Author Archives: Engineering Math

Differential and Integral Calculus by Feliciano and Uy, Exercise 1.3, Problem 9

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PROBLEM:

Evaluate \displaystyle \lim\limits_{x\to 4}\left(\frac{\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{4}}{x-4\:}\right).

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SOLUTION:

A straight substitution of x=4 leads to the indeterminate form \frac{0}{0} which is meaningless.

Therefore, to evaluate the limit of the given function, we proceed as follows:

\begin{align*}
\\
 \lim\limits_{x\to 4}\left(\frac{\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{4}}{x-4}\right)& =\lim\limits_{x\to 4}\left(\frac{\frac{4-x}{4x}}{x-4}\right)\\
\\
& =\lim\limits_{x\to 4}\frac{4-x}{4x\left(x-4\right)}\\
\\

&=\lim\limits_{x\to 4}\left(\frac{4-x}{-4x\left(4-x\right)}\right)\\
\\

& =\lim\limits_{x\to 4}-\frac{1}{4x}\\
\\

& =-\frac{1}{4\cdot 4}\\
\\

& =-\frac{1}{16} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)\\
\\
\end{align*}
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Introduction to Statistics and Data Analysis | Probability & Statistics for Engineers & Scientists 8th Ed | Walpole| Problem 1.2

According to the journal Chemical Engineering, an important property of a fiber is its water absorbency. A random sample of 20 pieces of cotton fiber is taken and the absorbency on each piece was measured. The following are the absorbency values:

18.71 21.41 20.72 21.81 19.29 22.43 20.17
23.71 19.44 20.50 18.92 20.33 23.00 22.85
19.25 21.77 22.11 19.77 18.04 21.12  

a. Calculate the sample mean and median for the above sample values.

b. Compute the 10% trimmed mean.

c. Do a dot plot of the absorbency data. 

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Problem 1-2|Stress | Mechanics of Materials| Ninth Edition| R.C. Hibbeler|

Determine the resultant internal normal and shear force in the member at (a) section a–a and (b) section b–b, each of which passes through point A. The 500-lb load is applied along the centroidal axis of the member.

Problem 1-2

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Problem 6-1: Odometer reading based on the number of wheel revolutions

Semi-trailer trucks have an odometer on one hub of a trailer wheel. The hub is weighted so that it does not rotate, but it contains gears to count the number of wheel revolutions—it then calculates the distance traveled. If the wheel has a 1.15 m diameter and goes through 200,000 rotations, how many kilometers should the odometer read?

Solution:

The formula for the total distance traveled is

\Delta s=\Delta \theta \times r

Therefore, the total distance traveled is

\begin{align*}
\Delta s & =\left(200000\:\text{rotations}\:\times \frac{2\pi \:\text{radian}}{1\:\text{rotation}}\right)\left(\frac{1.15\:\text{m}}{2}\right) \\
\Delta s & =722566.3103\:\text{m} \\
\Delta s & =722.6\:\text{km} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)

\end{align*}
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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 5 Problem 1

A physics major is cooking breakfast when he notices that the frictional force between his steel spatula and his Teflon frying pan is only 0.200 N. Knowing the coefficient of kinetic friction between the two materials, he quickly calculates the normal force. What is it?

Solution:

The formula for friction is

f=\mu _{k\:}N

When we solve for the normal force, N, in terms of the other variables, we have

N=\frac{f}{\mu _k}

The coefficient of kinetic friction is 0.04. Therefore, the normal force is

\begin{align*}
N & =\frac{f}{\mu _k} \\
N & =\frac{0.200\:\text{newton}}{0.04} \\
N & =5.00\:\text{newton} \ \qquad \ \color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)
\end{align*}
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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 4 Problem 1

A 63.0-kg sprinter starts a race with an acceleration of 4.20 m/s2. What is the net external force on him?

Solution:

So, we are given mass, m = 63.0 \ \text{kg} , and acceleration, a = 4.20 \ \text{m/s}^2.

The net force has a formula 

\text{F}=\text{m}a

Substituting the given values, we have

\begin{align*}
F & = \left( 63.0 \ \text{kg} \right)\left( 4.20 \ \text{m/s}^2 \right) \\
F & = 265 \  \text{kg}\cdot \text{m/s}^2 \\
F & = 265 \ \text{N} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}
\end{align*}
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College Physics by Openstax Chapter 3 Problem 1

Find the following for path A in Figure 3.52:
(a) The total distance traveled, and
(b) The magnitude and direction of the displacement from start to finish.

Figure 3.54 The various lines represent paths taken by different people walking in a city. All blocks are 120 m on a side
Figure 3.52 The various lines represent paths taken by different people walking in a city. All blocks are 120 m on a side

Solution:

Part A

The total distance traveled is 

\begin{align*}

\text{d} & =\left(3\times 120\ \text{m}\right)+\left(1\times 120\:\text{m}\right) \\
\text{d} & =480\:\text{m}  \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}\\

\end{align*}

Part B

The magnitude of the displacement is 

\begin{align*}

\text{s }& =\sqrt{\left( s_x \right)^{2\:}+\left( s_y \right)^2} \\
\text{s }& = \sqrt{\left(1\times 120\:\text{m}\right)^2+\left(3\times 120\:\text{m}\right)^2} \\
\text{s }& = 379\ \text{m} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}

\end{align*}

The direction is

\begin{align*}

 \theta & = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{s_x}{s_y}\right) \\
\theta & = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{1\times 120\:\text{m}}{3\times 120 \ \text{m}}\right) \\
\theta & =71.6^{\circ} ,\:\text{E of N} \ \qquad \ {\color{DarkOrange} \left( \text{Answer} \right)}

\end{align*}
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