Practice Questions and Solutions

(Not covered by the written assignments ) Parametric curves, Lengths, Surface Area, Curvature, Frenets Frame

1.

Find a parametric representation which does not involve radicals, for the curve that is the intersection of the following surfaces: (a) The cone z = x 2 + y 2 and the plane z = 1 + y (b) The cylinder x 2 + y 2 = 1 and the plane y + z = 2 (c) (c) The cylinders: z 2 = x, y 2 = 1 x . Solution:

(a) We have

x2 + y 2 = 1 + y x2 + y 2 = 1 + 2 y + y 2 y =

1 2 ( x 1) . If set x = t we obtain 2

1 1 r (t ) =< t , (t 2 1), (t 2 + 1) > . 2 2

(b) If set x = cos t , then y = sin t and z = 2 sin t . (c) First we notice that z 2 + y 2 = 1 . If set z = cos t we get y = sin t and x = 1 sin 2 t REMARK: The above parameterizations are not unique!

2.

(a) Show that the curve r = (et )i + (et sin t ) j + (et cos t )k is on a cone. (b) Find an equation for the tangent line at t = 0 .

Solution: (a) [ y (t )]2 + [ z (t )]2 = (et sin t ) 2 + (et cos t ) 2 = e 2t = [ x (t )]2 , hence the cure is on the cone x 2 = y 2 + z 2 . (b) u =
dr dt = < et , et (cos t + sin t ), et (cos t sin t ) >
t =0 t =0

=< 1,1,1 > ; At t = 0 we get the point (1,0,1)

on the curve. An equation for r = r0 + tu < x, y, z >=< 1, 0,1 > +t < 1,1,1 >

the tangent line at x = 1 + t, y = t, z = 1 + t .

(1,0,1)

is

3.

(a) At what point do the curves r1 = ti + (1 t ) j + (3 + t 2 )k , r2 = (3 s)i + ( s 2) j + ( s 2 )k intersect? (c) Find their angle of intersection at the intersection point (i.e. the angle between the tangent vectors at the point of intersection). Solution:

(a) We must find t and s which satisfy the following equations: t s = 3, 1 t = s 2, 3 + t 2 = s 2 . We obtain t = 1 and s = 2 and the point of intersection (1,0,4).

(b) Lets find the angle of intersection at this point. The tangent vectors at (1,0,4) are 1 1 (1 1 + 8) = 55 . r1 (1) =< 1, 2, 2 > and r2 (1) =< 1,1, 4 > .So cos = 6 18 3

4.

Find the length of the following curves: x5 1 (a) y = + ,1 x 2 6 10 x3 1 (b) x = y ( y 3) , 1 y 9 3 (c) r = e2 , 0 2

(d) r (t ) =< t 2 ,sin t t cos t , cos t + t sin t > , 0 t Solution: (a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

5.

Find the area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve about the x-axis. x3 1 (a) y = + , 1/ 2 x 1 6 2x (b) y = cos 2 x , 0 x / 6

(c) x = 3t t 3 , y = 3t 2 , 0 t 1 Solution: (a)

(b)

(c)

6.

Find the area of the surface obtained by rotating the curve about the y-axis. (a) x = a cosh( y / a ) , a x a (b) x = et t , y = 4et / 2 , 0 t 1

Solution: (a)

(b)

7.

Reparametrize the curve r (t ) =< e2t cos 2t , 2, e2t sin 2t > with respect to the arclength measured from the point where t = 0 in the direction of increasing t. Solution:

(a) Find the curvature of r (t ) =< et cos t , et sin t , t > at the point (1, 0, 0) . (b) Find the curvature of the ellipse x = 3cos t , y = 4sin t at the points (3, 0) and (0,4). Solution: (a) 8.

(b) r (t ) =< 3cos t , 4sin t , 0 > , r (t ) =< 3sin t , 4 cos t , 0 > , r (t ) =< 3cos t , 4sin t , 0 >

9. At what point does the curve y = ln x have maximum curvature? Solution:

10. Find the vectors T , N , and B for the curve r (t ) =< et , et sin t , et cos t > at the point (1, 0,1) . Solution:

11. Find equations for the normal and osculating plane of the curve r (t ) =< t , t 2 , t 3 > at (1,1,1) Solution:

12. At what point on the curve x(t ) = t 3 , y (t ) = 3t , z (t ) = t 4 is the normal plane parallel to the plane 6 x + 6 y 8 z = 1? Solution:

13. The helix r1 (t ) =< cos t ,sin t , t > intersects the curve r2 (t ) =< 1 + t , t 2 , t 3 > at the point (1, 0, 0) . Find the angle of the intersection of these curves. Solution: