HND CONSTRUCTION

Unit 8: Mathematics for construction

SUBMITTED BY: SHAFQAT ALI

Contents
Student Name/ID NumberError! Bookmark not defined.
Rahan Manzoor .............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Task 1 ............................................................................................................................................................ 3
[P-1]............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Solution Task-1 (a) ........................................................................................................................................ 3
A light-year is the distance that light will travel in one year . How far in meters does light travel in one
year?.............................................................................................................................................................. 3
[P-2]............................................................................................................................................................... 4
Task-1(b) Find the sum of the series 1 + 3·5 + 6 + 8·5 + . . . + 101 . .............................................................. 4
[P-3]............................................................................................................................................................... 7
Task-1 (c). Find the sum of the geometric series 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + . . . where there are 6 terms in the
series. ............................................................................................................................................................ 7
[M-1] ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Task-1(d). ...................................................................................................................................................... 9
Task 2 .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
[P-4 , M-2, D-1]............................................................................................................................................ 11
Solution: ...................................................................................................................................................... 11
The price of a jar of peanut butter at 5 stores was $3.29, $3.59, $3.79, $3.75, and $3.99. Find the mean,
Mode and standard deviation of the prices. .............................................................................................. 13
[P-5][D-1][M-2] ........................................................................................................................................... 13
Suppose we know that the birth weight of babies is Normally distributed with mean 3500g and standard
deviation 500g. What is the probability that a baby is born that weighs less than 3100g? ....................... 17
[D-1][P-5][M-2] ........................................................................................................................................... 17
Task 3 .......................................................................................................................................................... 19
[P-6] [[M-3][[D-2] ........................................................................................................................................ 20
The figure below shows a heavy box suspended from two cables. The box is subjected to a vertical
gravitational force, and two forces of magnitude T1 , T2 acting parallel to cables OA, and OB,
respectively. Express each force as vector components in the basis shown. ............................................ 21
Solution:[P-7][M-3][D-2] ............................................................................................................................. 21
Task 4 .......................................................................................................................................................... 22
[P-8][M-4][D-4] ........................................................................................................................................... 23

1
A Cessna plane takes off from an airport at sea level and its altitude (in feet) at time t (in minutes) is
given by ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
[P-9][D-4]..................................................................................................................................................... 23
• Determine where the function is increasing and decreasing. ............................................................ 23

2
Unit Learning Outcomes
LO1Identify the relevance of mathematical methods to a variety of conceptualized
construction examples.

Task 1
Solve the following problems given below using relevant solving techniques

• A light-year is the distance that light will travel in one year (yr.). How far in
meters does light travel in one year?
• Find the sum of the series 1 + 3·5 + 6 + 8·5 + . . . + 101.

• Find the sum of the geometric series 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + . . . where there are 6 terms in
the series.
• Consider the following function:
f(z) = α/ez, α is real.
Show that |f(z)| is constant on the circle x2 + y2 − ax = 0, a is a real constant.
• You need to present statistical data in a method that can be understood by a
non-technical audience.

[P-1]

Solution Task-1 (a)

A light-year is the distance that light will travel in one year . How far in
meters does light travel in one year?

Solution:

Light year is actually a measure of distance. The distances between stars across the
universe are great, so astronomers use light years as a larger unit than miles or kilometres.

Light Year = Unit of Astronomical distance that light travel in one year

Define the light year. A light year is a measure of distance equal to how far light travels
in one Earth year.

3
 Light Year = (Speeed of Light) x (One Year)
Speed of Light = C
Distance of Light = d
Time = T
d=cxt

Light in vacum Travels at a velocity of 186,000 Miles per second (299,338Km per second)
Speed of Light = c = 186,000 Miles/second
Time = seconds /year
1 Year = 365 Days / Year
1 Day = 24 Hours/day
1 Hour = 60 Minues /hour
1 Minute = 60 seconds / Minute
= 365 x 24 x 60 x 60 = 31,536,000 seconds
Time = T = 31,536,000 seconds

Distance (D) = Speed(C) x Time(t)

Applying Above formula
D = 186,000 x 31,536,000
D = 5,865,969,000,000 Miles (5.8 Trillion Miles)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[P-2]

Task-1(b) Find the sum of the series 1 + 3·5 + 6 + 8·5 + . . . + 101 .

i). Assessing Sequence:

1+ 3.5 + 6 + 8.5 + ........ +101

• An arithmetic sequence is a series of numbers in which each term increases by a constant
amount.

4
• To determine whether you have an arithmetic sequence, find the difference between the first
few and the last few numbers. Ensure that the difference is always the same.
• The difference between terms called common difference. (d)

d = 3.5 − 1 = 2.5
d = 6 − 3.5 = 2.5
d = 8.5 − 6 = 2.5

• Common difference is constant the series is an Arithmetic series

Data:

common difference = d = 2.5

First Term = a1 = 1
Last Term = a n = 101
number of terms = n = ?
Sum of Arithmatic Sequence = S n = ?

ii). Identify the number of terms in series

a1 + ( n − 1) d = a n

Number of terms = n = ?

Applying above formula

5
 a1 + ( n − 1) d = a n
1 + ( n − 1)2.5 = 101
1 + 2.5n − 2.5 = 101
2.5n − 1.5 = 101
2.5n = 101 + 1.5
2.5n = 102.5
102.5
n=
2.5
n = 41
iii) Calculating the Sum of the Arithmetic sequence

a +a 
Sn = n  1 n 
 2 

Data:

common difference = d = 2.5

First Term = a1 = 1
Last Term = a n = 101
number of terms = n = 41
Sum of Arithmatic Sequence= S n = ?

Putting the values in above mentioned formula

6
  1 + 101 
S n = 41 
 2 
 102 
S n = 41 
 2 
S n = 41( 51)
S n = 2091
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[P-3]

Task-1 (c). Find the sum of the geometric series 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + . . .

where there are 6 terms in the series.

Solution:

i). Assessing Sequence:

A geometric sequence/geometric progression is a sequence in which any element after the first
is obtained by multiplying the preceding element by a constant called the common ratio which
is denoted by r. The common ratio (r) is obtained by dividing any term by the preceding term, i.e.,

a 2 a3 a
r= = ........ n
a1 a 2 a n −1

where
common ratio = r
First Term = a1
Second Term = a 2
Third Term = a 3
The Term before the nth Term = a n −1

The n-th Term = a n

7
 6 18 54
r= = = =3
2 6 18
The sequence 2 + 6 + 18 + 54 + . . . is a geometric sequence. Note that after the first term, the
next term is obtained by multiplying the preceding element by 3.

The Geometric sequence represented as a1 , a1.r , a1.r 2 ,......a1.r n −1 , a1r n

ii) Calculating the Sum of the Geometric sequence

Data:
common ratio = r = 3
The first Term = a1 = 2
Number of Terms = 6
Sum of Geomatric sequence with n terms = S n = ?

b) Sum of Geometric sequence with n terms = S = ?

Sum of Geomatric sequence with n terms = S n = ?

a1 (1 − r n )
Sn =
(1 − r )
Appling above mentioned formula

2 (1 − 36 )
S6 =
(1 − 3 )
2 (1 − 729 )
S6 =
(1 − 3 )
2 ( −728 )
S6 =
( −2 )
−1456
S6 =
−2
S6 = 728

8
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[M-1]

Task-1(d).
Consider the following function:

f(z) = α/ez, α is real.

Show that |f(z)| is constant on the circle x2 + y2 − ax = 0, a is a real constant.

Solution:

By writing the Equation of the circle in the standard form.

2 2
 a a
x−  + y = 
2

 2 2

a  a
This shows that the circle center at  , 0  and having radius
2  2

Parametric representation of the circle is

a a
x= (1 + cos  ) and y = ( sin  )
2 2

a a
x= (1 + cos  ) and y = ( sin  ) , -    
2 2

Geometrically the parameter  is the angle between the positive x-axis and the line joining the center
a 
 , 0  to the point(x, y). Correspondingly the complex representation of the circle can be expressed as
2 

9
 z=
a
2
(1 + e ) , -    

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO2 Investigate applications of statistical techniques to interpret, organise and present
databy using appropriate computer software packages.

Task 2
Your report should include the solution following statistical data:
• The price of a jar of peanut butter at 5 stores was $3.29, $3.59, $3.79, $3.75,
and $3.99. Find the mean, Mode and standard deviation of the prices.

10
 • Suppose we know that the birth weight of babies is Normally distributed with
mean 3500g and standard deviation 500g. What is the probability that a baby
is born that weighs less than 3100g?

• After that you need to interpret the results of a statistical hypothesis test conducted
from a given scenario.

[P-4 , M-2, D-1]

Solution:
Before going in to practical solution to fine the mean, mode and standard
deviation lets us first look at the averages and their types for better understanding
these terms.

Various Types of Averages

There are many types of averages which have different interpretations,

calculations and each of them used in a specific circumstance. Most common types
of averages are as follows:

➢ The Arithmetic mean:

In mathematics and statistics, the arithmetic mean, or simply the
mean or, is the sum of a collection of numbers divided by the count of
numbers in the collection
➢ The geometric mean
The geometric mean is a mean or average, which indicates the
central tendency/inclination or typical value of a set of numbers by using
the product of their values
➢ The harmonic mean
Harmonic mean can be defined as the value obtained when the
number of values in the data set is divided by the sum of its reciprocals.
➢ The median

11
 Median is relating to a value or quantity lying at the midpoint of a
frequency distribution of observed sorted values or quantities. Simply
median represent the middle position.
➢ The mode
Mode can be defined as that value which occurs most frequently
in a set of data.

Suppose that the marks of nine students in a particular test are as

follows:

2, 7, 9, 5, 8, 9, 10, 9, 3

Value Times of
occurrence
2 1
3 1
5 1
7 1
8 1
9 3
10 1

Obviously, the most common mark is 9. In other words, Mode = 9

as it occurred 3 (most of) times in data set.

The Arithmetic, Geometric and Harmonic means are the types of averages that are
mathematical in character, and present an indication of the magnitude/size/scale of
the observed values.

12
The price of a jar of peanut butter at 5 stores was $3.29, $3.59, $3.79,
$3.75, and $3.99. Find the mean, Mode and standard deviation of the
prices.

[P-5][D-1][M-2]
Solution:

A) FIND MEAN

Sample Mean is the average and is computed by sum of all the observed outcomes, divided by
the total number of outcomes.

1 n
x = x
n i =1

Where x the mean, n is is the sample size and x correspond to observed value.

Data:

x =?

n=5

3.29 + 3.59 + +3.79 + 3.75 + 3.99

x= = 3.682
5

13
 Mean
3.682 3.79 3.75 3.99
3.59

3.29
3.682 3.682 3.682 3.682

1 2 3 4 5

Data set Mean Linear (Data set)

B) FIND MODE

The mode of a set of data is the number with highest frequency, in other words which number is
repeated more times have the highest frequency and is called the mode of data set.

First we arrange the set of data that is.

$3.29, $3.59, $3.75, $3.79, $3.99

The data set has no mode as all number have the same frequency that is 1.

Data Set Occurrence/F

requency
$3.29 1
$3.59 1
$3.75 1
$3.79 1
$3.99 1

14
 Frequence
5 1
$3.99

4 1
$3.79
1
3
$3.75
1
2 $3.59
1
1 $3.29

$0.00 $0.50 $1.00 $1.50 $2.00 $2.50 $3.00 $3.50 $4.00

Frequency Data Set

C) STANDARD DEVIATION

The Standard Deviation is a measure of how spread out numbers are.

Its symbol is σ (the greek letter sigma), The formula is easy: it is the square root of the Variance. So now
you ask,

Formula for standard deviation is;

1 n
= 
N i =1
( xi −  )2

Step-1 Data set:

$3.29, $3.59, $3.79, $3.75, and $3.99

Step-2: Calculating the Mean/average of data set:

15
 3.29 + 3.59 + +3.79 + 3.75 + 3.99
x= = 3.682
5

Step-3: Subtract the mean from the first number in data set and square the differences,
repeat the procedure for all the data set.

Step-4 Find the mean of the differences

Step-5 Add the squared differences and then divide by the number of items in the data set.

Step:6 Take the square root of this mean of differences (that is standard deviation)

mean Square of Variance/Mean of Standard Deviation

Difference
Data (Sum of difference differences (Square root of mean
(1-2)
Col-1/5) (3x3) (Sum of Col4/5) of difference)

1 2 3 4 5 6
3.29 3.682 -0.392 0.154 0.0547 0.2338
3.59 3.682 -0.092 0.008 0.0547 0.2338
3.79 3.682 0.108 0.012 0.0547 0.2338
3.75 3.682 0.068 0.005 0.0547 0.2338
3.99 3.682 0.308 0.095 0.0547 0.2338

16
Suppose we know that the birth weight of babies is Normally distributed
with mean 3500g and standard deviation 500g. What is the probability
that a baby is born that weighs less than 3100g?

[D-1][P-5][M-2]
Solution:

Normally Distribution: Normal distribution is an arrangement of a data set, in which

most of the values come together in middle of the range off symmetrical towards either extreme.
Normal distribution is also called Gaussian distribution that is widely used continuous distribution
which is used to model number of scenario like marks of students, height of people, salaries of
employee’s etc.

Graphical representation of a normal distribution is sometimes called a bell curve

because of its flared shape.

Normal distribution is identified by the two defining characteristics or parameters, its

mean and standard deviation.

Normal Distribution has three distinct features.

• There is a single peak.

• It is symmetrical; one side is the mirror image of the other side.
• It tails off gradually on each side
• It is bell shaped curve.

Binomial Distribution: Can be defined as a frequency distribution of the possible number

of successful outcomes in a given number of trials in each of which there is the same probability
of success.

Each binomial distribution is defined by n, the number of trials and p the probability of
success in any one attempt.

Solution:
2
That is X ~ (3500,500 )

P ( X  3100) = ?
We can compute the probability through the process of standardization.

17
 X − 3500
Z=
500

3100 − 3500
Z= = −0.8
500
 X − 3500 3100 − 3500 
P ( X  3100) = P   
 500 500 
P ( Z  −0.8)
Where Z ~ N(0,1)

P( X  3100) = 1-P(Z<0.8)
P( X  3100) = 1-P(Z<0.8)
P( X  3100) = 1-0.778
P( X  3100 = 0.2119

18
 Unit Learning Outcomes
LO3 Use analytical and computational methods for solving problems by relating sinusoidal
wave and vector functions to their respective construction applications.

Task 3
You required to prepare a report on the solution of the given problems relating sinusoidal
wave and vector functions

•Labour working on a construction site is working for number of hours of H in a

certain area is approximately given by the function
H(t) = 2.5 cos [ b(t - d) ] + 11.5
where H is in hours and t in days, and the function has a period of one year (365
days).
a) Find b (b > 0) and d if H is maximum on June 21st day light (month of February has
28 days).
b) Which day is the shortest (has the smallest number of hours of daylight)? After that you
need to a apply the compound angle identities to separate waves into distinct component
waves.

• The figure below shows a heavy box suspended from two cables. The box is
subjected to a vertical gravitational force, and two forces of magnitude T1 , T2
acting parallel to cables OA, and OB, respectively. Express each force as vector
components in the basis shown.

• Model the combination of sine waves graphically and analyze the variation between
graphical and analytical methods.

• The number of hours of daylight H in a certain area is approximately given by the

function
H(t) = 2.5 cos[ b(t - d) ] + 11.5

where H is in hours and t in days, and the function has a period of one year (365 days).

19
a) Find b (b > 0) and d if H is maximum on June 21st (month of February has 28 days).
b) Which day is the shortest (has the smallest number of hours of daylight)?

Solution:

[P-6] [[M-3][[D-2]

Period is giving that is 365 days

365 = 2 /b
2
 b=
365
if we set d=0 in the function H(t) = 2.5 cos[b(t-d)]+11.5,
it becomes H(t) = 2.5 cos[bt] + 11.5
which has a maximum at t=0

In this problem maximum happens on 21st June corresponding to

t = 31 + 28 + 31 + 30 + 31 + 21 = 172 (number of days from January 1st to 21 st of June)

Therefore the horizontal shift (translation) of 172 is to the right and d = 172. Hence

H (t ) = 2.5 cos[42.2(t-172)] + 11.5

Solution: (b)

The shortest day corresponds to t that gives H minimum which is equal to

11.5 - 2.5 = 9

By solving the equation

20
  2  
2.5 cos   ( t − 172 )  + 11.5 = 9
 365  
 2  
cos   ( t − 172 )  = ( 9 − 11.5 ) / 2.5 = −1
 365  
 2 
  ( t − 172 ) = 
 365 

t = 365 / ( 2 ) + 172 = 354.5 days

The figure below shows a heavy box suspended from two cables. The box is subjected
to a vertical gravitational force, and two forces of magnitude T1 , T2 acting parallel to
cables OA, and OB, respectively. Express each force as vector components in the basis
shown.

Solution:[P-7][M-3][D-2]
Vector can be defined as a mathematical object that has magnitude and direction Vectors
basically used to represent physical quantities that have a magnitude and direction associated. The
direction of the vector specifies the direction of travel, and the magnitude specifies the speed. The
force acting on an object is a vector.

Other examples of vectors include position; acceleration; electric field; electric current flow; heat
flow; the normal to a surface.

For writing the components of a vector we need to specify the distance we travel in each
direction as mentioned on figure i.e. i.j.k directions to reach the tip of the vector from its tail.

21
 • For the gravity force we travel a distance W in J(Vertical) direction. Therefore

Fgravity = −Wj

• For tension in OA we travel a distance −T1 cos(45) = −T / 2 in the i direction, and

−T1 sin(45) = −T1 / 2 in the j direction.

Therefore
FOA = −T1 / 2i + T / 2 j

• For the tension OB we travel a distance T2 cos(30) = T2 / 2 in the i direction and

T2 sin(30) = T2 3 / 2 in the j direction

Therefore

FOB = T2 / 2i + T2 3 / 2 j

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO4 Illustrate the wide-ranging uses of calculus within different construction disciplines by
solving problems of differential and integral calculus.

Task 4

Your report should include the solution of following numerical problems:

• A Cessna plane takes off from an airport at sea level and its altitude (in feet) at time t
(in minutes) is given by
h = 2000 ln (t + 1).
Find the rate of climb at time t = 3 min.
• Determine where the following function is increasing and decreasing.
A(t)=27t5−45t4−130t3+150.

22
 • You need to formulate predictions of exponential growth and decay models using
integration methods.
• You have to analyse maxima and minima of increasing and decreasing functions using
higher order derivatives.

[P-8][M-4][D-4]

A Cessna plane takes off from an airport at sea level and its altitude (in
feet) at time t (in minutes) is given by
h = 2000 ln (t + 1).

Find the rate of climb at time t = 3 min.

Sol:

to find the rate of climb (vertical velocity) we need to find the first deviation

d 2000
2000 ln(t + 1) =
dt t +1

at t =3 we have
2000
rate of chage = = 500 feet / min
4

[P-9][D-4]

• Determine where the function is increasing and decreasing.

A ( t ) = 27t 5 − 45t 4 − 130t 3 + 150

By taking the derivative of the equation

23
 A ( t ) = 5(27)t 5−1 − 4(45)t 4−1 − 130t 3−1 + 0(150)

A ( t ) = 135t 4 − 180t 3 − 390t 2 + 0

A ( t ) = 135t 4 − 180t 3 − 390t 2

Taking common 15t 2 from above equation

A ( t ) = 15t 2 (9t 2 − 12t − 26)

The function is not changing at t=0

To determine where the function is increasing or decreasing we need to find where the
derivative is positive or negative.

b= -12, a = 9, c = -26

Applying the formula

-b  b2 − 4ac
t=
2a

b= -12, a = -9, c = -26

Putting values in above formula

-(-12)  122 − 4(9)(−26)

t=
2(9)

24
 12  1080
t=
18

12+ 1080 12- 1080

= ,
18 18

12+32.86 12 - 32.86
t= ,
18 18

t = 2.49 , -1.159

Reference:

• Course Books of BSCS Calculus and Analytical Geometry-I, Calculus and Analytical
Geometry-II, 5th Edition, Author Howard Anton.

• Calculus author Thomas/Finney 11th Edition

• Course Books of Technical Educational and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA),

Applied Mathematics-I & Applied Mathematics-II, by Nasir -ud-Din Mahmood,

Sana-ullah Khan, Tahir Hameed, Syed Tanvir Haider, Javed Iqbal, Vol - I

25