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3.6.6 Differentiation (A-level only)

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Question 7

The vertical cross-section of a custom-built acoustic shell for an outdoor concert stage is being designed. The shell rests on a flat horizontal stage floor. Using a coordinate system where the origin O O\,O is at the left-most point of the shell's base and the xxx-axis lies along the stage, the right-most point of the base is PPP. The shape of the cross-section is modelled by the equation

x2+y2=kx−10y x^2 + y^2 = k\sqrt{x} - 10y x2+y2=kx​−10y

where x x\,x and y y\,y are the horizontal and vertical distances from the origin in metres, and k k\,k is a constant.

a.

The total width of the shell base OP OP\,OP is 16 metres. Determine the value of k k\,k for this design.

[2]
b.

Show that the maximum height of the acoustic shell above the stage is approximately 7.1 metres.

[7]
c.

State one limitation of using this mathematical equation to model the physical acoustic shell.

[1]

3.6.6 Differentiation (A-level only) Questions

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