Examples
Last updated at August 13, 2026 by Teachoo
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Example 29 An Apache helicopter of enemy is flying along the curve given by š¦= š„^2 + 7. A soldier, placed at (3, 7), wants to shoot down the helicopter when it is nearest to him. Find the nearest distance.Given curve y = x2 + 7 Let (š„,š¦) be any point on parabola š¦=š„2+7 Let D be required Distance between (š„,š¦) & (3 , 7) D = ā((šāš)^š+(š āš)^š ) = ā(9+š„^2ā6š„+49+š¦^2ā14š¦) = ā(š„^2+š¦^2ā6š„ā14š¦+58) Since point (š„ , š¦) is on the parabola š¦=š„2+7 (š , š) will satisfy the equation of parabola Putting š„ and š¦ in equation š=š^š+š Putting value of š¦=š„^2+7 D = ā(š„^2+š¦^2ā6š„ā14š¦+58) D = ā(š„^2+ć(š„^2+7)ć^2 ā 6š„ā14(š„^2+7)+58) D = ā(š„^2+š„^4+49+14š„^2 ā 6š„ā14š„^2ā98+58) D = ā(š^š+š^š āšš+š) We need to minimize D, but D has a square root Which will be difficult to differentiate Let Z = D2 Z = š^š+š^š āšš+š Since D is positive, D is minimum if D2 is minimum So, we minimize Z = D2 Differentiating Z Z =š„^4+š„^2 ā6š„+9 Differentiating w.r.t. h Zā = š(š„^4 + š„^2 ā 6š„ + 9)/šā Zā = 4š„^3+2š„ ā6 Putting Zā = 0 4š„^3+2š„ ā6=0 Factorizing Zā Zā(1) = 4(1)3 + 2(1) ā 6 = 4 + 2 ā 6 = 0 Hence, (x ā 1) is a factor of 4x3 ā 2x ā 6 Thus, 4š„^3+2š„ ā6=0 (š„ā1)(4š„^2+4š„+6)=0 2x2 + 2x + 3 = 0 x = (ā2 ± ā(4 ā 4(2)(3)))/4 = (ā2 ± ā(āšš))/4 This is not possible as there are no real roots. Checking sign of š^ā²ā² " " šš/šš„=4š„^3+2š„ ā6 Differentiating again w.r.t x (š^2 š)/(šš„^2 )=4 Ć 3š„^2+2 (š^2 š)/(šš„^2 )=12š„^2+2 Since š^ā²ā² > 0 for x = 1 ā“ Z is minimum when x = 1 Thus, D is Minimum at x = 1 Finding Minimum value of D D = ā(š^š+š^š āšš+š) Putting x = 1 D = ā(1^4+1^2ā6(1)+9) D = āš Hence, shortest distance isāš