Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 13 - Section 13.1 - Vector Functions and Space Curves - 13.1 Exercises - Page 855: 50

Answer

They do not collide but their paths intersect at $(1,1,1)$ and $(2,4,8)$

Work Step by Step

$t=1+2t; t^2=1+6t; t^3=1+14t$ The first equation is satisfied for $t=-1$ Further, $t_1=1+2t_2; t_1^2=1+6t_2; t_1^3=1+14t_2$ Now, $(1+2t_2)^2=1+6t_2$ or, $4t_2+4t_2^2=6t_2$ or, $t_2=0 $ or, $t_2=\dfrac{1}{2}$ When $t_2=0 $ or, $t_2=\dfrac{1}{2}$, then $t_1=1+2(0)=1$ and $t_2=\dfrac{1}{2}$, then $t_1=1+2(1/2)=2$ Now, the two points of intersections are: $(x,y,z) =(t_1,t_2^2,t_1^3)=(1,1,1)\ when\ t_1=1$ and $(x,y,z) =(t_1,t_2^2,t_1^3)=(2,4,8)\ when\ t_1=2$ This means that the particles do not collide but their paths intersect at $(1,1,1)$ and $(2,4,8)$
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