Edexcel C4 — Question 8 15 marks

Exam BoardEdexcel
ModuleC4 (Core Mathematics 4)
Marks15
PaperDownload PDF ↗
Mark schemeDownload PDF ↗
TopicParametric differentiation
TypeFind tangent equation at parameter
DifficultyStandard +0.8 This is a substantial multi-part question requiring parametric differentiation, tangent equations, integration for ellipse area, and geometric reasoning to find the parallelogram area. Part (c) requires recognizing the parallelogram's area formula and part (d) involves solving a transcendental equation. While each technique is standard C4 material, the combination and geometric insight needed elevate this above average difficulty.
Spec1.03g Parametric equations: of curves and conversion to cartesian1.07s Parametric and implicit differentiation1.08e Area between curve and x-axis: using definite integrals1.08f Area between two curves: using integration

8. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{cb12f63c-f4d0-4eb8-b4a5-0ad12f926b1a-5_609_1210_248_374}
\end{figure} A table top, in the shape of a parallelogram, is made from two types of wood. The design is shown in Fig. 1. The area inside the ellipse is made from one type of wood, and the surrounding area is made from a second type of wood. The ellipse has parametric equations, $$x = 5 \cos \theta , \quad y = 4 \sin \theta , \quad 0 \leq \theta < 2 \pi$$ The parallelogram consists of four line segments, which are tangents to the ellipse at the points where \(\theta = \alpha , \theta = - \alpha , \theta = \pi - \alpha , \theta = - \pi + \alpha\).
  1. Find an equation of the tangent to the ellipse at ( \(5 \cos \alpha , 4 \sin \alpha\) ), and show that it can be written in the form $$5 y \sin \alpha + 4 x \cos \alpha = 20 .$$
  2. Find by integration the area enclosed by the ellipse.
  3. Hence show that the area enclosed between the ellipse and the parallelogram is $$\frac { 80 } { \sin 2 \alpha } - 20 \pi$$
  4. Given that \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 4 }\), find the value of \(\alpha\) for which the areas of two types of wood are equal.

8.

\begin{figure}[h]
\begin{center}
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty}
\caption{Figure 1}
  \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{cb12f63c-f4d0-4eb8-b4a5-0ad12f926b1a-5_609_1210_248_374}
\end{center}
\end{figure}

A table top, in the shape of a parallelogram, is made from two types of wood. The design is shown in Fig. 1. The area inside the ellipse is made from one type of wood, and the surrounding area is made from a second type of wood.

The ellipse has parametric equations,

$$x = 5 \cos \theta , \quad y = 4 \sin \theta , \quad 0 \leq \theta < 2 \pi$$

The parallelogram consists of four line segments, which are tangents to the ellipse at the points where $\theta = \alpha , \theta = - \alpha , \theta = \pi - \alpha , \theta = - \pi + \alpha$.
\begin{enumerate}[label=(\alph*)]
\item Find an equation of the tangent to the ellipse at ( $5 \cos \alpha , 4 \sin \alpha$ ), and show that it can be written in the form

$$5 y \sin \alpha + 4 x \cos \alpha = 20 .$$
\item Find by integration the area enclosed by the ellipse.
\item Hence show that the area enclosed between the ellipse and the parallelogram is

$$\frac { 80 } { \sin 2 \alpha } - 20 \pi$$
\item Given that $0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 4 }$, find the value of $\alpha$ for which the areas of two types of wood are equal.
\end{enumerate}

\hfill \mbox{\textit{Edexcel C4  Q8 [15]}}