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A Triangle Is Inscribed in a Semicircle of Diameter 6R 9(π2)R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }

Question 6

Multiple Choice

A triangle is inscribed in a semicircle of diameter 6R. Show that the smallest possible value for the area of the shaded region is 9(π2) R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .  A triangle is inscribed in a semicircle of diameter 6R. Show that the smallest possible value for the area of the shaded region is  \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  .   Hint: The area of the shaded region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. Find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. This will be the same x that maximizes the area of the triangle. A)  The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The area of the triangle is equal to  A ( x )  = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R )  ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  . The square of the area of the triangle is equal to  ( A ( x )  )  ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 }  , and the substitution  x ^ { 2 } = t  will transform this expression into the quadratic function  - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 } + 9 R ^ { 2 } t ( 1 )   Since we want to find the maximum value of t, we will substitute the value  t = 18 R ^ { 2 } = x ^ { 2 }  into the equation. Solving for t gives us the following minimum area of the shaded region:  t = \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  . B)  The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The area of the triangle is equal to  A ( x )  = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R )  ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  . The square of the area of the triangle is equal to  ( A ( x )  )  ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 }  The substitution  x ^ { 2 } = t  will transform this expression into the quadratic function  - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 } + 9 R ^ { 2 } t ( 1 )   Since the graph of equation (1)  will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is  t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 18 R ^ { 2 }  Substituting the value  t = 18 R ^ { 2 }  into the equation  t = x ^ { 2 }  gives us  x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 }  and consequently  x = 3 R \sqrt { 2 }  (The negative root can be rejected since the side of a triangle can't be negative) . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to  \frac { 9 \pi R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { ( 6 R )  ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  Substituting the value  x = 3 R \sqrt { 2 }  in the equation (2)  gives us that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to  \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  . C)  The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The square of the area of the triangle is equal to  \frac { 1 } { 4 } 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } + \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 }  . The substitution  x ^ { 2 } = t  will transform this into the quadratic function  \frac { 1 } { 4 } 9 R ^ { 2 } t + \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 }  Since the graph of equation (1)  will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is  t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 9 R ^ { 2 }  Substituting the value  t = 9 R ^ { 2 }  into the equation  t = x ^ { 2 }  gives us  x ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 }  and consequently  x = 3 R  . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to  \pi 9 R ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { 6 R ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  Substituting the value  x = 3 R  into the equation (2) , we find that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to  \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  . D)  The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The square of the area of the triangle is equal to  A ( x )  = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R )  ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  , which is a quadratic function. The graph of this function will be a parabola opening downward, so we can write the maximum value of this function as:  x ^ { 2 } = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 18 R ^ { 2 }  We can then write  x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 }  as  x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 }  and calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. Substituting this value into the area equation, we find its minimum area:  \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  . E)  The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The square of the area of the triangle is equal to  \frac { 1 } { 2 } 9 ^ { 2 } R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 }  . The substitution  x ^ { 2 } = t  will transform this into the quadratic function  \frac { 1 } { 2 } 9 ^ { 2 } R ^ { 2 } t - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 }  Since the graph of equation (1)  will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is  t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 3 R ^ { 2 }  Substituting the value  t = 3 R ^ { 2 }  into the equation  t = x ^ { 2 }  gives us  x ^ { 2 } = 3 R ^ { 2 }  and consequently  x = R \sqrt { 7 }  . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to  \frac { \pi 9 R ^ { 2 } } { 4 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { 9 R ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }  Substituting the value  x = R \sqrt { 7 }  into the equation (2) , we find that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to  \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 )  R ^ { 2 } } { 2 }  . Hint: The area of the shaded region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. Find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. This will be the same x that maximizes the area of the triangle.


A) The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The area of the triangle is equal to A(x) =x2(6R) 2x2A ( x ) = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R ) ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } } .
The square of the area of the triangle is equal to (A(x) ) 2=9R2x214x4( A ( x ) ) ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 } , and the substitution x2=tx ^ { 2 } = t will transform this expression into the quadratic function 14t2+9R2t(1) - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 } + 9 R ^ { 2 } t ( 1 )
Since we want to find the maximum value of t, we will substitute the value t=18R2=x2t = 18 R ^ { 2 } = x ^ { 2 } into the equation. Solving for t gives us the following minimum area of the shaded region: t=9(π2) R22t = \frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .
B) The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The area of the triangle is equal to A(x) =x2(6R) 2x2A ( x ) = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R ) ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } } .
The square of the area of the triangle is equal to (A(x) ) 2=9R2x214x4( A ( x ) ) ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 } The substitution x2=tx ^ { 2 } = t will transform this expression into the quadratic function 14t2+9R2t(1) - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 } + 9 R ^ { 2 } t ( 1 )
Since the graph of equation (1) will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is t=b2a=18R2t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 18 R ^ { 2 }
Substituting the value t=18R2t = 18 R ^ { 2 } into the equation t=x2t = x ^ { 2 } gives us x2=18R2x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 } and consequently x=3R2x = 3 R \sqrt { 2 } (The negative root can be rejected since the side of a triangle can't be negative) . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to 9πR2212x(6R) 2x2\frac { 9 \pi R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { ( 6 R ) ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }
Substituting the value x=3R2x = 3 R \sqrt { 2 } in the equation (2) gives us that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to 9(π2) R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .
C) The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The square of the area of the triangle is equal to 149R2x2+14x4\frac { 1 } { 4 } 9 R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } + \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 } .
The substitution x2=tx ^ { 2 } = t will transform this into the quadratic function 149R2t+14t2\frac { 1 } { 4 } 9 R ^ { 2 } t + \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 }
Since the graph of equation (1) will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is t=b2a=9R2t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 9 R ^ { 2 }
Substituting the value t=9R2t = 9 R ^ { 2 } into the equation t=x2t = x ^ { 2 } gives us x2=9R2x ^ { 2 } = 9 R ^ { 2 } and consequently x=3Rx = 3 R . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to π9R212x6R2x2\pi 9 R ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { 6 R ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }
Substituting the value x=3Rx = 3 R into the equation (2) , we find that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to 9(π2) R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .
D) The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle.
The square of the area of the triangle is equal to A(x) =x2(6R) 2x2A ( x ) = \frac { x } { 2 } \sqrt { ( 6 R ) ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } } , which is a quadratic function. The graph of this function will be a parabola opening downward, so we can write the maximum value of this function as: x2=b2a=18R2x ^ { 2 } = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 18 R ^ { 2 }
We can then write x2=18R2x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 } as x2=18R2x ^ { 2 } = 18 R ^ { 2 } and calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. Substituting this value into the area equation, we find its minimum area: 9(π2) R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .
E) The hint tells us that the area of the region is a minimum when the area of the triangle is a maximum. We first find the value of x that maximizes the square of the area of the triangle. The square of the area of the triangle is equal to 1292R2x214x4\frac { 1 } { 2 } 9 ^ { 2 } R ^ { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } x ^ { 4 } .
The substitution x2=tx ^ { 2 } = t will transform this into the quadratic function 1292R2t14t2\frac { 1 } { 2 } 9 ^ { 2 } R ^ { 2 } t - \frac { 1 } { 4 } t ^ { 2 }
Since the graph of equation (1) will be a parabola opening downward, the input t that yields a maximum value for this function is t=b2a=3R2t = \frac { - b } { 2 a } = 3 R ^ { 2 }
Substituting the value t=3R2t = 3 R ^ { 2 } into the equation t=x2t = x ^ { 2 } gives us x2=3R2x ^ { 2 } = 3 R ^ { 2 } and consequently x=R7x = R \sqrt { 7 } . With this value of x, we can calculate the minimum area of the shaded region. The minimum area of the shaded region is equal to π9R2412x9R2x2\frac { \pi 9 R ^ { 2 } } { 4 } - \frac { 1 } { 2 } x \sqrt { 9 R ^ { 2 } - x ^ { 2 } }
Substituting the value x=R7x = R \sqrt { 7 } into the equation (2) , we find that the minimum value of the shaded region is equal to 9(π2) R22\frac { 9 ( \pi - 2 ) R ^ { 2 } } { 2 } .

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