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7.4 Day 1 Lengths of Curves: Golden Spike National Historic Site, Promontory, Utah

The document discusses calculating the length of a curve using calculus. It explains that to find the length of a curve over a short distance, we can approximate it as a straight line and use the Pythagorean theorem. However, for longer curves we need to use calculus to precisely calculate the curve length as the integral of the square root of (dx/dt)^2 + (dy/dt)^2 from t=a to t=b. The document provides an example of calculating the length of the curve defined by y=x^2 from x=0 to x=3, and compares the result to simply calculating the distance between the two points, showing the curve is longer. It notes we can also calculate

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Temesgen Bihonegn
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16 views8 pages

7.4 Day 1 Lengths of Curves: Golden Spike National Historic Site, Promontory, Utah

The document discusses calculating the length of a curve using calculus. It explains that to find the length of a curve over a short distance, we can approximate it as a straight line and use the Pythagorean theorem. However, for longer curves we need to use calculus to precisely calculate the curve length as the integral of the square root of (dx/dt)^2 + (dy/dt)^2 from t=a to t=b. The document provides an example of calculating the length of the curve defined by y=x^2 from x=0 to x=3, and compares the result to simply calculating the distance between the two points, showing the curve is longer. It notes we can also calculate

Uploaded by

Temesgen Bihonegn
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Golden Spike National Historic Site, Promontory, Utah

Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington Photo by Vickie Kelly, 1999
7.4 Day 1 Lengths of Curves
If we want to approximate the
length of a curve, over a short
distance we could measure a
straight line.
ds
dx
dy
By the pythagorean theorem:
2 2 2
ds dx dy = +
2 2
ds dx dy = +
2 2
ds dx dy = +
} }
We need to get dx out from
under the radical.
2 2
2
2 2
dx dy
S dx
dx dx
| |
= +
|
\ .
}
2
2
1
dy
L dx
dx
| |
= +
|
\ .
}
2
1
b
a
dy
L dx
dx
| |
= +
|
\ .
}
Length of Curve (Cartesian)
Lengths of Curves:

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 2 3
2
9 y x = +
0 3 x s s
Example:
2
9 y x = +
2
dy
x
dx
=
2
3
0
1
dy
L dx
dx
| |
= +
|
\ .
}
( )
3
2
0
1 2 L x dx = +
}
3
2
0
1 4 L x dx = +
}
Now what? This doesnt fit any formula, and
we started with a pretty simple example!
( )
ln 37 6
3 37
4 2
L
+
= +
9.74708875861 ~

The TI-89 gets:


0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 2 3
2
9 y x = +
0 3 x s s
Example:
( )
ln 37 6
3 37
4 2
L
+
= +
9.74708875861 ~
2 2 2
9 3 C + =
2
81 9 C + =
2
90 C =
9.49 C ~
The curve should be
a little longer than
the straight line, so
our answer seems
reasonable.
If we check the length of a straight line:

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1 2 3
2
9 y x = +
0 3 x s s
Example:
You may want to let the calculator find the
derivative too:
( ) ^ 2 9 x +
( (1 ( , ) ^ 2), , 0, 3) d y x x +
}
( )
2
3
0
1
d
y dx
dx
| |
+
|
\ .
}
Important:
You must delete
the variable y
when you are
done!

ENTER
ENTER
ENTER
F4 4
Y
STO
Y
9.74708875861 ~
Example:
0
1
-1 1
2 2
1 x y + =
2 2
1 y x =
2
1 y x =
2
1
1
1
dy
L dx
dx

| |
= +
|
\ .
}
3.1415926536 ~
t ~

If you have an equation that is easier to solve for x than


for y, the length of the curve can be found the same way.
0
1
2
3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
2
x y =
0 3 y s s
^ 2 y
2
3
0
1
dx
L dy
dy
| |
= +
|
\ .
}
( (1 ( , ) ^ 2), , 0, 3) d x y y +
}
9.74708875861 ~
Notice that x and y are reversed.
ENTER
X
STO

Dont forget to clear the x and y variables when you are done!
ENTER
F4 4
,
Y X
t

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