ENGINEERING COUNCIL EXAM MATHEMATICS C101

Solutions to exam paper 2004

Q1a. The deflection y of a beam of length L at a distance x from the its left hand end is given by :
(
2 2
x L x y = ) where is a positive constant.
Obtain
dx
dy
and
2
2
dx
y d
, and hence obtain the maximum deflection of the beam. Find also where the
points of inflection occur.

SOLUTION
Examining the equation we see that y is zero when x = 0 and when x = L so it
appears to be a simply supported beam. The deflection appears to be upwards but note in beam
problems we usually have a minus in the equation to indicate downwards deflection. As we have an
exact equation we do not need constants of integration.
(
2 2
x L x y = )
( ) { } { }
[ ] [ ]
2 2
2
2
3 2 2
4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2
12 12 2 4 6 2
2 2
2
x xL L
dy
x d
x L x xL
dx
dy
x L x L x x Lx L x x L x y
+ = + =
+ = + = =



For a maximum or minimum point 0 =
dx
dy

[ ]
3 2 2
4 6 2 0 x L x xL + = A possible value of x is zero
Divide everything by x [ ]
2 2
4 6 2 0 x xL L + = and factorise ( )( ) L x L x = 2 2 2 0
Other possible solutions are x = L and x = L/2. Now check if these are maximum or minimum
values by checking if the second derivative is positive or negative at these points.
Put x = 0 and [ ] This is positive so it is probably a minimum
2
2
2
2L
dy
x d
=
Put x = L [ ] [ ]
2 2 2
2
2
2 12 12 2
2
L L L L
dy
x d
= + = This is positive so it is a probably a minimum.
Put x = L/2 [ ]
2 2 2 2
2
2
3 6 2 L L L L
dy
x d
= + = This is negative so it is probably a maximum.
At a maximum the gradient changes from positive to negative so to be sure we should check.
[ ]
3 2 2
4 6 2 x L x xL
dx
dy
+ =
Put x = 0.45L and [ ] 0495 . 0 3645 . 0 215 . 1 9 . 0
3 3 3
= + = L L L
dx
dy

Put x = 0.55L and [ ] 55 . 0 1663 . 0 815 . 1 1 . 1
3 3 3
= + = L L L
dx
dy

This confirms at x = L/2 the deflection is a maximum so putting x = L/2 into
{ }
4 3 2
2
2
x L x L x y + = we have
16 16 4 4
4 4 4 4
max
L L L L
y

=

+ =
When we have a point of inflection, 0
2
2
=
dy
x d
so we must find these.
[ ] 0 6 6 0 12 12 2
2 2 2 2
2
2
= + = + = L xL x x xL L
dy
x d
This can only be solved by the quadratic
formula. Coefficients a = 6, b = -6L. c = L
2
0.2113L and .7886L 0
12
5 . 0
12
12 6
12
24 36 6
2
4
2 2 2 2
= =

=

=

=
L
L
L L L L L
a
ac b b
x
Substitute back and the answers check out.
Q1b The current i at time t in a series LR circuit is given by

=

L
Rt
e
R
E
i 1

To investigate the effect on the current as R becomes small, use L'Hospital's rule to derive an
expression for i when R approaches zero. Verify the result by expanding i as a Maclaurin's series in
powers of R

SOLUTION
Clearly if we put R = 0 ( ) ( )
0
0
1 1
0
1
0
0
= = =

E
e
E
i and this is indeterminate.
Using L'Hospital's rule we must differentiate the top and bottom with respect to R
First rearrange to make it clear.
R
e
E i
L
Rt

1
Then differentiate the top and bottom
L
Et
e
L
t
E
e
L
t
E
L
Rt
R
i
= =

0
0
1


Maclaurin Expansion
........ ) 0 (
! 2
) 0 ( ) 0 ( ) (
2
+ + + = f
x
f x f x f
........ ) 0 (
! 2
) 0 ( ) 0 ( ) (
2
+ + + = f
R
f R f R f
Expanding
L
Rt
e i

=
......
6 2
1 ) 0
3
3
2
2
+

=
R
L
t R
L
t
R
L
t
f
Hence

= ......
6 2
1 1
3
3
2
2
R
L
t R
L
t
R
L
t
R
E
i

+ = .....
6 2
1 1
3
3
2
2
R
L
t R
L
t
R
L
t
R
E
i

= .....
6 2
3
3
2
2
R
L
t R
L
t
R
L
t
R
E
i

= ....
6 2
1
2
R
L
t R
L
t
L
t
E i
When R = 0
L
t
E i = giving the same result