gaokao 2015 Q17
Exponential Growth/Decay Modelling with Contextual Interpretation
17. (This problem is worth 14 points) There are two mutually perpendicular straight-line highways on the periphery of a mountainous area. To further improve the traffic situation in the mountainous area, a plan is made to build a straight-line highway connecting the two highways and the boundary of the mountainous area. Let the two mutually perpendicular highways be $l _ { 1 } , l _ { 2 }$, the boundary curve of the mountainous area be C, and the planned highway be l. As shown in the figure, $\mathrm { M } , \mathrm { N }$ are two endpoints of C. It is measured that the distances from point M to $l _ { 1 } , l _ { 2 }$ are 5 kilometers and 40 kilometers respectively, and the distances from point N to $l _ { 1 } , l _ { 2 }$ are 20 kilometers and 2.5 kilometers respectively. Taking the lines where $l _ { 1 } , l _ { 2 }$ are located as the $\mathrm { x } , \mathrm { y }$ axes respectively, establish a rectangular coordinate system xOy. Assume that the curve C conforms to the function model $y = \frac { a } { x ^ { 2 } + b }$ (where $\mathrm { a } , \mathrm { b }$ are constants). (I) Find the values of $\mathrm { a } , \mathrm { b }$; (II) Let the highway l be tangent to curve C at point P, and the x-coordinate of P is t.
(1) Write out the function expression $f ( t )$ for the length of highway l and its domain;
(2) When t takes what value is the length of highway l shortest? Find the shortest length.