antiderivative before you substitute anything.

The given function is simplified to the form

x + 4 / x.

You can integrate the terms x and 4 / x separately, since integration does distribute over addition and subtraction.

Antiderivative of x is x^2 / 2.

An antiderivative of 4 / x is 4 ln | x |.

*@

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.5 (previously Extra Problem (formerly 5.4.20) (was 5.4.16) ) Integrate 3x^2+x-2 from x = 0 to x = 3

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

X^3+x^2/2-2x

(0^3+0^2/2-2*0)-(3^3=3^2/2-3*2)

0-25.5=-25.5

confidence rating #$&*: 2.5

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a an antiderivative of f(x) = 3 x^2 + x - 2 is F(x) = x^3 + x^2/2 - 2x.

Evaluating at 3 we get F(3) = 25.5. At 0 we have F(0) = 0.

So the integral is the change in the antiderivative function: F(3) - F(0) = 25.5 - 0 = 25.5. **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I FINALLY GOT IT!!!! I’m just not sure which x value you subtract from the other.

@&

You find the change in the antiderivative function from x = 0 to x = 3.

This means that you subtract the initial value (the x = 0 value) from the final value (the x = 3 value).

*@

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.7 ((previously 5.4.28 (was 5.4.24) (was 5.4.20) ) Integrate sqrt(2/x) from 1 to 4

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

Square root (2/x)

(2^.5)/(x^.5)

(2^-.5)/(1^.5)- (2^-.5)/(4^.5)

.707-1.414 or 1.414-.707

.707

confidence rating #$&*:2

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a The function can be written as `sqrt(2) / `sqrt(x) = `sqrt(2) * x^-.5.

An antiderivative is 2 `sqrt(2) x^.5 = 2 `sqrt(2x).

Evaluating at 4 and 1 we get 2 `sqrt(2*4) = 4 `sqrt(2) and 2 `sqrt(2) so the definite integral is

4 `sqrt(2) - 2 `sqrt(2) = 2 `sqrt(2),

or approximately 2.8. **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): After looking at the given solution I just wasn’t sure whether to plug in the x value before or after taking the antiderivative, but then again I don’t think that should matter much. I have the answer in the final step I’m just not sure where I went wrong exactly.

@&

You put your finger on the problem. When you integrate a function you start by finding its antiderivative, and it makes all the difference in the world.

So that's where you went wrong. You simpliifed the function, but you didn't then integrate it.

*@

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.14 (previously 5.4.63 (was 5.4.52) ) What is the average value of 5e^(.2(x-10)) from x = 0 to x = 10?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

(.2(5e^(.2(0-10)))+.2(5e^(.2(10-10)))/2

.12533352832+1/2

.5676676416

confidence rating #$&*:2

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a The area under a curve is the product of its average 'height' and its 'width'. The average 'height' is the average value of the function, the area is the definite integral and the 'width' is the length of the interval. It follows that average value = definite integral / interval width.

To integrate 5 e^(.2 ( x - 10) ):

If you let u = .2x - 2 you get du/dx = .2 so dx = du / .2.

You therefore have the integral of 5 e^u du / .2 = (5 / .2) e^u du.

The integral of e^u du is e^u. So an antiderivative is

5 / .2 e^u = 5 / .2 e^(.2x - 2).

Using the antiderivative 25 e^(.2(x-10)) at 0 and 10 we get about 22 for the definite integral (i.e., the antiderivative function 25 e^(.2(x-10)) changes by 22 between x = 0 and x = 10).

The average value (obtained by dividing the integral by the length of the interval) is thus about 22 / 10 = 2.2. ** ERRONEOUS STUDENT SOLUTION: The average value is .4323.

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:

This average value doesn't make sense. The function itself has value between 0 and 1 (closer to 1) when x=0 and value 5 when x=10 so its average value is probably greater than .4323. Unless the graph has a serious dip between the point where its value is 1 and the point where its value is 5, its average value would be between 1 and 5 and wouldn't be less than 1. **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I was close. I think I did a pretty good job of evaluating this equation and I think my answer would get some credit if this were graded.

@&

You did some things right, but the key first step is to find an antiderivative of the function.

For this function you pretty much need to do a u substitution of the form shown in the given solution.

*@

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `q 5.4.15 (previously 5.4.66 (was 5.4.56) ) ave val of 1/(x-3)^2 from 0 to 2

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution:

1/(x^2/2-3x)2

@&

The derivative of 1 / (x^2 / 2 - 3 x)^2 is not 1 / (x - 3)^2.

*@

(1/(0^2/2-3*0)+(1/(2^2/2-3*2)^2

0+1/16= 1/32

confidence rating #$&*: 2

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

`a An antiderivative of 1 / (x-3)^2 is -1 / (x-3).

At 0 and 2 this antiderivative takes values 1/3 and 1 so the integral is 1 - 1/3 = 2/3, the change in the value of the antiderivative.

The average value of the function is therefore

ave value = integral / interval width = 2/3 / (2-0) = 2/3 / 2 = 1/3. **

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): I think I got mixed up in the steps of getting the antiderivative and plugging in the variable x for our values.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

*********************************************

Question: `qDoes the average value make sense in terms of the graph?

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Your solution: Since my answer was off, it makes a huge difference in what the graph was supposed to reflect. My slope would cause the graph to increase somewhat slowly compared to that of which the answer in the given solution illustrates.

confidence rating #$&*: 3

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

.............................................

Given Solution:

We can see this by constructing the graph:

The function 1 / (x-3)^2 can be obtained from the graph of 1 / x^2, by shifting the graph 3 units to the right. The vertical asymptote shifts to x = 3, and the function increases at an increasing rate (i.e., it is concave up) as it approaches the asymptote.

Its values at x = 0 and x = 2 are .11 and 1.00, and the shape of the graph keeps the value closer to .11 than to 1.0 for most of the interval. We therefore expect that the average value will lie between .11 and 1.00, but be closer to .11.

The average value was found to be 1/3. Since 1/3 = .33, which is closer to .11 than to 1.00, our average value makes sense in terms of the graph

It's important to know the shapes of basic graphs and to be able to construct graphs using transformations. So the above solution is preferred. However it would also be acceptable to see this by evaluating the function at a few points between x = 0 and x = 2. For example

When x = 0, f(x) = 1 / (0 - 3)^2 = .11.

When x = 1, f(x) = 1 / (1 - 3)^2 = .25.

When x = 2, f(x) = 1 / (2 - 3)^2 = 1.00

The graph is increasing all the way from x = 0 to x = 2.

So the average value certainly lies between the x = 0 value .11 and the x = 2 value 1.00.

Halfway between x = 0 and x = 2 the value of the function has increased from .11 to only .25, so it is clear that the average value will be closer to .11 than to 1.00.

The average value of the function is 1/3, which is approximately equal to .33. This is very consistent with the values given above.

We can obtain further confirmation by finding the x value at which the function reaches its average value of 1/3:

We solve the equation

1 / (x-3)^2 = 1/3. Inverting both sides we get

(x-3)^2 = 3 so

x-3 = +-`sqrt(3) so

x = 3 + `sqrt(3) or x = 3 - `sqrt(3), or approximately

x = 4.732 or x = 1.268.

The function value 1.268 occurs within our interval; 4.732 does not (this value occurs on the other side of the vertical asymptote, where the function is decreasing).

x = 1.268 lies closer to x = 2 than to x = 0, indicating that the function reaches its average value of 1/3 during the second half of the interval. Between x = 1.278 and x = 2, the function's value will then triple to 1.00.

A numerical synopsis of function values on the interval from x = 0 to x = 2:

At x = 0 the value is .11.

At x = 1, halfway through the interval, the function value is .25.

At x = 1.278, approx., the function reaches its average value of 1/3.

The function then increases fairly rapidly to 1.00.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Self-critique (if necessary): Not necessary.

------------------------------------------------

Self-critique Rating: 3

@&

The key thing you need to be doing is checking your antiderivatives in the manner indicated in some of my notes. Take the derivative of your result and see if it matches the original function.

*@