Additional Mathematics

Project
Question 3

MUHAMMAD AMINULLAH B ARON
930929-14-6553
1/1/2011
SEKOLAH MENENGAH TEKNIK KUALA SELANGOR


Rene Descartes Discovery of Cartesian Plane

Every time you graph an equation on a Cartesian coordinate system, you are using the work of Rene
Descartes. Descartes, a French Mathematician and philosopher, was born in La Haye, France on March 31,
1596. His parents taught him at home until he was 8 years old, when he entered the Jesuit College of La
Fleche. There he continued his studies until he graduated at age 18.
Descartes was an outstanding student at La Fleche, especially in Mathematics. Because of his delicate health,
his teachers allowed him to stay in bed until late morning. Despite missing most of his morning classes,
Descartes was able to keep up with his studies. He would continue the habit of staying late in bed for his
entire adult life.
After graduating from La Fleche, Descartes traveled to Paris and eventually enrolled at the University of
Poitiers. He graduated with a law degree in 1616 and then enlisted in a military school. In 1619, he joined the
Bavarian army and spent the next nine years as a soldier, touring throughout much of Europe in between
military campaigns. Descartes eventually settled in Holland, where he spent most of the rest of his life. There
Descartes gave up military career and decided on a life of mathematics and philosophy.
Descartes attempted to provide a philosophical foundation for the new mechanistic physic that was
developing from the work of Copernicus and Galileo. He divided all things into two categories, mind and
matter, and developed a dualistic philosophical system in which, although mind is subject to the will and does
not follow physical laws, all matter must obey the same mechanistic laws.
The philosophical system the Descartes developed, known as Cartesian philosophy, was based on skepticism
and asserted that all reliable knowledge must be built up by the use of reason through logical analysis.
Cartesian philosophy was influential in the ultimate success of the Scientific Revolution and provides the
foundation upon which most subsequent philosophical thought is grounded.
Descartes published various treaties about philosophy and mathematics. In 1637 Descartes published his
masterwork, Discourse on the Method of Reasoning Well and Seeking Truth in the Sciences. In Discourse, Descartes
sought out to explain everything in terms of matter and motion. Discourse contained three appendices, one on
topics, one on meteorology and one titled La Geometrie. In La Geometrie, Descartes described what is known as
the system of Cartesian Coordinates, or coordinate geometry. In Descartess system of coordinates, geometry
and algebra were united for the first time to create what is known as analytic geometry.





Cartesian coordinates are used to locate a point in space by giving its relative distance from perpendicular
intersecting lines. In coordinate geometry, all points, lines, and figures are drawn in a coordinate plane. By
reference to the two coordinate axes, any point, line, or figure may be precisely located.
In Descartes system, the first coordinate value (X-coordinate) describes where along the horizontal axis the
point is located. The second coordinate value (Y-coordinate) locates the point in terms of the vertical axis. A
point with coordinates (4,-2) is located four units to the right of the intersection point of the two axes and
then two units below the vertical position of the origin. The coordinate system also makes it possible to
exactly duplicate geometric figures.
The triangle may be reproduced by using the coordinates to locate the position of the three vertex points.
The vertex points may then be connected with segments to replicate triangle ABC. More complex figures may
likewise be described and duplicated with coordinates.



Method 1:
i) Divide area P into 3 segments. 2 triangles and 1 rectangle.
Triangle 1:


Triangle 2:


Rectangle 1






ii) Divide area Q into two segments. 1 triangle and 1 rectangle.
Triangle 1


Rectangle 1






iii) Divide area R into 3 segments. 1 triangle and 2 rectangles
Triangle 1:


Rectangle 1:


Rectangle 2:












Method 2:
Coordinate Geometry method



















Method 3:
Integration method

Area P:

Area

Area Q:

Area:

Area R:

a) So, the diagram will have the following:





















b) It is impossible for the society to carry out the fencing with an allocation of RM 250.00
This is because:


Therefore, RM250.00 can only cover up to 10m of length
Length of AEDCB

is needed to carry out the fencing plan

c)
i) 1 point for the flag chain to be tied at E
1 point for the flag chain to be tied at a point along hedge AB
Therefore 2 points is needed
ii)



Divide the triangle obtained into 2 right triangle
Triangle 1:
Calculate the length





Triangle 2
Calculate the length






Maximum area of triangle:



Solution of triangle method:
Angle EAL




a) By using solution of triangle.

b) So the depth of the pond is 1m






c)
i) The rate of change of depth of water

uh
uv
x
uv
ut

= 0.001ms

ms

ii) The depth of water after 10 minutes



iii) The minimum time taken, in minutes, for the water to overflow

The maximum depth of the pond is 1m

0.216m=10min
1m = ?min

iv) The minimum time taken for the water to overflow if the pond is triangular shaped and is 2
meters deep

Now, the pond is triangular shaped

sin

uh
uv
x
uv
ut

ms

So, ratio might work.



Then ratio

a)
i)

ii) The shortest distance of the school to the line joining the two hospitals
Assume the scale is 1cm=200m
The distance is 5.63 cm


Further Exploration
i) The map in diagram 3
Since the scale is 60km square




ii) The formula given
1 nautical mile = 1.852 kilometers
= difference in latitudes in degrees
Malaccas Latitude = 217 N
Thus,

Reflection(The add math song)
Chorus:
Today I dont feel like doing anything
I just want to do some add math
Dont feel like reading history notes
So take up the calculator and do some adds
Cause today I feel like doing only add math.

Im gonna kick my feet up and grab some paper and my pen
Turn the tv off and concentrate on my plan
Nobodys going to tell me I cant
Ill be lounging on the couch with snacks made by mommy
Turn the radio on and relax my mind
Im going to get full marks.

Oh yes I said it, I said it, I said it cause I can

Chorus:
Today I dont feel like doing anything
I just want to do some add math
Dont feel like reading history notes
So take up the calculator and do some adds
Cause today I feel like doing only add math.






Tomorrow I wake up with my full of numbers
Full of confidence and ready and I feel its going to be great
Yeah, I might mess around and get my college degree
Score in SPM and tale to the University
But oh man, I just have to wait

Oh yes I said it, I said it, I said it cause I can

Chorus:
Today I dont feel like doing anything
I just want to do some add math
Dont feel like reading history notes
So take up the calculator and do some adds
Cause today I feel like doing only add math.

No Im not going to open any books
Cause the formula is in my head
No 10X
Ill just stand proud in my new hairdo
And let everything hang loose
Yeah 10X

Chorus:
Today I dont feel like doing anything
I just want to do some add math
Dont feel like reading history notes
So take up the calculator and do some adds
Cause today I feel like doing only add math. (Original song by Bruno Mars-Lazy song)