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❓:An improvisational actor, Alex, delves deeply into the emotional depth of a character for a play. Alex uses the concept of emotional intensity, ( I(t) ), which varies over time ( t ) and is modeled by a complex function. The emotional intensity is defined as:[ I(t) = e^{-t} sin(t) + i , e^{-t} cos(t) ]where ( i ) is the imaginary unit.1. Determine the time ( t ) at which the magnitude of the emotional intensity, ( |I(t)| ), is maximized. 2. Evaluate the integral of the real part of ( I(t) ) from ( t = 0 ) to ( t = infty ).
🧠:<think>Alright, so I've got this problem about Alex, an improvisational actor, and his emotional intensity modeled by this complex function. The function is given as ( I(t) = e^{-t} sin(t) + i , e^{-t} cos(t) ). There are two parts to the problem: first, finding the time ( t ) where the magnitude of ( I(t) ) is maximized, and second, evaluating the integral of the real part of ( I(t) ) from ( t = 0 ) to ( t = infty ). Let me tackle each part step by step.Starting with part 1: Determine the time ( t ) at which the magnitude of the emotional intensity, ( |I(t)| ), is maximized.Okay, so the magnitude of a complex number ( a + ib ) is ( sqrt{a^2 + b^2} ). So, for ( I(t) ), the magnitude ( |I(t)| ) would be ( sqrt{(e^{-t} sin t)^2 + (e^{-t} cos t)^2} ). Let me write that out:[ |I(t)| = sqrt{e^{-2t} sin^2 t + e^{-2t} cos^2 t} ]Hmm, I can factor out the ( e^{-2t} ) from both terms inside the square root:[ |I(t)| = sqrt{e^{-2t} (sin^2 t + cos^2 t)} ]And since ( sin^2 t + cos^2 t = 1 ), this simplifies to:[ |I(t)| = sqrt{e^{-2t}} = e^{-t} ]Wait, so the magnitude is just ( e^{-t} )? That seems too straightforward. So, the magnitude is a function of ( t ) given by ( e^{-t} ). Now, we need to find the time ( t ) where this is maximized.Since ( e^{-t} ) is an exponential decay function, it's maximum at the smallest ( t ). So, as ( t ) increases, ( e^{-t} ) decreases. Therefore, the maximum occurs at ( t = 0 ).But wait, let me double-check. Maybe I made a mistake in simplifying the magnitude. Let me go back:Original expression:[ |I(t)| = sqrt{(e^{-t} sin t)^2 + (e^{-t} cos t)^2} ]Which is:[ |I(t)| = sqrt{e^{-2t} (sin^2 t + cos^2 t)} ]Yes, that's correct because both terms have ( e^{-2t} ) factored out, and ( sin^2 t + cos^2 t = 1 ). So, it's indeed ( e^{-t} ).So, since ( e^{-t} ) is a decreasing function, its maximum is at ( t = 0 ). Therefore, the magnitude is maximized at ( t = 0 ).Hmm, that seems too simple. Maybe I misinterpreted the problem? Let me read it again."1. Determine the time ( t ) at which the magnitude of the emotional intensity, ( |I(t)| ), is maximized."No, I think that's correct. The magnitude is ( e^{-t} ), which is maximum at ( t = 0 ). So, the answer is ( t = 0 ).But wait, maybe the problem is expecting a more involved process? Let me think again. Perhaps I need to consider the function ( I(t) ) as a complex function and find where its magnitude is maximum. But in this case, the magnitude simplifies to ( e^{-t} ), so it's straightforward.Alternatively, maybe the problem is expecting me to consider the modulus squared, which is ( e^{-2t} ), and take its derivative to find the maximum. Let's try that.Let ( f(t) = |I(t)|^2 = e^{-2t} ). To find the maximum, take the derivative and set it to zero.[ f'(t) = -2 e^{-2t} ]Setting ( f'(t) = 0 ):[ -2 e^{-2t} = 0 ]But ( e^{-2t} ) is never zero, so there's no critical point where the derivative is zero. Therefore, the maximum occurs at the left endpoint of the domain, which is ( t = 0 ).Yes, that confirms it. So, the magnitude is maximized at ( t = 0 ).Alright, moving on to part 2: Evaluate the integral of the real part of ( I(t) ) from ( t = 0 ) to ( t = infty ).The real part of ( I(t) ) is ( e^{-t} sin t ). So, we need to compute:[ int_{0}^{infty} e^{-t} sin t , dt ]This is a standard integral, but let me work through it step by step.I remember that integrals of the form ( int e^{at} sin(bt) dt ) can be solved using integration by parts twice and then solving for the integral. Let's apply that method here.Let me set ( u = sin t ) and ( dv = e^{-t} dt ). Then, ( du = cos t , dt ) and ( v = -e^{-t} ).Using integration by parts:[ int u , dv = uv - int v , du ]So,[ int e^{-t} sin t , dt = -e^{-t} sin t - int (-e^{-t}) cos t , dt ][ = -e^{-t} sin t + int e^{-t} cos t , dt ]Now, we need to compute ( int e^{-t} cos t , dt ). Let's use integration by parts again.Let ( u = cos t ) and ( dv = e^{-t} dt ). Then, ( du = -sin t , dt ) and ( v = -e^{-t} ).So,[ int e^{-t} cos t , dt = -e^{-t} cos t - int (-e^{-t})(- sin t) , dt ][ = -e^{-t} cos t - int e^{-t} sin t , dt ]Now, notice that the integral ( int e^{-t} sin t , dt ) appears again on the right-hand side. Let's denote this integral as ( I ):[ I = int e^{-t} sin t , dt ]From the first integration by parts, we had:[ I = -e^{-t} sin t + int e^{-t} cos t , dt ][ I = -e^{-t} sin t + left( -e^{-t} cos t - I right) ][ I = -e^{-t} sin t - e^{-t} cos t - I ]Now, bring the ( I ) from the right-hand side to the left-hand side:[ I + I = -e^{-t} sin t - e^{-t} cos t ][ 2I = -e^{-t} (sin t + cos t) ][ I = -frac{e^{-t}}{2} (sin t + cos t) + C ]Where ( C ) is the constant of integration.Therefore, the indefinite integral is:[ int e^{-t} sin t , dt = -frac{e^{-t}}{2} (sin t + cos t) + C ]Now, we need to evaluate this from ( t = 0 ) to ( t = infty ).So, the definite integral is:[ left[ -frac{e^{-t}}{2} (sin t + cos t) right]_{0}^{infty} ]Let's evaluate the limit as ( t to infty ):First, consider ( lim_{t to infty} e^{-t} ). Since ( e^{-t} ) approaches 0 as ( t ) approaches infinity.Next, consider ( lim_{t to infty} sin t ) and ( lim_{t to infty} cos t ). Both of these oscillate between -1 and 1, but when multiplied by ( e^{-t} ), which approaches 0, the entire expression ( e^{-t} (sin t + cos t) ) will approach 0.Therefore, the upper limit evaluates to 0.Now, evaluate at ( t = 0 ):[ -frac{e^{0}}{2} (sin 0 + cos 0) = -frac{1}{2} (0 + 1) = -frac{1}{2} ]So, putting it all together:[ left[ 0 right] - left[ -frac{1}{2} right] = 0 + frac{1}{2} = frac{1}{2} ]Therefore, the integral of the real part of ( I(t) ) from ( t = 0 ) to ( t = infty ) is ( frac{1}{2} ).Just to make sure, let me recall that the integral ( int_{0}^{infty} e^{-t} sin t , dt ) is a standard result and equals ( frac{1}{2} ). So, that checks out.So, summarizing:1. The magnitude ( |I(t)| ) is maximized at ( t = 0 ).2. The integral of the real part from 0 to infinity is ( frac{1}{2} ).I think that's it. Both parts seem to have straightforward solutions once broken down.</think>
❓:A musician practices their instrument for a random number of hours each day, causing noise disturbances that can be modeled by a Poisson process. The average rate of practice (and hence noise disturbance) is λ hours per day.1. Let N(t) be the number of hours the musician practices by time t. Find the expected value E[N(t)] and variance Var[N(t)] of the number of practice hours by time t, given that the practice times follow a Poisson distribution with rate λ.2. If the musician's practice times are also influenced by an external factor, such as a neighbor's complaints, leading to a reduction in the practice rate modeled by a time-dependent decay function f(t) = λe^(-kt) where k > 0 is a constant. Determine the modified expected value E_f[N(t)] and variance Var_f[N(t)] of the number of practice hours by time t under this new time-dependent rate.
🧠:<think>Okay, so I have this problem about a musician practicing their instrument, and it's modeled using a Poisson process. There are two parts to the problem. Let me try to tackle them one by one.Starting with part 1: We have N(t) defined as the number of hours the musician practices by time t. It's mentioned that the practice times follow a Poisson distribution with rate λ. I need to find the expected value E[N(t)] and the variance Var[N(t)].Hmm, wait a second. Poisson processes are typically used to model the number of events occurring in a fixed interval of time or space. Each event is independent, and the rate is constant. In this case, though, it's about the number of hours practiced, which is a bit different because hours are a continuous measure, not discrete events.But the problem says that the number of practice hours follows a Poisson distribution. So, maybe they're treating each hour as a possible event? Or perhaps it's a Poisson process where the rate is λ hours per day. I'm a bit confused.Wait, actually, in a Poisson process, the number of events in time t is Poisson distributed with parameter λt. So, if N(t) is the number of events (here, practice hours) by time t, then E[N(t)] should be λt and Var[N(t)] should also be λt because for a Poisson distribution, the mean and variance are equal.But hold on, the problem says the practice times follow a Poisson distribution with rate λ. So, maybe each day, the number of hours practiced is a Poisson random variable with parameter λ. So, over t days, the total practice hours would be the sum of t independent Poisson(λ) random variables.In that case, the expected value E[N(t)] would be t * λ, and the variance Var[N(t)] would also be t * λ, since the sum of independent Poisson variables is also Poisson with parameter equal to the sum of the individual parameters.But wait, the problem says "by time t," so is t in days? Or is t a continuous variable? If t is continuous, then maybe it's a Poisson process where the rate is λ per unit time, so the expected number of events (hours) by time t is λt, and the variance is also λt.I think that's the case. So, for part 1, E[N(t)] = λt and Var[N(t)] = λt.Moving on to part 2: Now, the practice rate is influenced by an external factor, like neighbor's complaints, leading to a reduction modeled by a time-dependent decay function f(t) = λe^(-kt). So, the rate is no longer constant but decreases over time as λe^(-kt). I need to find the modified expected value E_f[N(t)] and variance Var_f[N(t)].Okay, so in a non-homogeneous Poisson process, where the rate varies with time, the expected number of events by time t is the integral of the rate function from 0 to t. Similarly, the variance is also equal to the expected number of events because in a Poisson process, the variance equals the mean.So, if the rate function is λ(t) = λe^(-kt), then E_f[N(t)] = ∫₀ᵗ λe^(-kτ) dτ.Let me compute that integral. The integral of e^(-kτ) dτ is (-1/k)e^(-kτ), so evaluating from 0 to t:E_f[N(t)] = λ [ (-1/k)e^(-kt) + (1/k)e^(0) ] = λ/k [1 - e^(-kt)].Similarly, the variance Var_f[N(t)] should be the same as the expected value because it's a Poisson process. So, Var_f[N(t)] = λ/k [1 - e^(-kt)].Wait, but hold on. Is this a Poisson process or a Poisson distribution? Because in part 1, it was a Poisson distribution with rate λ, but in part 2, with a time-dependent rate, it's a non-homogeneous Poisson process.So, in a non-homogeneous Poisson process, the number of events in the interval [0, t] has mean equal to the integral of the rate function over [0, t], and variance equal to the same as the mean.Therefore, yes, both the expected value and variance are equal to λ/k [1 - e^(-kt)].But let me double-check the integral:∫₀ᵗ λe^(-kτ) dτ = λ ∫₀ᵗ e^(-kτ) dτ = λ [ (-1/k)e^(-kτ) ]₀ᵗ = λ [ (-1/k)e^(-kt) + (1/k) ] = (λ/k)(1 - e^(-kt)).Yes, that seems correct.So, summarizing:1. For a constant rate λ, E[N(t)] = λt and Var[N(t)] = λt.2. For a time-dependent rate λ(t) = λe^(-kt), E_f[N(t)] = (λ/k)(1 - e^(-kt)) and Var_f[N(t)] = (λ/k)(1 - e^(-kt)).I think that's it. I don't see any mistakes in the reasoning. The key was recognizing that in a Poisson process, the mean and variance are equal, and for a non-homogeneous process, the mean is the integral of the rate function over time.Final Answer1. The expected value is boxed{lambda t} and the variance is boxed{lambda t}.2. The modified expected value is boxed{frac{lambda}{k} left(1 - e^{-kt}right)} and the variance is boxed{frac{lambda}{k} left(1 - e^{-kt}right)}.</think>
❓:As the director of an environmental organization, you are tasked with implementing a technological monitoring system to protect an endangered species in a large forest area. You have decided to deploy a network of drones equipped with cameras and sensors to monitor the movements and population of the species.1. The forest is modeled as a continuous 2D plane with an area of 100 square kilometers. The drones can cover a circular area with a radius of 1 kilometer, and they must be strategically placed to ensure at least 90% coverage of the entire forest area. Determine the minimum number of drones required to achieve this coverage, considering overlaps and optimal positioning to maximize coverage efficiency.2. Each drone is equipped with a GPS tracker and can transmit data back to a central server located at a point (x, y) on the plane. The data transmission cost is modeled as a function ( C(d) = kd^2 ), where ( d ) is the Euclidean distance from the drone to the server, and ( k ) is a constant. If the constraint is to minimize the total data transmission cost while maintaining the required coverage, determine the optimal location (x, y) for the server such that the sum of transmission costs from all drones is minimized.
🧠:<think>Okay, so I'm trying to figure out how to solve these two problems about deploying drones to monitor an endangered species in a large forest. Let me take it step by step.First, the forest is a continuous 2D plane of 100 square kilometers. Each drone can cover a circular area with a radius of 1 kilometer. I need to determine the minimum number of drones required to ensure at least 90% coverage of the entire forest. Hmm, 90% of 100 square kilometers is 90 square kilometers. So, each drone covers an area of π*(1)^2 = π square kilometers, which is approximately 3.1416 km². If I divide the required coverage by the area each drone can cover, that would be 90 / 3.1416 ≈ 28.66. Since we can't have a fraction of a drone, we'd need at least 29 drones. But wait, this is assuming perfect coverage without any overlap, which isn't possible. In reality, there will be overlaps, so we might need more drones. I remember that in covering a plane with circles, the most efficient packing is hexagonal packing, which has a coverage efficiency of about 90.69%. So, if each drone's coverage is π, and the efficient packing covers 90.69% of the area, then the number of drones needed would be the total area divided by (π * efficiency). Let me compute that: 100 / (π * 0.9069) ≈ 100 / (2.846) ≈ 35.16. So, we'd need about 36 drones. But the question is about 90% coverage, not 100%. Maybe I can adjust the calculation. Alternatively, perhaps it's simpler to consider that each drone covers π km², and to cover 90 km², we need 90 / π ≈ 28.66 drones, but considering overlaps, maybe 30 drones? I'm a bit confused here. Maybe I should look up the formula for covering a region with circles. Wait, another approach: the area each drone effectively contributes without overlap is less. If we arrange drones in a grid, the distance between them should be such that their coverage areas just touch or overlap slightly. For hexagonal packing, the distance between drone centers is 2*sin(60°)*radius = 2*(√3/2)*1 = √3 ≈ 1.732 km. So, the number of drones along one side would be the square root of the total area divided by the area per drone in the grid. But the forest is 100 km², so if it's a square, each side is 10 km. The number of drones along one side would be 10 / √3 ≈ 5.77, so about 6 drones per side. Then total drones would be 6x6=36. That seems consistent with the earlier calculation. But since we only need 90% coverage, maybe we can reduce the number. If 36 drones give full coverage with hexagonal packing, then for 90%, perhaps we can have fewer drones, but arranged in a way that still covers 90%. Maybe 36 is still the answer because it's the minimal number for full coverage, and 90% might require a similar number. Alternatively, maybe 32 or 33? I'm not sure. Wait, maybe I should think in terms of the area each drone covers effectively. If the drones are arranged optimally, the number needed for 90% coverage would be less than full coverage. Let me see, if each drone covers π km², and the total required is 90 km², then 90 / π ≈ 28.66, so 29 drones. But considering overlaps, maybe 30 or 31? But I think in reality, you can't have perfect efficiency, so 30 drones might be the minimum. Wait, but the question says "at least 90% coverage". So, if 29 drones give about 91.4 km² coverage (29*π ≈ 91.4), which is more than 90, but considering overlaps, maybe 29 is enough? But wait, no, because overlaps mean that the actual area covered is less than the sum of individual areas. So, 29 drones would have overlapping areas, so the total coverage is less than 91.4. Therefore, to ensure at least 90% coverage, we might need more than 29. Alternatively, perhaps the minimal number is 32. Let me think. If each drone covers π, and we have 32 drones, the total area covered without considering overlap is 32π ≈ 100.53 km², which is just over 100. But since we only need 90, maybe 32 is overkill. Hmm. Wait, maybe I should use the formula for the area covered by multiple overlapping circles. The exact calculation is complex, but perhaps we can approximate. The maximum coverage without overlap is 36 drones for 100 km², as per hexagonal packing. So, for 90 km², perhaps 36*(90/100)=32.4, so 33 drones? But I'm not sure. Alternatively, maybe the minimal number is 32. I think I need to look up the formula for the number of circles needed to cover a certain area with a given coverage percentage. Wait, another approach: the area covered by n drones is nπ - overlaps. To get 90 km², we need nπ - overlaps = 90. But overlaps depend on the arrangement. The minimal number of drones would be when overlaps are minimized, but since we need to cover 90%, maybe it's better to arrange them in a way that maximizes coverage efficiency. Wait, perhaps the minimal number is 32. Let me check: 32π ≈ 100.53, which is more than 90, but considering overlaps, maybe 32 is enough. Alternatively, maybe 30 drones would cover about 94.25 km², which is still more than 90. So, perhaps 30 drones would suffice. Wait, but if 30 drones cover 30π ≈ 94.25 km², but because of overlaps, the actual coverage is less. So, to get 90 km², maybe 30 drones are enough. Alternatively, maybe 29 drones would cover about 91.4 km², but with overlaps, maybe it's still 90. I'm getting confused. Maybe I should look for a formula or a standard result. I recall that the number of circles needed to cover a square area with a certain coverage can be approximated. For 100 km², which is a 10x10 square, the number of circles with radius 1 km needed for 90% coverage. Wait, perhaps using the concept of coverage density. The density is the area covered per unit area. For 90% coverage, the density is 0.9. The number of circles needed would be density * total area / area per circle. So, 0.9*100 / π ≈ 28.66, so 29 drones. But again, this is without considering overlaps. Alternatively, maybe the minimal number is 32. I think I need to go with 32 drones as the minimal number required to ensure at least 90% coverage, considering overlaps and optimal positioning.Now, moving on to the second part. Each drone transmits data to a central server with a cost function C(d) = k*d². We need to minimize the total cost, which is the sum of C(d) for all drones. So, the total cost is k*sum(d_i²), where d_i is the distance from each drone to the server. To minimize the sum of squared distances, the optimal point is the centroid (geometric mean) of all the drone positions. So, the server should be located at the centroid of all the drone positions. But wait, the drones are spread out in the forest, which is a 10x10 square. If the drones are arranged in a hexagonal grid, their positions are symmetric around the center of the forest. Therefore, the centroid would be at the center of the forest, which is (5,5) if the forest is from (0,0) to (10,10). Therefore, the optimal location for the server is at the center of the forest, (5,5), to minimize the sum of squared distances from all drones.Wait, but is that always the case? If the drones are not symmetrically placed, the centroid might be different. But in the optimal coverage, the drones are arranged symmetrically, so their centroid is at the center. Therefore, the server should be at (5,5).So, putting it all together, the minimal number of drones is 32, and the server should be at (5,5).Wait, but earlier I was confused between 30 and 32. Let me double-check. If each drone covers π km², and we need 90 km², then 90/π ≈ 28.66, so 29 drones. But considering overlaps, maybe 30 or 32. I think 32 is safer because it's the number needed for full coverage in hexagonal packing, and 90% is less than full, so maybe 32 is overkill but ensures coverage. Alternatively, maybe 30 is enough. Wait, another way: the area covered by n drones in hexagonal packing is n * π * (1)^2 * (π / (2*sqrt(3))) ≈ n * 0.9069. So, to cover 90 km², n ≈ 90 / 0.9069 ≈ 99.24, which doesn't make sense because each drone covers π. Wait, no, that formula is for the packing density. So, the total area covered is n * π * (packing density). So, n = 90 / (π * 0.9069) ≈ 90 / 2.846 ≈ 31.63, so 32 drones. Yes, that makes sense. So, 32 drones are needed to cover 90 km² with hexagonal packing. Therefore, the minimal number is 32.So, final answers: 32 drones, and server at (5,5).</think>
❓:A biologist specializing in bio-inspired robotics is developing a new type of robotic limb inspired by the motion of a cheetah's leg. The limb's movement is modeled by a system of differential equations that describe the dynamic interaction between the limb's mechanical structure and the biological principles of energy efficiency and speed found in a cheetah's stride.1. Let the position of the limb in the sagittal plane be described by the function ( mathbf{x}(t) = (x(t), y(t)) ), where ( x(t) ) and ( y(t) ) represent the horizontal and vertical positions, respectively. The dynamics of the limb are influenced by a potential energy function ( V(mathbf{x}) = frac{1}{2}k(x^2 + y^2) ), where ( k ) is a stiffness constant. Derive the equations of motion for the limb using the Lagrangian ( mathcal{L} = T - V ), where ( T ) is the kinetic energy of the limb given by ( T = frac{1}{2}m(dot{x}^2 + dot{y}^2) ), and ( m ) is the mass of the limb.2. Assuming that the limb moves optimally following the biological principle of least action, find the extremal path ( mathbf{x}(t) ) that minimizes the action ( S = int_{t_1}^{t_2} mathcal{L} , dt ) for the time interval ([t_1, t_2]). Discuss the conditions under which the extremal path aligns with the natural gait of a cheetah, considering constraints such as energy efficiency and speed optimization.
🧠:<think>Alright, so I have this problem about a robotic limb inspired by a cheetah's leg. It's divided into two parts. Let me try to tackle them one by one.Starting with part 1: I need to derive the equations of motion for the limb using the Lagrangian. The Lagrangian is given as ( mathcal{L} = T - V ), where ( T ) is the kinetic energy and ( V ) is the potential energy. First, let me recall what the kinetic and potential energies are. The kinetic energy ( T ) is ( frac{1}{2}m(dot{x}^2 + dot{y}^2) ), right? And the potential energy ( V ) is ( frac{1}{2}k(x^2 + y^2) ). So, plugging these into the Lagrangian, we get:( mathcal{L} = frac{1}{2}m(dot{x}^2 + dot{y}^2) - frac{1}{2}k(x^2 + y^2) )Okay, now to derive the equations of motion, I need to use the Euler-Lagrange equations. For each coordinate, the equation is:( frac{d}{dt} left( frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial dot{q}} right) - frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial q} = 0 )Where ( q ) represents the generalized coordinates, which in this case are ( x ) and ( y ).Let me compute this for ( x ) first. Compute ( frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial dot{x}} ):That's the derivative of ( frac{1}{2}mdot{x}^2 ) with respect to ( dot{x} ), which is ( mdot{x} ).Then, the time derivative of that is ( mddot{x} ).Next, compute ( frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial x} ):That's the derivative of ( -frac{1}{2}k x^2 ) with respect to ( x ), which is ( -k x ).So putting it into the Euler-Lagrange equation:( mddot{x} - (-k x) = 0 )Which simplifies to:( mddot{x} + k x = 0 )Similarly, for the ( y ) coordinate, the process is the same. Let me do that quickly.( frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial dot{y}} = mdot{y} ), so its time derivative is ( mddot{y} ).( frac{partial mathcal{L}}{partial y} = -k y )So the Euler-Lagrange equation for ( y ) is:( mddot{y} + k y = 0 )So both equations are the same, which makes sense because the potential energy is symmetric in ( x ) and ( y ). Therefore, the equations of motion are:( mddot{x} + k x = 0 )( mddot{y} + k y = 0 )These are simple harmonic oscillator equations for both ( x ) and ( y ) directions. So the solutions will be sinusoidal functions.Moving on to part 2: I need to find the extremal path ( mathbf{x}(t) ) that minimizes the action ( S = int_{t_1}^{t_2} mathcal{L} , dt ). Since the Lagrangian is already given, and we've derived the equations of motion, the extremal paths are the solutions to those equations, which are the harmonic oscillations.But the question mentions that the limb moves optimally following the principle of least action. So, the extremal path is the one that satisfies the Euler-Lagrange equations, which we've already derived. So, the extremal path is the solution to the differential equations above.Now, discussing the conditions under which this path aligns with a cheetah's natural gait. Hmm, cheetahs are known for their efficient and fast running. Their gait involves a lot of energy efficiency and speed optimization.In our model, the potential energy is quadratic, leading to simple harmonic motion. However, in reality, cheetahs have more complex movements involving nonlinear dynamics, muscle activation, and probably more degrees of freedom. But in this simplified model, the motion is harmonic.For the extremal path to align with a cheetah's gait, the parameters ( m ) and ( k ) must be chosen such that the frequency and amplitude of oscillations match the natural frequencies of the cheetah's limb movement. Additionally, energy efficiency would imply that the system is conservative, which it is in this case since the Lagrangian doesn't include any dissipative forces. However, in reality, biological systems do have energy losses, so maybe introducing some damping terms could make the model more accurate.Also, the cheetah's gait involves not just oscillations in one plane but also coordination between multiple limbs and possibly other degrees of freedom. So, this model is a simplification, but under the assumption of a single limb moving in the sagittal plane, the extremal path would be the harmonic motion derived.To optimize for speed, the frequency of oscillation should be such that the limb moves as quickly as possible while maintaining stability. In our equations, the natural frequency is ( sqrt{k/m} ). So, to increase speed, either increasing ( k ) or decreasing ( m ) would help. However, in a biological context, there might be trade-offs between mass and stiffness.In summary, the extremal path is simple harmonic motion, and it aligns with a cheetah's gait when the parameters are tuned to match the natural frequencies and amplitudes of the cheetah's limb movements, considering energy efficiency and speed optimization.Wait, but I should make sure I didn't miss anything. The action is minimized when the path satisfies the Euler-Lagrange equations, which we've done. So, the extremal path is indeed the solution to those ODEs, which are sines and cosines. I think that's about it. I don't see any mistakes in my reasoning, but maybe I should double-check the Euler-Lagrange equations.Yes, for each coordinate, the derivative of kinetic energy with respect to velocity gives the momentum, and its time derivative gives the force, while the potential energy gives the restoring force. So, the equations are correct.Final Answer1. The equations of motion are ( mddot{x} + kx = 0 ) and ( mddot{y} + ky = 0 ). Thus, the solutions are harmonic oscillations in both ( x ) and ( y ) directions.2. The extremal path is the harmonic motion described by these equations. It aligns with a cheetah's gait when parameters ( m ) and ( k ) are chosen to match the natural frequencies and amplitudes, optimizing energy efficiency and speed.The final answers are:1. The equations of motion are (boxed{mddot{x} + kx = 0}) and (boxed{mddot{y} + ky = 0}).2. The extremal path is the harmonic motion described by these equations, aligning with a cheetah's gait under appropriate parameter conditions.</think>