Problem Set (1)

Math 250A
Directions: Show all work and justify all answers. Simplify to the extent we
have in class.



1. Let v = 1, 1, 2 and b = 1, 0, −1 .
(a) Find the vector component of v parallel to b.
(b) Find the vector component of v orthogonal to b.

v 
*
6v − p

 p
 - -
| {z }
b

p = projb v
v•b
 
= b
b•b


 !
1, 1, 2 • 1, 0, −1

=

 1, 0, −1
1, 0, −1 • 1, 0, −1
1+0−2

 

= 1, 0, −1
1+0+1
−1

= 1, 0, −1
2

−1 1

= 2 , 0, 2

This is the vector component parallel to b.

As shown in the picture, the vector component orthogonal to b is

v − p = 1, 1, 2 − −21 , 0, 21 = 32 , 1, 32





2. The planes 2x − y + 5z = 2 and −4x + 2y − 10z = 8 are parallel. Find the

distance between them.

• Choose a point P to be on the first plane. (1,0,0) works nicely.

• Choose a point Q to be on the second plane. (−2, 0, 0) works nicely.
~ = −3, 0, 0 is the vector connecting these points.


• PQ
• As shown in the picture below, since the planes are parallel, they
share a common normal direction. The distance betweent the planes
~
is the magnitude of projn PQ.

1
 Q(−2,0,0) plane 2

* s
6 
p= 
~
projn̂ PQ 

s
  plane 1
P (1,0,0)


• n = 2, −1, 5 ( We can use any non-zero multiple of this vector,
which is found by picking out the coefficients in front of x, y, and
z in one of the planes—I worked with the first plane so as to get
smaller numbers.)

p ~
= projn PQ
!
~ •n
PQ
= n
n•n


!
−3, 0, 0 • 2, −1, 5

=

 2, −1, 5
2, −1, 5 • 2, −1, 5
−6

 

= 2, −1, 5
30
−1

 

= 2, −1, 5
5

 
 −1  q
||p|| =   22 + (−1)2 + 52
5 
1√
= 30
5√
30
=
5

3. Let f ( x, y, z) = xyz + x2 y. Consider the level surface f ( x, y, z) = 0. Find

the equation of the tangent plane to this surface at the point (1, 2, −1).

Point: P(1, 2, −1)

Normal:

D
E
xyz + x2 y , xyz + x2 y , xyz + x2 y
∂

∂

∂
5f = ∂x ∂y ∂z

= yz + 2xy, xz + x2 ,


xy
n = 5 f (1, 2, −1)
= 2(−1) + 2(1)(2), 1(−1) + 12 , 1(2)




= 2, 0, 2

2
 Plane: Let Q(x,y,z) represent an arbitrary point on the plane.
~ = x − 1, y − 2, z + 1 is parallel to the plane and thus


The PQ
orthoganal to n.

~ •n
PQ = 0



x − 1, y − 2, z + 1 • 2, 0, 2 = 0
2( x − 1) + 2( z + 1) = 0

4. Evaluate each limit or show it does not exist.

x +2y
(a) lim( x,y)→(0,0) x −y
Begin by making a guess as to whether or not the limit exists. I guess
that it doesn’t, so I will see if I can find 2 paths through the origin
that yield different limits.
limit along the x-axis:

Parametrize the x-axis as r1 (t) = t, 0

x + 2y t + 2(0)
lim = lim
( x, y) → (0, 0) x−y t →0 t−0
along x − axis
t
= lim
t →0 t
= 1

limit along the y-axis:


Parametrize the y-axis as r2 (t) = 0, t

x + 2y 0 + 2t
lim = lim
( x, y) → (0, 0) x−y t →0 0−t
along y − axis
2t
= lim
t →0 −t
= −2
x +2y
Since the two limits are not the same, lim( x,y)→(0,0) x −y does not
exist.
2 2
e x + y −1
(b) lim( x,y)→(0,0) x 2 + y2
Here, I’ll guess that the limit does exist; it looks like it will be easy
to evaluate if we switch to polar coordinates.

3
 →0 →0
z }| { z }| {
2 2 2
e x +y − 1 er − 1
lim = lim
( x,y)→(0,0) x 2 + y2 |{z} r →0+ r2
|{z}
| {z } switch to polar
→0 →0
2
2rer
= lim
|{z} r →0+ 2r
LH

2
= lim er
r →0+
= e0
= 1

5. Let f ( x, y) = x − y. Find the constrained max and min of f if the con-

straint curve is the circle of radius 2, centered at the origin.



5 f = f x , f y = 1, −1
The constraint equation is g( x, y) = x2 + y2 = 4 5 g = 2x, 2y , which



is never 0 on the circle (the center is not on the curve).

The constrained max and min (which are guaranteed to exist by the Ex-
treme Value Theorem, since f is continuous, and the circle is closed and
bounded) will be at places where

5f = λ 5 g

This gives us a system of 3 equations in 3 unknowns:

(1) 1 = λ(2x )
(2) −1 = λ(2y)
(3) x 2 + y2 = 4

Starting with equation (1):

Case 1: x = 0 This is not possible, since then (1) becomes 1 = 0, which is

not true.
1
Case 2: x 6= 0 If x 6= 0, we can divide both sides by x to get λ = 2x

Moving on to equation (2):

Case 1: y = 0 Again, this is not possible, since then (2) becomes −1 = 0,

which is not true.
Case 2: y 6= 0 In this case, we can divide both sides by y to get λ = −1
2y

4
 Putting these results together:

λ = λ
1 −1
=
2x 2y
2y = −2x
y = −x

x2 + (− x )2 = 4
2x2 = 4
Plugging these results into (3), we get: 2
x = 2√
x=± 2
Note that this gives us two critical points, one for each value of x. Once
we pick a value for x, there is only one y-value (the opposite of x) that
gets paired with it.

√( x, y√
) 
√
f ( x, y)
2, − 2 2 2 ← max
 √ √  √
− 2, 2 −2 2 ← min
√ √ √
The constrained
√ it occurs at ( 2, − 2). The constrained min
max is 2√ 2; √
is −2 2 ; it occurs at (− 2, 2).
6. Often this semester we’ve seen that there is a “scaling factor” that shows
up when we evaluate integrals. For each problem below, fill in the blank
with the appropriate “scaling factor.” For this problem, you may write di-
rectly on the exam. Assume all functions are continuously differentiable
and all parametrizations are smooth.


(a) If r(u, v) = x (u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v) is a smooth parametrization
mapping a region R in the uv-plane to a surface σ in 3-space, then
ZZ ZZ  
 ∂r ∂r 
f ( x, y, z) dS = f (r(u, v))  ×  dA
σ R ∂u ∂v

(b) If z = g( x, y) maps a region R in the xy-plane to a surface σ in 3-

space then
ZZ ZZ q

2
f ( x, y, z) dS = f ( x, y, g( x, y)) 1 + ( gx )2 + gy dA
σ R

(c) If a curve C is smoothly parametrized by r(t), a ≤ t ≤ b, then

Z Z b
f (r(t)) r0 (t) dt
 
f ( P) ds =
C a

5
 (d) If T(u,v) = (x(u,v) ,y(u,v) ) is an invertible function mapping a region
S in the uv-plane to a region R in the xy-plane, then
 
ZZ ZZ  ∂( x, y) 
f ( x, y) dA x,y = f ( x (u, v), y(u, v))  dAu,v
R S ∂(u, v) 


7. Let F( x, y) = xy, x and let C be the circle of radius 2, centered at
the origin, and oriented counterclockwise. Verify Green’s theorem by
evaluating the work done by F on a particle travelling once around C
two ways:
(a) as a line integral
For this, we parametrize the curve:


r(t) = 2 cos t, 2 sin t ; 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π
r0 (t) = −2 sin t, 2 cos t



Z
Work = F • T ds
C
Z 2π
= F • r0 (t) dt
0
Z 2π  
4| cos{zt sin }t, {z }t • −2 sin t,
2| cos

= 2 cos t dt
0 xy x
Z 2π  
= −8 cos t sin2 t + 4 cos2 t dt
0
Z 2π Z 2π
= −8 cos t sin2 t dt + 4 cos2 t dt
0
| {z } |0 {z }
A B

Z 2π
A = −8 cos t sin2 t dt
0
Z sin 2π =0
= −8 u2 du
|{z} sin 0=0
u = sin t
u0 = cos t
du = cos t dt

=
|{z} 0
limits of
integration are
the same

6
 Z 2π
B = 4 cos2 t dt
0
Z 2π
1 + cos 2t
= 4 dt
|{z} 0 2
double angle
formula
Z 2π
= 2 (1 + cos 2t) dt
0
Z 4π
= (1 + cos u) du
|{z} 0
u = 2t
du = 2 dt
Note: the 2
outside the
integral gets
absorbed into the
“du.”

= (u + sin u)|4π
0
= (4π + 0) − 0
= 4π

Work = A+B
= 0 + 4π
= 4π
(b) as a double integral
• Let R be the disk of radius 2, centered at the origin. Then C is the
boundary of R. According to Green’s theorem, we can integrate
over R to calculate the work.
• Recall that Green’s theorem is a special case of Stokes’ theorem;
to find the integrand we can embed our region and our vector
field in 3-space:
* +
xy , |{z}
x ∼

F( x, y) = |{z} g
,→ F ( x, y, z) = xy, x, 0
f
∼
According to Stoke’s theorem, the integrand will be curl F •n

 
i j k 
∂

∂ 
  
∂

∂ 
∼ ∂ ∂

∂ 
∂ ∂ 
= ∂z  i −  ∂x
 ∂x ∂y ∂z  =
curl F   ∂y ∂z  j +  ∂x ∂y  k

x 0  xy 0  xy x
 xy x 0


= 0, 0, 1 − x

7
 Since our surface is on the xy-plane, and its boundary is ori-
ented counter-clockwise, the normal vector
(by the right-hand


up. Thus n= k
rule) must point straight
= 0, 0, 1
Thus the integrand is 0, 0, 1 − x • 0, 0, 1 = 1 − x
• Note: The above work allows us to derive the formula for the
integrand using Stoke’s theorem. Note that the result is that the
∂g ∂f
integrand is ∂x − ∂y . If you memorized this result, that’s fine,
but it’s good to know how to derive it.

Z
Work = F • T ds
ZCZ
= (1 − x ) dA
|{z} R
Green’s theorem
Z 2π Z 2
= (1 − r cos θ ) r| drdθ
|{z} 0 0 {z }
dA
convert to polar
coordinates
Z 2π Z 2  
= r − r2 cos θ drdθ
0 0
Z 2π  2 2
r r3 
= −
cos θ  dθ
0 2 3
Z 2π   0 
8
= 2 − cos θ − 0 dθ
0 3
 2π
8 
= 2θ + sin θ 
3 0
= (4π + 0) − 0
= 4π

Note that Green’s theorem is confirmed, since we got the same an-
swer both ways.
8. Let F( x, y, z) = y + z, x + 2z, y2 and let σ be the portion of the plane



3x + 2y + z = 6 lying in the first octanct, oriented down. Let C be the

boundary of σ, with positive orientation. Evaluate
Z
F • T ds
C

8
 B
B
B
B
B
B

Z ZZ
F • T ds = curlF • n dS
C |{z} σ

Stokes’ theorem

Here, the surface integral should be easier to evaluate, since C is only

piecewise smooth; it consists of 3 line segments, so to evaluate a line
integral along C would require us to evaluate 3 separate integrals, one
for each line segment.
We can solve the plane for any of the three variables: x, y, or z. I’ve chosen
to solve for z, since I can do so without introducing fractions:

z = 6 − 3x − 2y
D E

∂z
Since σ is oriented down, a normal vector is ∂x ∂z
, ∂y , −1 = −3, −2, −1
The “n” that shows up in Stoke’s theorem is this vector, normalized.
However, we need not normalize this vector, since the “scaling factor”
we’ll get when we integrate over R (the projection of σ onto the xy-plane)
will be the magnitude of this vector.
R, the projection of σ onto the xy-plane is the triangular region shown
below. We can find the diagonal boundary line by setting z = 0:

−3
0 = 6 − 3x − 2y ⇒ y = x+3
2

9
 (0,3)
J
J
J
(2,0)

 i j k   ∂
    
∂   ∂ 
∂   ∂ ∂ 
 ∂ ∂ ∂  
= ∂z  i −  ∂x
∂z  = 
curlF   ∂y ∂z  j +  ∂x ∂y k

 ∂x ∂y
y + z x + 2z y2  x + 2z 2
y  y + z y2   y+z x + 2z


= 2y − 2, 1 − 0, 1 − 1


= 2y − 2, 1, 0

ZZ ZZ


curlF • n dS = 2y − 2, 1, 0 • −3, −2, −1 dA
σ
Z ZR
= (−6y + 6 − 2) dA
R
Z 2 Z −3 x +3
2
= (−6y + 4) dydx
0 0
Z 2  −3 x+3
2
= −3y2 + 4y 
0 0
Z 2
" 2 ! #
−3 −3
 
= −3 x+3 +4 x+3 − 0 dx
0 2 2
Z 2   
9 2
= −3 x − 9x + 9 − 6x + 12 dx
0 4
Z 2
−27 2
 
= x + 27x − 27 − 6x + 12 dx
0 4
Z 2
−27 2
 
= x + 21x − 15 dx
0 4
2
−27 x3 x2


= + 21 − 15x 
4 3 2 0
−27
    
8
= + 21(2) − 30 − 0
4 3
= −18 + 42 − 30
= −6

10
9. Let G be the region enclosed by the parabaloid z = x2 + y2 and the plane
z
= 4. Let σ be the boundary of G, with outward orientation. Let F =
xz, −2z, z2 . Calculate the flux of F across σ.

ZZ
Φ = F • n dS
Z ZσZ
= divF dV
|{z} G

Divergence
Theorem

divF = 5•F
∂ ∂ ∂
= ( xz) + (−2z) + (z2 )
∂x ∂y ∂z
= z + 0 + 2z
= 3z
The paraboloid meets the plane when x2 + y2 = 4. Projecting this onto
the xy-plane, we get the circle of radius 2. Together with its interior, this
gives us the disk of radius 2 as the projection of G onto the xy-plane.

ZZZ Z 2π Z 2 Z 4
3z dV = 3z r| dzdrdθ
G |{z} 0 0 r2 {z }
dV
express integral
in cylindrical
coordinates

4
z2 
Z 2π Z 2
= 3r  drdθ
0 0 2 r2
Z 2π Z 2     4 
16 r
= 3r − 3r drdθ
0 0 2 2
Z 2π Z 2  
3
= 24r − r5 drdθ
0 0 2
Z 2π   6 2
3 r
12r2 −

=  dθ
0 2 6 
0
Z 2π
= ((48 − 16) − 0) dθ
0
Z 2π
= 32 dθ
0
= 32(2π )
= 64π

11
 * 1+
y cos( xy) + 2, x cos( xy) − 2
10. Let F( x, y) = | {z } y
f | {z }
g

(a) Verify that F is conservative.

∂f
• ∂y =
|{z} cos( xy) + y (− x sin( xy)) = cos( xy) − xy sin( xy)
product rule

∂g
• ∂x =
|{z} cos( xy) + x (−y sin( xy)) = cos( xy) − xy sin( xy)
product rule

∂f ∂g
• ∂y = ∂x , the first partials of F are continuous, and F is defined
on R which is simply connected, so F is conservative.
2

(b) Find a potential function φ for F.

Note that since F is conservative we know there is a potential func-
tion φ for which F = 5φ.
Thus we know the component functions of F are the first partials of
φ. That is:

∂φ
∂x = f = y cos( xy) + 2
∂φ
∂y = g = x cos( xy) − y12

To find φ:
∂φ ∂φ
Integrate ∂x with respect to x or ∂y with respect to y: I’ve chosen the
former.

Z
∂φ
φ = dx
Z
∂x
= (y cos( xy) + 2) dx
Z Z
= y cos( xy) dx + 2 dx
Z
=
|{z} cos u du + 2x + k(y)
|{z}
u = xy a function
u0 = y that is con-
du = y dx stant with
respect to
x; it can
have y’s in
it
= sin u + 2x + k(y)
= sin( xy) + 2x + k (y)

12
 Differentiate φ with respect to the y and solve for k0 (y):

∂φ
= x cos( xy) + k0 (y)
∂y

We already know that ∂y = g = x cos( xy) − y12

∂phi

Setting these expressions equal to one another:

1
x cos( xy) + k0 (y) = x cos( xy) −
y2
1
k0 (y) = −
y2

Integrate with respect to y to solve for k:

Z
k(y) = k0 (y) dy
Z
= −y−2 dy

= y −1 + c
1
= +c
y

Put all the pieces together:

φ = sin( xy) + 2x + y1 + c Since we just need to get a potential
function, we can choose c to be any constant. If we choose c to
be 0, we get φ = sin( xy) + 2x + 1y
(c) How much work is done by F acting on a particle that travels once
around the unit circle?
Since the unit circle is a smooth closed curve and F is conservative,
the work done is 0.

13