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Ch. 7 - Logarithmic, Exponential Functions, and Hyperbolic Functions
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 7, Problem 7.3.100

Surface area of a catenoid When the catenary y = a cosh x/a is revolved about the x-axis, it sweeps out a surface of revolution called a catenoid. Find the area of the surface generated when y = cosh x on [–ln 2, ln 2] is rotated about the x-axis.

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1
Identify the curve and the interval: The curve is given by \(y = \cosh x\) on the interval \([-\ln 2, \ln 2]\).
Recall the formula for the surface area of a surface of revolution about the x-axis: \(S = \int_a^b 2\pi y \sqrt{1 + \left(\frac{dy}{dx}\right)^2} \, dx\)
Compute the derivative of \(y = \cosh x\): \(\frac{dy}{dx} = \sinh x\)
Substitute \(y\) and \(\frac{dy}{dx}\) into the surface area formula: \(S = \int_{-\ln 2}^{\ln 2} 2\pi \cosh x \sqrt{1 + (\sinh x)^2} \, dx\)
Simplify the expression inside the square root using the identity \(1 + \sinh^2 x = \cosh^2 x\), so the integrand becomes \(2\pi \cosh x \cdot \cosh x = 2\pi \cosh^2 x\). Then set up the integral \(S = \int_{-\ln 2}^{\ln 2} 2\pi \cosh^2 x \, dx\) to be evaluated.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Surface Area of a Surface of Revolution

The surface area generated by revolving a curve y = f(x) about the x-axis is found using the integral formula S = ∫ 2π y √(1 + (dy/dx)^2) dx over the given interval. This formula accounts for the circumference of circular slices and the curve's slope.
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Example 1: Minimizing Surface Area

Hyperbolic Cosine Function and Its Derivative

The catenary is defined by y = a cosh(x/a), where cosh x = (e^x + e^{-x})/2. Its derivative, sinh x, is essential for computing the slope dy/dx, which appears in the surface area integral. Understanding these functions helps evaluate the integral accurately.
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Evaluating Definite Integrals with Logarithmic Limits

The problem involves integrating over the interval [–ln 2, ln 2]. Recognizing properties of logarithms and symmetry can simplify the integral. Proper evaluation of definite integrals with such limits is crucial for obtaining the exact surface area.
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Definition of the Definite Integral
Related Practice
Textbook Question

29–62. Integrals Evaluate the following integrals. Include absolute values only when needed.


∫ (x²) / (4x³ + 7) dx

Textbook Question

88–91. Limits Use l’Hôpital’s Rule to evaluate the following limits.


lim x → ∞ (1 − coth x) / (1 − tanh x)

Textbook Question

63–66. Calculator limits Use a calculator to make a table similar to Table 7.1 to approximate the following limits. Confirm your result with l’Hôpital’s Rule.


limₕ→₀ (1 + 3h)^{2/h}

Textbook Question

Tsunamis A tsunami is an ocean wave often caused by earthquakes on the ocean floor; these waves typically have long wavelengths, ranging from 150 to 1000 km. Imagine a tsunami traveling across the Pacific Ocean, which is the deepest ocean in the world, with an average depth of about 4000 m. Explain why the shallow-water velocity equation (Exercise 75) applies to tsunamis even though the actual depth of the water is large. What does the shallow-water equation say about the speed of a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean (use d = 4000 m)?

Textbook Question

Probability as an integral Two points P and Q are chosen randomly, one on each of two adjacent sides of a unit square (see figure). What is the probability that the area of the triangle formed by the sides of the square and the line segment PQ is less than one-fourth the area of the square? Begin by showing that x and y must satisfy xy < 1/2 in order for the area condition to be met. Then argue that the required probability is: 1/2 + ∫[1/2 to 1] (dx / 2x) and evaluate the integral.

Textbook Question

22–36. Derivatives Find the derivatives of the following functions.


f(x) = x sinh⁻¹ x − √(x² + 1)