Scribd
Upload
116 views3 pages

Math 263 Practice Problem Solutions

1. The document contains solutions to 5 practice problems involving calculus concepts like parametric equations, derivatives, directional derivatives, and finding the rate of change of volume for a cone. 2. Problem 1 finds parametric equations for the tangent line to the intersection of two surfaces. Problem 2 shows the sum of intercepts of any tangent plane to a surface is constant. 3. Problem 3 calculates the rate of change of volume for a cone when the radius and height are changing. Problem 4 finds the directions of a directional derivative. Problem 5 determines if a boat's depth is increasing or decreasing as it moves toward a buoy.

Uploaded by

Lynnie Ella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
116 views3 pages

Math 263 Practice Problem Solutions

1. The document contains solutions to 5 practice problems involving calculus concepts like parametric equations, derivatives, directional derivatives, and finding the rate of change of volume for a cone. 2. Problem 1 finds parametric equations for the tangent line to the intersection of two surfaces. Problem 2 shows the sum of intercepts of any tangent plane to a surface is constant. 3. Problem 3 calculates the rate of change of volume for a cone when the radius and height are changing. Problem 4 finds the directions of a directional derivative. Problem 5 determines if a boat's depth is increasing or decreasing as it moves toward a buoy.

Uploaded by

Lynnie Ella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Math 263 Practice Problem Set 1 Solutions

1. Find parametric equations for the tangent line to the curve of inter-
section of the paraboloid z = x2 +y 2 and the ellipsoid 4x2 +y 2 +z 2 = 9
at the point (−1, 1, 2).
Solution. Let the parametric representation of the ellipse be given
by (x, y(x), z(x)), where y(x) and z(x) are given by the two equations
(1) z(x) = x2 + y 2 , 4x2 + y(x)2 + z(x)2 = 9.
The tangent vector at the point (−1, 1, 2) is given by (1, y 0 (−1), z 0 (−1)).
For this we differentiate the equations in (1) with respect x; this gives
z 0 (x) = 2x + 2yy 0 (x), 8x + 2y(x)y 0 (x) + 2z(x)z 0 (x) = 0.
Plugging in x = −1, y(x) = 1, z = 2, we obtain
2z 0 (−1) − 4y 0 (−1) = −4, 2z 0 (−1) + y 0 (−1) = 4.
Solving the two linear equations give y 0 (−1) = 85 , z 0 (−1) = 65 . The
direction of the tangent vector is therefore (1, 58 , 65 ), or equivalently
(5, 8, 6). The equation of the tangent line is therefore
x + 1 = 5t, y − 1 = 8t, z − 2 = 6t.

2. Show that the √
sum of the x,
√ y and
√ z-intercepts of any tangent plane
√
of the surface x + y + z = c is a constant.
Solution. Let us fix any point (x0 , y0 , z0 ) in the first octant. Let us
differentiate the equation of the surface with respect to x and y to
∂z ∂z
solve for ∂x and ∂y :
1 1 ∂z 1 1 ∂z
√ + √ = 0, √ + √ = 0.
2 x 2 z ∂x 2 y 2 z ∂y
√ √
∂z z ∂z z
Therefore ∂x
= − √x00 , ∂y
= − √y00 . The normal direction to the
∂z ∂z
surface at the point (x0 , y0 , z0 ) is therefore ( ∂x , ∂y , −1)(x0 , y0 ) =
q q
z0 z0
−( x0 , y0 , 1). The equation of the tangent plane at (x0 , y0 , z0 ) is
then
r r
z0 z0
(x − x0 ) + (y − y0 ) + (z − z0 ) = 0,
x0 y0
x y z √ √ √ √
or, √ + √ + √ = x0 + y0 + z0 = c.
x0 y0 z0
1
2

The lengths of the x, y and z-intercepts of the tangent plane at


√ √ √
(x0 , y0 , z0 ) are therefore cx0 , cy0 and cz0 , and the sum of the
intercepts is
√ √ √ √
c( x0 + y0 + z0 ) = c,
which is independent of (x0 , y0 , z0 ). 

3. The radius of a right circular cone is increasing at a rate 1.8 in/s,


while its height is decreasing at a rate of 2.5 in/s. At what rate is
the volume of the cone changing when the radius is 120 inches and
the height is 140 inches?

Solution. The volume of a right circular cone is


1
V (r, h) = πr2 h.
3
Therefore
 
dV 1 dr 2 dh
= π 2rh + r
dt 3 dt dt
π
240(140)(1.8) − (120)2 (2.5) = 8160πin3 /s.

=
3


4. Find the directions in which the directional derivative of f (x, y) =


ye−xy at the point (0, 2) has the value 1.

Solution. We first compute the gradient vector:


∇f (x, y) = h−y 2 e−xy , e−xy − xye−xy i, hence ∇f (0, 2) = −4i + j.
Let u = cos θi + sin θj be the unit vector in the direction to be
determined. Then Du f (0, 2) = −4 cos θ + sin θ = 1. In order to
solve this equation for θ, use the half-angle formulas:
θ θ θ θ θ θ
− 4(cos2 − sin2 ) + 2 sin cos = cos2 + sin2 ,
2 2 2 2 2 2
θ θ
or, 3 tan2 + 2 tan − 5 = 0,
2 2
θ 5
or, tan = 1, − .
2 3
θ π 5
Thus, = and tan−1 − .
2 4 3
Check that 2 tan−1 (−5/3) = 2π − cos−1 (8/17). 
3

5. Near a buoy, the depth of a lake at the point with coordinates (x, y)
is z = 200+0.02x2 −0.001y 3 where x, y, z are in meters. A fisherman
starts at (80, 60) and moves towards the buoy which is located (0, 0).
Is the boat getting deeper or shallower when he departs?
(Answer: depth is increasing in the direction toward the buoy)
Solution. The direction of movement of the boat is u = − 51 (4i+3j).
The gradient vector of z = f (x, y) at (80, 60) is
0.04(80)i − 0.003(60)2 j = 3.2i − 10.8j.
Therefore Du f (80, 60) = − 51 (12.8 − 32.4) > 0; in other words, the
depth is increasing as the boat departs. 

You might also like