Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

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

Chapter 4 - Section 4.1 - Maximum and Minimum Values - 4.1 Exercises - Page 284: 72

Answer

$F$ is minimized when $tan~\theta = \mu$

Work Step by Step

We can find the value of $tan~\theta$ when $F' = 0$: $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\mu~sin~\theta+cos~\theta}$ $F' =\frac{-(\mu~W)(\mu~cos~\theta-sin~\theta)}{(\mu~sin~\theta+cos~\theta)^2} = 0$ $\mu~cos~\theta-sin~\theta = 0$ $sin~\theta = \mu~cos~\theta$ $\frac{sin~\theta}{cos~\theta} = \mu$ $tan~\theta = \mu$ When $tan~\theta = \mu$: $sin~\theta = \frac{\mu}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}$ $cos~\theta = \frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}$ We can find the value of $F$ when $tan~\theta = \mu$: $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\mu~sin~\theta+cos~\theta}$ $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\mu\cdot\frac{\mu}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}}$ $F =\frac{\mu~W~\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}{\mu^2+1}$ $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}}$ We can verify the value of $F$ at the endpoints of the interval $[0, \frac{\pi}{2}]$: $F(0) =\frac{\mu~W}{\mu~sin~0+cos~0} = \mu~W$ $F(\frac{\pi}{2}) =\frac{\mu~W}{\mu~sin~(\pi/2)+cos~(\pi/2)} = W$ Note that when $tan~\theta = \mu$: $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}} \lt \frac{\mu~W}{\sqrt{1}} = \mu~W$ $F =\frac{\mu~W}{\sqrt{\mu^2+1}} \lt \frac{\mu~W}{\sqrt{\mu^2}} = W$ Therefore, $F$ is minimized when $tan~\theta = \mu$
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