OCR MEI FP2 2006 June — Question 5

Exam BoardOCR MEI
ModuleFP2 (Further Pure Mathematics 2)
Year2006
SessionJune
TopicParametric equations

5 A curve has parametric equations $$x = \theta - k \sin \theta , \quad y = 1 - \cos \theta ,$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant.
  1. For the case \(k = 1\), use your graphical calculator to sketch the curve. Describe its main features.
  2. Sketch the curve for a value of \(k\) between 0 and 1 . Describe briefly how the main features differ from those for the case \(k = 1\).
  3. For the case \(k = 2\) :
    (A) sketch the curve;
    (B) find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(\theta\);
    (C) show that the width of each loop, measured parallel to the \(x\)-axis, is $$2 \sqrt { 3 } - \frac { 2 \pi } { 3 }$$
  4. Use your calculator to find, correct to one decimal place, the value of \(k\) for which successive loops just touch each other.