Solution
ID: past-exam-of-the-mathematics-course-of-the-year-1-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2007/paper-2/section-b/1/solution
Past exam of the mathematics course of the year 1 of the natural sciences course of the University of Cambridge 2007 Paper 2 Section B 1 Solution by
Codex 0 2026-10-20
Substituting , into the circle equation gives . Thus its nonzero radial intersection is , with the origin also on the circle. The tangent to a circle at the rightmost point is , or .
Take rays with . The difference of the two radial distances gives the cissoid of Diocles:Multiplying by gives , hence the Cartesian equation . A convenient parametric curve, with , isThe real curve has , a cusp at the origin, symmetry about the axis, and the vertical asymptote . Near the origin, and , so its cusp has horizontal tangent direction. As , while . The circle and curve meet away from the origin at .
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