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Multiple Choice
Find the exact length of the curve given by , for .
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Verified step by step guidance
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Step 1: Recall the formula for the arc length of a curve given parametrically or implicitly. For a curve defined as x = f(y), the arc length from y = a to y = b is given by: L = ∫[a to b] √(1 + (dx/dy)^2) dy.
Step 2: Compute dx/dy for the given function x = y^4 / 8 + 1 / (4y^2). Differentiate x with respect to y using the power rule and the chain rule. For the first term, differentiate y^4 / 8 to get (4y^3) / 8 = y^3 / 2. For the second term, differentiate 1 / (4y^2) to get -2 / (4y^3) = -1 / (2y^3). Thus, dx/dy = y^3 / 2 - 1 / (2y^3).
Step 3: Square dx/dy to find (dx/dy)^2. Expand the expression (y^3 / 2 - 1 / (2y^3))^2 using the binomial expansion formula: (a - b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2. This results in (y^3 / 2)^2 - 2(y^3 / 2)(1 / (2y^3)) + (1 / (2y^3))^2.
Step 4: Simplify the squared terms. Compute (y^3 / 2)^2 = y^6 / 4, -2(y^3 / 2)(1 / (2y^3)) = -1 / 2, and (1 / (2y^3))^2 = 1 / (4y^6). Combine these terms to get (dx/dy)^2 = y^6 / 4 - 1 / 2 + 1 / (4y^6).
Step 5: Substitute (dx/dy)^2 into the arc length formula. The arc length becomes L = ∫[1 to 3] √(1 + y^6 / 4 - 1 / 2 + 1 / (4y^6)) dy. Simplify the integrand and evaluate the integral over the interval [1, 3] to find the exact length of the curve.