The diagram below shows the Gateway Arch, which is a monument in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The arch stands at 192 metres tall and is 192 metres wide. The arch can be modelled by part of a curve as shown in the diagram below. The highest point of the curve lies on the yy-axis and the curve is symmetrical about the yy-axis. The two endpoints both lie on the xx-axis. It is known that the curve satisfies the differential equation
d2ydx2=ak1+(1kdydx)2\frac{\mathrm{d}^2 y}{\mathrm{d}x^2} = ak \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\right)^2}
for some constants aa and kk.

  1. (i)

    Show that the substitution p=1kdydxp = \frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} reduces the differential equation to
    dpdx=a1+p2.\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = a\sqrt{1 + p^2}.

  2. (ii)

    By using the substitution p=tan⁡up = \tan u, where −π2<u<π2-\frac{\pi}{2} < u < \frac{\pi}{2}, to solve the reduced differential equation in part (i), show that
    p=eax−e−ax2.p = \frac{\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}}{2}.

  3. (iii)

    Given that a=−0.0329a = -0.0329 and k=0.701k = 0.701, find yy in terms of xx.

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Worked solution

11(i)

1. Find an expression for the second derivative $\frac{\mathrm{d}^2y}{\mathrm{d}x^2}$ in terms of $p$.

Given the substitution p=1kdydxp = \frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}, we differentiate both sides with respect to xx:
dpdx=1kd2ydx2\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}^2y}{\mathrm{d}x^2}
Multiplying by kk gives:
d2ydx2=kdpdx\frac{\mathrm{d}^2y}{\mathrm{d}x^2} = k\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x}

2. Substitute the expressions back into the original differential equation to yield the required reduced form.

Substitute pp and d2ydx2\frac{\mathrm{d}^2y}{\mathrm{d}x^2} into the original differential equation d2ydx2=ak1+(1kdydx)2\frac{\mathrm{d}^2 y}{\mathrm{d}x^2} = ak \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}\right)^2}:
kdpdx=ak1+p2k\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = ak \sqrt{1 + p^2}
Dividing both sides by the constant kk:
dpdx=a1+p2\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = a\sqrt{1 + p^2}

Answer

dpdx=a1+p2 (shown)\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = a\sqrt{1 + p^2} \text{ (shown)}

11(ii)

1. Separate the variables of the differential equation and apply the substitution $p = \tan u$.

From part (i), we have the reduced differential equation dpdx=a1+p2\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}x} = a\sqrt{1 + p^2}. Separating the variables:
∫11+p2 dp=∫a dx\int \frac{1}{\sqrt{1 + p^2}} \, \mathrm{d}p = \int a \, \mathrm{d}x
Using the given substitution p=tan⁡up = \tan u, we differentiate to get dpdu=sec⁡2u  ⟹  dp=sec⁡2u du\frac{\mathrm{d}p}{\mathrm{d}u} = \sec^2 u \implies \mathrm{d}p = \sec^2 u \, \mathrm{d}u.
Substitute this into the integral:
∫sec⁡2u1+tan⁡2u du=∫a dx\int \frac{\sec^2 u}{\sqrt{1 + \tan^2 u}} \, \mathrm{d}u = \int a \, \mathrm{d}x

2. Simplify the integrand using trigonometric identities and integrate both sides.

Using the identity 1+tan⁡2u=sec⁡2u1 + \tan^2 u = \sec^2 u, the denominator is sec⁡2u\sqrt{\sec^2 u}. Since −π2<u<π2-\frac{\pi}{2} < u < \frac{\pi}{2}, sec⁡u>0\sec u > 0, so sec⁡2u=sec⁡u\sqrt{\sec^2 u} = \sec u.
The integral simplifies to:
∫sec⁡2usec⁡u du=∫a dx\int \frac{\sec^2 u}{\sec u} \, \mathrm{d}u = \int a \, \mathrm{d}x
∫sec⁡u du=∫a dx\int \sec u \, \mathrm{d}u = \int a \, \mathrm{d}x
Using the standard result for integrating sec⁡u\sec u:
ln⁡(sec⁡u+tan⁡u)=ax+C\ln (\sec u + \tan u) = ax + C
(Note: The absolute value is omitted since sec⁡u+tan⁡u>0\sec u + \tan u > 0 for the given domain of uu.)

3. Determine the initial condition from the physical context of the arch.

The problem states that the highest point of the arch lies on the yy-axis. At this maximum turning point (x=0x = 0), the tangent is horizontal, so dydx=0\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = 0.
Given the substitution p=1kdydxp = \frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}, we have:
At x=0,p=1k(0)=0\text{At } x = 0, \quad p = \frac{1}{k}(0) = 0
When p=0p = 0, 0=tan⁡u  ⟹  u=00 = \tan u \implies u = 0.

4. Substitute the initial condition to find the constant of integration $C$.

Substitute x=0x = 0 and u=0u = 0 into the integrated equation:
ln⁡(sec⁡0+tan⁡0)=a(0)+C\ln (\sec 0 + \tan 0) = a(0) + C
ln⁡(1+0)=C  ⟹  C=0\ln (1 + 0) = C \implies C = 0
Thus, the equation simplifies to:
ln⁡(sec⁡u+tan⁡u)=ax\ln (\sec u + \tan u) = ax
sec⁡u+tan⁡u=eax\sec u + \tan u = \mathrm{e}^{ax}

5. Use trigonometric identities to isolate $\tan u$ and solve for $p$.

Using the Pythagorean identity sec⁡2u−tan⁡2u=1\sec^2 u - \tan^2 u = 1, we can factorise it as:
(sec⁡u+tan⁡u)(sec⁡u−tan⁡u)=1(\sec u + \tan u)(\sec u - \tan u) = 1
Substitute sec⁡u+tan⁡u=eax\sec u + \tan u = \mathrm{e}^{ax} into the identity:
eax(sec⁡u−tan⁡u)=1  ⟹  sec⁡u−tan⁡u=e−ax\mathrm{e}^{ax} (\sec u - \tan u) = 1 \implies \sec u - \tan u = \mathrm{e}^{-ax}
Subtracting this from our earlier equation (sec⁡u+tan⁡u=eax\sec u + \tan u = \mathrm{e}^{ax}) gives:
(sec⁡u+tan⁡u)−(sec⁡u−tan⁡u)=eax−e−ax(\sec u + \tan u) - (\sec u - \tan u) = \mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}
2tan⁡u=eax−e−ax2\tan u = \mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}
Since p=tan⁡up = \tan u:
2p=eax−e−ax2p = \mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}
p=eax−e−ax2(shown)p = \frac{\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}}{2} \quad \text{(shown)}

Answer

p=eax−e−ax2p = \frac{\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}}{2}

11(iii)

1. Rearrange the expression from (ii) to find $\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x}$ and substitute the given constants $a$ and $k$.

From parts (i) and (ii), we know that p=1kdydxp = \frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} and p=eax−e−ax2p = \frac{\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}}{2}.
Equating these expressions:
1kdydx=eax−e−ax2\frac{1}{k}\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax}}{2}
dydx=k2(eax−e−ax)\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{k}{2} (\mathrm{e}^{ax} - \mathrm{e}^{-ax})
Substitute a=−0.0329a = -0.0329 and k=0.701k = 0.701:
dydx=0.7012(e−0.0329x−e0.0329x)=0.3505(e−0.0329x−e0.0329x)\frac{\mathrm{d}y}{\mathrm{d}x} = \frac{0.701}{2} (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} - \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x}) = 0.3505 (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} - \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x})

2. Integrate with respect to $x$ to find the general solution for $y$.

y=∫0.3505(e−0.0329x−e0.0329x) dxy = \int 0.3505 (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} - \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x}) \, \mathrm{d}x
y=0.3505(e−0.0329x−0.0329−e0.0329x0.0329)+Cy = 0.3505 \left( \frac{\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x}}{-0.0329} - \frac{\mathrm{e}^{0.0329x}}{0.0329} \right) + C
y=−10.653(e−0.0329x+e0.0329x)+Cy = -10.653 (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} + \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x}) + C

3. Apply the boundary condition at the highest point to find the constant of integration $C$ and write the final equation.

The arch is 192 m192\text{ m} tall, and its highest point lies on the yy-axis. This gives the boundary condition x=0x = 0 when y=192y = 192.
192=−10.653(e0+e0)+C192 = -10.653 (\mathrm{e}^{0} + \mathrm{e}^{0}) + C
192=−21.307+C  ⟹  C=213.307192 = -21.307 + C \implies C = 213.307
Substituting CC back and rounding to 3 significant figures:
y=−10.7(e−0.0329x+e0.0329x)+213y = -10.7 (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} + \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x}) + 213

Answer

y=213−10.7(e−0.0329x+e0.0329x)y = 213 - 10.7 (\mathrm{e}^{-0.0329x} + \mathrm{e}^{0.0329x})

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