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Junior Section: Solution by Cheng Herng Yi, M08301

So you have been summoned to help Harry Potter. Let make this as quick and painless as possible.
Let x0 be the horizontal distance of the snake from (-1, 0)
Let x1 be the horizontal distance of the Harry from (1, 0)
It is therefore trivial (but important, nonetheless) that:
x1 = ex0 => x0 = (1 / e) x1
h 2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2
L2 = h 2 + (1 − x0 + 1 − x1 ) 2
L2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2 + (2 − x0 − x1 ) 2
Method 1: Pre-calculus approach
1
L2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2 + (2 − x0 − x1 ) 2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2 + (2 − x1 − x1 ) 2
e
1 
L2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2 + (2 −  + 1 x1 ) 2
e 
 1  1 
2

L2 = 1 − 1 − 2 x1 + x12 +  4 − 4 + 1 x1 +  + 1 x 21 
( )  e  e  
 
2
1  1 
L = 4 + 2 x1 − x − 4 + 1 x1 +  + 1 x12
2 2
1
e  e 
2
 4  1 
L = 4 − x +  2 − − 4  x1 +  + 1 x12
2 2
1
 e  e 
2  2 1 
L2 = 4 − 2 + 1 x1 +  + 2  x12
e  e e 
2  1 1
L2 = 4 − 2 + 1 x1 +  2 +  x12
e  e e
2  1 1
L2 = 4 − 2 + 1 x1 +  2 +  x12
e  e e
2+e  1 + 2e  2
L2 = 4 − 2  x1 +  2  x1
 e   e 
This is the form of a quadratic equation, which can be factorized as:
2 2
 2 + e  1 + 2e
L2 = 4 − 2
 1 + 2e 
x1 +  2  x12 +
(2 + e ) − (2 + e)

 e  1 + 2e  e  1 + 2e 1 + 2e
2
2 + e )  1 + 2e  2+e 
2 2
2 ( (2 + e) 4e − e 2
L = 4− −  x
 1 −  ≤ 4 − =
1 + 2e  e  1 + 2e  1 + 2e 1 + 2e
[Remember your math. It will come back to haunt you]
Sub e=½ we get L=(7/8)½
The equality occurs when:
2
 1 + 2e  + 
  x1 − 2 e  = 0

 e  1 + 2e 
 1 + 2e  2+e
 
 e  x1 = 1 + 2e
 
e( 2 + e)
x1 =
1 + 2e

Method 2: Calculus approach


L2 = 1 − (1 − x1 ) 2 + (2 − x0 − x1 ) 2
Diff wrt to x1
L is minimized when:

0 = −2( x1 − 1) + 2( x1 (1 + 1 / e) − 2)(1 + 1 / e)
0 = − x1 + 1 + x1 (1 + 1 / e) 2 − 2(1 + 1 / e)
0 = − x1 + x1 (1 + 1 / e) 2 − 1 − 2 / e
[
1 + 2 / e = x1 2 / e + (1 / e) 2 ]
e+2
e(e + 2)
x1 = e =
2e + 1 2e + 1
2
e
Sub x1 into L2 to find the minimal value of L2
2 2
2  e ( e + 2)   e + 1 e ( e + 2) 
L = 1 − 1 −  + 2 − 
 2e + 1   e 2e + 1 
2 2
 2e + 1 − e 2 − 2e   (e + 1)(e + 2) 
L = 1 − 
2
 +  2 − 
 2e + 1   2e + 1 
2 2
 1 − e2   e − e2 
L = 1 − 
2
 +  
 2e + 1   2e + 1 
4e 2 + 4e + 1 − (1 − 2e 2 + e 4 ) + (e 2 − 2e 3 + e 4 )
L2 =
(2e + 1) 2
7 e 2 + 4e − 2e 3
L2 =
(2e + 1) 2
7 e 2 + 4e − 2e 3 e(4 − e )
L= 2
=
(2e + 1) 2e + 1

Sub e=½ we get L=(7/8)½

So Harry has found his desired distance and stunned the snake successfully. That’s how he really survived
the Chamber of Secret! [JK Rowling has kept this as secret weapon for Harry against the Dark Lord]

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