SOLUTION TO PROBLEM R-10




The volume generated is given by the integral

\begin{displaymath}\int_0^b\pi\left (f(x)\right )^2\; dx\end{displaymath}

So, for all b>0, we have the identity

\begin{displaymath}b^2=\int_0^b\pi\left (f(x)\right )^2\; dx\end{displaymath}

Take the derivative of both sides, using the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Then

\begin{displaymath}2b=\pi\left (f(b)\right )^2\end{displaymath}

So $f(b)=\sqrt{2b/\pi}$. In other words,

\begin{displaymath}f(x)=\frac{\sqrt{2\pi x}}{\pi}\end{displaymath}



Questions and/or comments should be directed to Judy Downey or Griff Elder


[Back]    Back to the Problem of the Week Page
 
 


Last modified:   Fri Mar 22 13:12:44 CST 2002