10.

6 SURFACES IN SPACE
In Chapter 3, you expended considerable effort
learning how to use the calculus to draw graphs of a
wide range of functions in two dimensions. Now that
we have discussed line s and planes in  3, we
continue our graphical development by drawing more
complicated objects in three dimensions. Don't expect
a general theory like we developed for two-
dimensional graphs. Drawing curves and surfaces in
three dimensions by hand or correctly interpreting
computer-generated graphics is something of an art.
After all, you must draw a two-dimensional image that
somehow represents an object in three dimensions.
Our goal here is not to produce artists, but rather to
leave you with the ability to deal with a small group of
surfaces in three dimensions. For our presentation over
the next several chapters, you will want to have at your
disposal a small number of familiar surfaces. You will
need to recognize these when you see them and have a
reasonable facility for drawing a picture by hand. We
also urge you to learn to produce and interpret
computer-generated graphs. Follow our hints carefully
and work lots of problems. In numerous exercises in
the chapters that follow, taking a few extra minutes to
draw a better graph will often result in a huge savings
of time and effort.
Cylindrical Surfaces
We begin with a simple type of three-dimensional
surface. When you see the wordcylinder, you probably
think of a right circular cylinder. For instance, consider
the graph of the equation x2+y2 =
9 in three dimensions. Your first reaction might be to
say that this is the equation for a circle, but you'd only
be partly correct. The graph ofx2+y2 =
9 in two dimensions is the circle of radius 3, centered
at the origin, but what about its graph in three
dimensions? Consider the intersection of the surface
with the plane z = k, for some constant k. Since the
equation has no z 's in it, the intersection with every
such plane (called the trace of the surface in the
plane z = k ) is the same: a circle of radius 3, centered
at the origin. Think about it: whatever this three-
dimensional surface is, its intersection with every
plane parallel to the xy - plane is a circle of
radius 3 , centered at the origin. This describes a right
circular cylinder, in this case one of radius 3, whose
axis is the z - axis (see Figure 10.52).
 Figure 10.52
Right circular cylinder.
More generally, the term cylinder is used to refer to
any surface whose traces in every plane parallel to a
given plane are the same. With this definition, many
surfaces qualify as cylinders.
6.1  Sketching a Surface

 
Draw a graph of the surface z = y2 in  3. 
 

 
Notice that since there are no x 's in the equation, the trace of the graph in the
plane x = k is the same for every k. This is then a cylinder whose trace in
every plane parallel to the yz - plane is the parabola z = y2. To draw this, we
first draw the trace in the yz - plane (see Figure 10.53a) and then make
several copies of the trace, locating the vertices at various points along
the x - axis and finally, connect the traces with lines parallel to the x - axis to
give the drawing its three-dimensional look (see Figure 10.53b). A
computer-generated wireframe graph of the same surface is seen in Figure
10.53c. Notice that the wireframe consists of numerous traces for fixed
values of x or y.
 Figure 10.53a
Trace in the yz - plane.

Figure 10.53b
z = y2.
 Figure 10.53c
Wireframe of z = y2. 
 

6.2  Sketching an Unusual Cylinder

 
Draw a graph of the surface z = sin x 3. 
 

 
Notice that once again, one of the variables is missing. In this case, there are
no y 's and so, traces of the surface in any plane parallel to the xz - plane are
the same. They all look like the two-dimensional graph of z = sin x. We draw
one of these in the xz - plane and then make copies in planes parallel to
the xz - plane, finally connecting the endpoints with lines parallel to the y -
axis (see Figure 10.54a). InFigure 10.54b, we show a computer-generated
wireframe plot of the same surface. In this case, the cylinder looks like a
plane with ripples in it.
 Figure 10.54a
The surface z = sin x.

Figure 10.54b
Wireframe: z = sin x. 
 

Quadric Surfaces

The graph of the equation

ax2+by2+cz2+dxy+eyz+fxz+gx+hy+jz+k = 0
in three-dimensional space (where a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, j and k are all constants and
at least one of a, b, c, d, e or f  is nonzero) is referred to as a quadric surface.

The most familiar quadric surface is the sphere:

(x-a)2+(y-b)2+(z-c)2 = r2
of radius r centered at the point (a, b, c). To draw the sphere centered at (0, 0,
0),first draw a circle of radius r, centered at the origin in the yz - plane. Then, to
give the surface its three-dimensional look, draw circles of radius r centered at
the origin, in both the xz - and xy - planes, as in Figure 10.55. Note that due to the
perspective, these last two circles will look like ellipses and will only be partially
visible (we indicate the hidden parts of the circles with dashed lines).

Figure 10.55
Sphere.

A generalization of the sphere is the ellipsoid:

(Notice that when d = e = f, the surface is a sphere.)

6.3  Sketching an Ellipsoid

 
Graph the ellipsoid

 
To get an idea of what the graph looks like,
first draw its traces in the three coordinate
planes. (In general, you may need to look at
the traces in planes parallelto the three
coordinate planes, but the traces in the three
coordinate planes will suffice, here.) In
the yz - plane, x = 0, so we have the ellipse

which we graph in Figure 10.56a. Next, add

to Figure 10.56a the traces in the xy - and xz -
planes. These are

respectively, and are both ellipses (see Figure

10.56b). CASs have the capability of plotting
functions of several variables in three
dimensions. Many graphing calculators with
three-dimensional plotting capabilities only

Figure 10.56a
Ellipse in yz - plane.
 Figure 10.56b
Ellipsoid.
produce three-dimensional plots when
given z as a function of x and y. For the
problem at hand, notice that we can solve
for z and plot the two functions  
and   to obtain the graph of the
surface. Observe that the wireframe graph
in Figure 10.56c is not particularly smooth
and appears to have some gaps. To correctly
interpret such a graph, you must mentally fill
in the gaps. This requires an understanding of
how the graph should look, which we
obtained drawing Figure 10.56b. As an
alternative, many CASs enable you to graph
the equation   using implicit
plot mode. In this mode, the CAS numerically
solves the equation for the value
of z corresponding to each one of a large
number of sample values of x and y and plots
the resulting points. The graph obtained
in Figure 10.56d is an improvement
over Figure 10.56c, but doesn't show the
traces that we used to construct Figure
10.56b.
The best option, when available, is often
a parametric plot. In three dimensions, this
involves writing each of the three
variables x, y and z in terms of two
parameters, with the resulting surface plotted
by plotting points corresponding to a sample
of values of the two parameters. (A more
extensive discussion of the mathematics of
parametric surfaces is given in section 14.6.)
As we develop in the exercises, parametric
equations for the ellipsoid are x =
sin s cos t, y = 2sin s sin t and z = 3cos s, with
the parameters taken to be in the intervals 0   
s   2  and 0   t   2 . Notice how Figure
10.56e shows a nice smooth plot and clearly
shows the elliptical traces.
 Figure 10.56c
Wireframe ellipsoid.

Figure 10.56d
Implicit wireframe plot.
 Figure 10.56e
Parametric plot.
 
6.4  Sketching a Paraboloid

 
Draw a graph of the quadric surface
x2+y2 = z.

 
To get an idea of what the graph looks like, first draw its traces in the three
coordinate planes. In the yz - plane, we have x = 0 and so y2 = z (a parabola).
In the xz - plane, we have y = 0 and so, x2 = z (a parabola). In the xy - plane,
we have z = 0 and so, x2+y2 = 0 (a pointthe origin). We sketch the traces
in Figure 10.57a. Finally, since the trace in the xy - plane is just a point, we
consider the traces in the planes z = k (for k > 0 ). Notice that these are the
circles x2+y2 = k ,where for larger values of z (i.e., larger values of k ), we get
circles of larger radius. We sketch the surface in Figure 10.57b. Such
surfaces are called paraboloids and since the traces in planes parallel to
the xy - plane are circles, this is called acircular paraboloid. Graphing
utilities with three-dimensional capabilities generally produce a graph
like Figure 10.57c for z = x2 + y2. Notice that the parabolic traces are visible,
but not the circular cross-sections we drew in Figure 10.57b. The four peaks
visible in Figure 10.57c are due to the rectangular domain used for the plot
(in this case, -5   x   5 and -5   y   5).
An improvement to this can be made by restricting the range of z - values.
With0   z   15, you can clearly see the circular cross-section in the
plane z = 15 inFigure 10.57d.

As in example 6.3, a parametric surface plot is even better. Here, we

havex = scos t, y = ssin t  and z = s2 with -5   s   5 and 0   t   2 . Figure
10.57eclearly shows the circular cross sections in the planes z = k, for k > 0.

Figure 10.57a
Traces.

Figure 10.57b
Paraboloid.
 Figure 10.57c
Wireframe paraboloid.

Figure 10.57d
Wireframe paraboloid for 0   z   15.
 Figure 10.57e
Parametric plot paraboloid. 
 

Notice that in each of the last several examples, we have had to work hard to
produce computer-generated graphs that adequately show the important
features of the given quadric surface. We want to encourage you to use your
graphing calculator or CAS for drawing three-dimensional plots, because
computer graphics are powerful tools for visualization and problem solving.
However, be aware that you will need a basic understanding of the geometry
of quadric surfaces to effectively produce and interpret computer-generated
graphs.
6.5  Sketching an Elliptic Cone

 
Draw a graph of the quadric surface

 
Be careful not to jump to conclusions. While this equation may look a lot
like that of an ellipsoid, there is a significant difference. (Look where
the z2 term is!) Again, we start by looking at the traces in the coordinate

planes. For the yz - plane, we have x = 0 and so,   so

that y =   2z. That is, the trace is a pair of lines: y = 2z and y = -2z. We show
these in Figure 10.58a. Likewise, the trace in the xz - plane is a pair of
lines: x =   z. The trace in the xy - plane is simply the origin. (Why?)
Finally, the traces in the planes z = k ( k   0 ), parallel to the xy - plane are

the ellipses:   Adding these to the drawing gives us the double-

cone seen in Figure 10.58b.

Since the traces in planes parallel to the xy - plane are ellipses, we refer to

this as an elliptic cone.

Notice that one way to plot this with a CAS is to graph the two functions z =

 and   In Figure 10.58c, we restrict the z - range to-

10  z  10 to show the circular cross sections). Notice that this plot shows a
large gap between the two halves of the cone. If you have drawn Figure
10.58byourself, this plotting deficiency won't fool you. Alternatively, the
parametric plot shown in Figure 10.58d, with   
and z = s with -5   s   5 and 0   t   2 , shows the full cone with its circular
and linear traces.

Figure 10.58a
Trace in yz - plane.
Figure 10.58b
Elliptic cone.