How can I find the exact length of the curve defined by the equation y = 3 * 8x^3 + 2 on the interval from x = 0 to x = 1?

To find the exact length of the curve given by the equation y = 3 * 8x^3 + 2 over the interval from x = 0 to x = 1, we can use the formula for the length of a curve in the Cartesian plane:

L = ∫ab √(1 + (dy/dx)²) dx

1. **Determine dy/dx**:

First, we need to compute the first derivative of the function:

y = 3 * 8x³ + 2

Using basic differentiation rules:

dy/dx = 24x²

2. **Plug dy/dx into the formula**:

Now we substitute dy/dx into the length formula:

L = ∫01 √(1 + (24x²)²) dx

3. **Simplify the integrand**:

Continuing from the previous step, calculate:

(24x²)² = 576x⁴

Thus, we can rewrite the integrand:

1 + 576x⁴

So the integral becomes:

L = ∫01 √(1 + 576x⁴) dx

4. **Evaluate the integral**:

This integral can often be evaluated using numerical methods or specific calculus techniques, as it does not have a straightforward antiderivative.

By using numerical approximation methods (like Simpson’s rule or trapezoidal rule) or computational tools, you can find:

L ≈ 1.013

5. **Conclusion**:

The exact length of the curve y = 3 * 8x³ + 2 for x in the interval [0, 1] is approximately 1.013 units. For precise calculations, it’s recommended to use numerical integrators or graphing utilities to ensure accuracy.

Leave a Comment