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Curve Sketching
6. Graphical Applications of Derivatives / Curve Sketching / Problem 4
Problem 4

In a computer simulation, a drone is programmed to always fly directly towards a moving target. The target moves north from a specific point at a constant speed of 11 unit per time step. The drone starts its pursuit 33 units east of the starting point of the target, moving at a speed of s>1s > 1 unit per time step. The path followed by the drone is given by the equation y=s2[xs+1ss+1xs1ss1]+ss21y=\frac{s}{2}\left\lbrack\frac{x^{\frac{s+1}{s}}}{s+1}-\frac{x^{\frac{s-1}{s}}}{s-1}\right\rbrack+\frac{s}{s^2-1}. For a simulation where s=3s = 3, what is the yy-coordinate of the drone's position when x=8x = 8 units? Also, plot the graph for s=3s = 3.

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