Weird math problem (1 Viewer)

iStudent

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Messages
1,158
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
This is a MX1 problem, but I came across this while doing Terry Lee's 4u book...

if , and initially m/s at , find v in terms of x and describe its resultant motion

Textbook's solution:








intiially, and

hence,



after simplifying and rearranging, you get this:

Compare this to what I did:







intially, and

hence,





after simplifying and rearranging, you get this:

as you can see, you get a plus sign which is different to the textbook method

Someone explain please
 

QZP

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 7, 2013
Messages
839
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2014
Ran into this problem a while back too. Would like to know reasoning!!
 

aDimitri

i'm the cook
Joined
Aug 22, 2013
Messages
505
Location
Blue Mountains
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
It's something to do with the abs value that we impose when we integrate. If you leave it as:

Then you get the same solution as the textbook.
 

iStudent

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Messages
1,158
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
I felt like LHS was easier to integrate this way. (just a habit)
it's still mathematically correct though
 

Squar3root

realest nigga
Joined
Jun 10, 2012
Messages
4,927
Location
ya mum gay
Gender
Male
HSC
2025
Uni Grad
2024
I felt like LHS was easier to integrate this way. (just a habit)
it's still mathematically correct though
I may be wrong; but when you multiply both sides by -1 you also change the sign of the constant when you're integrating
 

iStudent

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2013
Messages
1,158
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
I may be wrong; but when you multiply both sides by -1 you also change the sign of the constant when you're integrating
I don't think that matters.. :/ because it's a constant.
I think the absolute value sign when integrating needs to be reworked.
 

Squar3root

realest nigga
Joined
Jun 10, 2012
Messages
4,927
Location
ya mum gay
Gender
Male
HSC
2025
Uni Grad
2024
Just look at the math lol... this has nothing to do with T.Lee or some textbook. OP found a contradiction in two different, (seemingly) valid methods and that's the problem
OP did mention (in his first line) that it is out of TL's book lol :/ and i was thinking maybe TL made an error (unlikely)
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
When you do the rearrangment (the bit you didn't show), why didn't you get a +/- due to the absolute value?
You then simply have to choose the correct sign to match the initial conditions. That makes it a minus.
 

braintic

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
2,137
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
N/A
log(-1) = i*pi
Just wondering, other than the fact that it is mathematically consistent, can anyone actually visualize this?
What does it really mean to say that e^(i.pi) = -1 ??
Does anyone have some insight which goes beyond just doing mindless algebra?
 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top