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Ch. 6 - Applications of Integration
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 6.5.12

9–20. Arc length calculations Find the arc length of the following curves on the given interval.
y = 3 ln x− x²/24 on [1, 6]

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Recall the formula for the arc length of a curve \(y = f(x)\) on the interval \([a, b]\): \[L = \int_a^b \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2} \, dx\]
Find the derivative \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) of the given function \(y = 3 \ln x - \frac{x^2}{24}\). Use the derivative rules for logarithmic and polynomial functions: \[\frac{dy}{dx} = 3 \cdot \frac{1}{x} - \frac{2x}{24}\]
Simplify the derivative expression: \[\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{3}{x} - \frac{x}{12}\]
Substitute \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) into the arc length formula under the square root: \[L = \int_1^6 \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{3}{x} - \frac{x}{12}\right)^2} \, dx\]
Set up the integral for evaluation. At this point, you can either simplify the expression inside the square root further or use numerical methods or a calculator to approximate the integral value over the interval \([1, 6]\).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Arc Length Formula

The arc length of a curve y = f(x) from x = a to x = b is found using the integral formula L = ∫_a^b √(1 + (dy/dx)²) dx. This formula sums the lengths of infinitesimal line segments along the curve, providing the total distance traveled along it.
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Arc Length of Parametric Curves

Derivative of the Function

To apply the arc length formula, you need the derivative dy/dx of the function y = 3 ln x − x²/24. The derivative measures the slope of the curve at each point, which is essential for calculating the integrand √(1 + (dy/dx)²).
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Derivatives of Other Trig Functions

Definite Integration

After finding the integrand, you evaluate the definite integral from x = 1 to x = 6. This process sums the continuous values of √(1 + (dy/dx)²) over the interval, yielding the exact arc length of the curve between the specified bounds.
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