MATH1052 Second Semester 2007

Problem Sheet 6

No questions are to be handed in, but questions marked * give a good selection.
The tutorials will be used to give hints and assistance with tackling these problems.

1. The voltage V, (in volts) across a circuit is given by Ohm’s Law: V = IR, where
I is the current (in amps) flowing through the circuit and R is the resistance (in
Ohms). If we place two circuits, with resistance R1 and R2 in parallel, then their
combined resistance, R, is given by
1 1 1
= + .
R R1 R2
Supppose the current is 2 amps and increasing at 10−2 amp/sec and R1 is 3 Ohms
and increasing at 0.5 Ohm/sec, while R2 is 5 Ohms and decreasing at 0.1 Ohm/sec.
Calculate the rate at which the voltage is changing.
2. (a) Use the Chain Rule to find the indicated partial derivatives.
∂u ∂u
(i) u = xy + yz + zx, x = st, y = est , z = t2 ; , when s = 0, t = 1.
∂s ∂t
x ∂z ∂z ∂z
(ii) z = , x = rest , y = rset ; , , when r = 1, s = 2, t = 0.
y ∂r ∂s ∂t
(b) Find dy/dx for the equation x cos y + y cos x = 1.
*(c) Stewart 5th (resp. 4th) Edition: Section 15.5, question 38 (resp. 36).

dw
3. For each of the following functions w, find ,
dt
(a) by using the appropriate chain rule and
(b) by converting w to a function of t before differentiating.
(i) w = xy, x = 2 sin t, y = cos t
*(ii) w = xy tan z, x = t, y = t2 , z = arctan t
(iii) w = xyz, x=t ,2
y = 2t, z = e−t
4. Consider the function w = f (x, y), where x = r cos θ and y = r sin θ.
Prove each of the following:
∂w ∂w ∂w sin θ
(a) = cos θ −
∂x ∂r ∂θ r
∂w ∂w ∂w cos θ
(b) = sin θ +
∂y ∂r ∂θ r
  2  2  2  2
∂w ∂w ∂w 1 ∂w
(c) + = + 2
∂x ∂y ∂r r ∂θ
/over
5. Find the local maxima, local minima and saddle points of the given function:
2 −y 2
*(a) f (x, y) = xye−x
(b) f (x, y) = 8xy − 14 (x + y)4
(c) f (x, y) = sin x sin y
(d) f (x, y) = ex (1 − cos y)

6. Suppose that for some function f (x, y) at the point (a, b), we have
fx = fy = 0, fxx > 0, fyy = 0, fxy > 0.

(a) What can you conclude about the shape of the graph of f near (a, b).
(b) Sketch a possible contour diagram.

7. Find the global maximum and minimum of

z = x2 + y 2 over − 1 6 x 6 1, −1 6 y 6 1.

8. Stewart 4th (or 5th) Edition: Section 15.7, questions 10, 24, 26.