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3.4.5 Trigonometry (A-level only)

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Question 23

A robotic surveillance arm is anchored at a fixed pivot O O\,O at the origin of a coordinate system. The arm consists of two segments, OP OP\,OP and PQPQPQ, with lengths 2k 2k\,2k and k k\,k respectively. A sensor is attached at point QQQ.

The configuration of the arm is defined by an angle ϕ \phi\,ϕ in the range 0≤ϕ≤π0 \le \phi \le \pi0≤ϕ≤π. The coordinates of P P\,P are (2kcos⁡ϕ,2ksin⁡ϕ)(2k \cos \phi, 2k \sin \phi)(2kcosϕ,2ksinϕ) and the position of Q Q\,Q relative to P P\,P is (kcos⁡2ϕ,ksin⁡2ϕ)(k \cos 2\phi, k \sin 2\phi)(kcos2ϕ,ksin2ϕ).

a.

Show that the xxx-coordinate of the sensor at Q Q\,Q is given by

x=k(2cos⁡ϕ+cos⁡2ϕ) x = k(2\cos \phi + \cos 2\phi) x=k(2cosϕ+cos2ϕ)
[2]
b.

Using a double angle identity, show that

x=k(2cos⁡2ϕ+2cos⁡ϕ−1) x = k(2\cos^2 \phi + 2\cos \phi - 1) x=k(2cos2ϕ+2cosϕ−1)
[2]
c.

The expression in part (b) can be written as x=2k(cos⁡ϕ+12)2−3k2\displaystyle x = 2k\left(\cos \phi + \frac{1}{2}\right)^2 - \frac{3k}{2}x=2k(cosϕ+21​)2−23k​. Find the value of ϕ \phi\,ϕ for which x x\,x is a minimum and state this minimum value in terms of kkk.

[3]
d.

Calculate the exact distance OQ OQ\,OQ when x x\,x is at its minimum value, giving your answer in terms of kkk.

[3]

3.4.5 Trigonometry (A-level only) Questions

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