Analyzing the Setup
The curve defined by the equation x2/3+y2/3=1 is known as the Astroid. It is a hypocycloid with four cusps located at (±1,0) and (0,±1).
We are tasked with finding the area of the region defined by the constraints:
1. x2/3+y2/3≤1 (Inside the astroid)
2. y≥0 (Upper half-plane)
3. x+y≥0 (Region above the line y=−x)
The Power of Symmetry
Visualizing these constraints reveals that the region covers the entire first quadrant portion of the astroid and exactly half of the second quadrant portion.
Because the astroid is symmetric about the line y=−x, the area in the second quadrant is bisected by this line. Consequently, the total area A is the sum of the area of the first quadrant and half the area of the second quadrant.
Since the area of the first quadrant equals the area of the second quadrant, the total area
A is given by:
A=23×(Area of the first quadrant)
The Calculus Journey
To find the area of the first quadrant, we set up the integral:
AQ1=∫01ydx=∫01(1−x2/3)3/2dx
To solve this, we use the trigonometric substitution x=sin3θ, which implies dx=3sin2θcosθdθ. The limits of integration change from [0,1] to [0,π/2].
Substituting these into the integral, we obtain:
AQ1=∫0π/2(1−sin2θ)3/2⋅3sin2θcosθdθ=3∫0π/2sin2θcos4θdθ
The Wallis Formula Victory
We apply the
Wallis Formula for integrals of the form
∫0π/2sinmθcosnθdθ:
∫0π/2sin2θcos4θdθ=(2+4)!!(2−1)!!(4−1)!!⋅2π=6⋅4⋅21⋅3⋅1⋅2π=483⋅2π=32π
Multiplying by the constant
3 outside the integral, the area of the first quadrant is:
AQ1=3⋅32π=323π
Final Calculation
Using our symmetry relation, the total area
A is:
A=23⋅323π=649π
The problem asks for the value of
π256A:
π256⋅(649π)=4⋅9=36
The final answer is 36.