FP2 June 2009 Q8

EdexcelOld spec15 marksSecond Order Differentials

8. \[\frac{\mathrm{d}^2x}{\mathrm{d}t^2} + 5\frac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t} + 6x = 2\mathrm{e}^{-t}\]

Given that \(x = 0\) and \(\dfrac{\mathrm{d}x}{\mathrm{d}t} = 2\) at \(t = 0\),

(a) find \(x\) in terms of \(t\). (8)

The solution to part (a) is used to represent the motion of a particle \(P\) on the \(x\)-axis. At time \(t\) seconds, where \(t > 0\), \(P\) is \(x\) metres from the origin \(O\).

(b) Show that the maximum distance between \(O\) and \(P\) is \(\dfrac{2\sqrt{3}}{9}\) m and justify that this distance is a maximum. (7)