So I know the length L of the curve y=sqrt(R^2−x^2) from x=0 to x=a where |a|<R is given by: L=int^a_0 (R)/(sqrt(R^2−x^2))dx

Brooklyn Farrell

Brooklyn Farrell

Open question

2022-08-14

So I know the length L of the curve y = R 2 x 2 from x = 0 to x = a where | a | < R is given by:
L = 0 a R R 2 x 2 d x
Now I must set up the arc length integral and simplify it so that it is in the form listed above.
L = 0 a 1 + ( d y d x ) 2 d x
and
d y d x = x R 2 x 2
( d y d x ) 2 = x 2 R 2 x 2
so
L = 0 a 1 + x 2 R 2 x 2 d x
I am unsure where to go from here to simplify into the first integral, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer & Explanation

beentjie8e

beentjie8e

Beginner2022-08-15Added 20 answers

Assume R > a and a , R R + :
L = 0 a 1 + ( x [ R 2 x 2 ] ) 2   d x = 0 a 1 + ( x R 2 x 2 ) 2   d x =
0 a 1 + x 2 R 2 x 2   d x = 0 a R 2 x 2 R 2 x 2 + x 2 R 2 x 2   d x =
0 a R 2 x 2 + x 2 R 2 x 2   d x = 0 a R 2 R 2 x 2   d x =
0 a R 2 R 2 R 2 R 2 x 2 R 2   d x = 0 a 1 1 x 2 R 2   d x =
0 a R 2 x 2 + x 2 R 2 x 2   d x = 0 a R 2 R 2 x 2   d x =
0 a R 2 R 2 R 2 R 2 x 2 R 2   d x = 0 a 1 1 x 2 R 2   d x =
Substitute u = x R and d u = 1 R   d x.
This gives a new lower bound u = 0 R = 0 and upper bound u = a R :
R 0 a R 1 1 u 2   d u = R [ arcsin ( u ) ] 0 a R = R ( arcsin ( a R ) arcsin ( 0 ) ) = R arcsin ( a R )
motsetjela

motsetjela

Beginner2022-08-16Added 1 answers

Ah never mind I solved it, assuming R and x are positive,
1 + x 2 R 2 x 2 = R 1 R 2 x 2 = R R 2 x 2

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