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#1 2010-06-14 06:00:56

engrymbiff
Member
Registered: 2010-06-14
Posts: 30

Help with solving an analytic problem...

...

Last edited by engrymbiff (2010-06-18 07:25:26)

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#2 2010-06-14 07:00:10

ZHero
Real Member
Registered: 2008-06-08
Posts: 1,889

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Let the point A be (0, 0), i.e. origin, and lets say that they meet at a point C (b, k)
AC=2BC
√(b²+k²)=2k
b²+k²=4k²
k=b/√3

they meet at C (b, b/√3) and AC is 30 degrees inclined from the X-axis.


If two or more thoughts intersect, there has to be a point!

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#3 2010-06-14 07:10:03

engrymbiff
Member
Registered: 2010-06-14
Posts: 30

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

ZHero wrote:

Let the point A be (0, 0), i.e. origin, and lets say that they meet at a point C (b, k)
AC=2BC
√(b²+k²)=2k
b²+k²=4k²
k=b/√3

they meet at C (b, b/√3) and AC is 30 degrees inclined from the X-axis.

Sorry, maybe I did not explain the problem well enough. "A's direction of movement is always in the nearest-distance-direction". So, A's direction will change according to B's movement. This will result in some sort of parable for A's path. NOT just pythagoras tongue

Thanks anyway for your try

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#4 2010-06-14 09:57:43

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Hi engrymbiff;

Your problem is a pursuit curve.

http://mathworld.wolfram.com/PursuitCurve.html

http://curvebank.calstatela.edu/pursuit2/pursuit2.htm

google for more about pursuit curves.

Your problem has 2 difficult features about it:

1) It is a reflection of the one on the top of the page.
2) The ratio of the velocities is 2:1

If you can make the change that A starts at the origin and B the pursuer starts at (b,0) then the equation of B's pursuit is y = c x^2 - log(x), with c to be determined.

Your assumption that the path is a parabola is close but not true.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#5 2010-06-15 00:44:41

engrymbiff
Member
Registered: 2010-06-14
Posts: 30

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Thanks bobbym!! That does help a lot! big_smile

If someone has anything else to fill in with it still will be much appreciated!

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#6 2010-06-15 05:19:50

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Hi engrymbiff;

I am working on a solution that does not use differential equations. Unfortunately the distance formula involves an integral that may not be integrable. If so that would indicate their may not be an analytical answer, only a numerical one.

Please come back and tell me what you learn new about the problem. Better yet, if you solve it please post your solution.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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#7 2010-06-15 06:14:09

engrymbiff
Member
Registered: 2010-06-14
Posts: 30

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Perfect, I'm also working on it right now actually. I'll update you if I manage to solve it!

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#8 2010-06-15 08:25:37

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Help with solving an analytic problem...

Hi engrymbiff;

The solution for the conditions I have given in post #4: Leads to this DE.

Where c is the ratio of B to A in this case 1:2, So c = 1 / 2, c is always less than 1.

I am having trouble with setting the initial conditions. Okay , got it. If A starts at y=5 and B starts at ( 0 , 0 ) we set the initial conditions as y ' (5) = 0 and y(5) = 0

Solving the DE we get:

Plugging in x = 0 we get y = 10 / 3. So A will catch B at ( 0 , 10 / 3 ). This can be easily checked as being correct.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/graph/functio … 3333333333

Notice that A comes from the right and doesn't start at the origin, but to make it do so should be a simple translation.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

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