Harbour tide level from consecutive low tides

Harbour tide level from consecutive low tides

IB Year 6 | Grade 12
9 marks
User-supplied question image; origin unverified

A harbour is at low tide of \(1.2\) metres at 1 pm on \(10^{\mathrm{th}}\) June 2025, and it next reaches a low tide at 11 pm on that day.

The tide level in the harbour, \(H\) metres, at a time \(t\) hours from noon on \(10^{\mathrm{th}}\) June 2025, can be modelled by the equation \(H(t)=a\cos\bigl(b(t-c)\bigr)+1.5\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are real, positive constants and \(t\in\mathbb{R}\).

  1. Find the value of \(a\) and the value of \(b\).[4]
  2. State the smallest possible value of \(c\).[1]
  3. Using your answers to parts (a) and (b), find the first possible time at which a tide level of \(1.65\) metres is recorded on \(11^{\mathrm{th}}\) June 2025.[4]

Solution:

Solution locked

Sign in to view the step-by-step solution

Finding similar questions...
Answer:(a) \(a=0.3,\ b=\frac{\pi}{5}\) (b) \(c=6\) (c) 2:20 am on 11 June 2025

Need help? Join our JC Math tuition classes.

Learn more