Answer to Question #27153 in Analytic Geometry for Dragan Ignjatovic

Question

Hi, i have the following equation:

(x/a)^m + (y/b)^n = 1

Problem: Find radius of curvature for the following two conditions:

Condition 1: x = 0; y = b
Condition 2: x = a; y = 0

Exponents m and n are greater than 0

Put in another way:

For the following curve:

y = (1-(x/a)^m)^n*b

1. What is the radius of curvature when x = 0?
2. What is the radius of curvature when x = a?

For example:

a = 200
b = 100
m = 2.5
n = 0.6

y = (1-(x/200)^2.5)^.6*100

x y
0 100
25 99.66817654
50 98.11310708
75 94.74034578
200 0


1. What is the rasius of curvature when x = 0?
1. What is the rasius of curvature when x = 100?

I am having problems with division by zero when using a standarg radius of curvature formula.

Thank you in advance,

Dragan Ignjatovic