MATH 251 - CALCULUS III

Instructor: Dr. Sutthirut Charoenphon

Study Guide 2 (section 14.3 - 15.6) - Solution

1. Find the unit tangent vector T and the unit normal vector N at t of the following functions.

(a) r(t) = (2 + t)i + (2 − t)j + 3tk, t = 0

Solution: First, we find r′ (t):

r′ (t) = i − j + 3k

The unit tangent vector T is:

r′ (t) i − j + 3k i − j + 3k
T= ′
=p = √
∥r (t)∥ 2 2
1 + (−1) + 3 2 11

To find the unit normal vector N, we need r′′ (t):

r′′ (t) = 0

′′ T′
Since r (t) = 0, we cannot calculate N using the formula N = . The curve
∥T′ ∥
is a straight line, so it doesn’t have a well-defined normal vector.

Thus N(t) = 0.

π
(b) r(t) = cos(2t)i + sin(2t)j − 5k, t = 4

First, we find r′ (t):

r′ (t) = −2 sin(2t)i + 2 cos(2t)j
At t = π4 :
π π π
r′ ( ) = −2 sin( )i + 2 cos( )j = −2i
4 2 2

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 The unit tangent vector T is:
π
r′ ( )
T= 4 = p−2i = −i
π
∥r′ ( )∥ (−2)2
4
To find the unit normal vector N, we need r′′ (t):

r′′ (t) = −4 cos(2t)i − 4 sin(2t)j

At t = π4 :
π π π
r′′ ( ) = −4 cos( )i − 4 sin( )j = −4j
4 2 2
Now we can calculate N:
π
T′ r′′ ( )
N= = 4 = p−4j = −j
′
∥T ∥ π
∥r′′ ( )∥ (−4)2
4

2. Evaluate

Solution:
z 4 cos(πw)
(a) lim
(z,w)→(−2,1) ez+w
We can evaluate this limit directly by substituting the point (−2, 1):

z 4 cos(πw) (−2)4 cos(π(1))

lim =
(z,w)→(−2,1) ez+w e(−2+1)
16 · (−1)
=
e−1
= −16e

 
2 2 −1 1
(b) lim tan(x + y ) tan
(x,y)→(0,0) x + y2
2

We can evaluate this limit using two approaches:

• Direct Substitution Approach

As (x, y) → (0, 0), we have:

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 • tan(x2 + y 2 ) → tan(0) = 0
 
1
• tan−1
→ tan−1 (∞) = π
2
x2 + y 2
 
2 2 −1 1 π
Therefore, lim tan(x + y ) tan =0· = 0.
(x,y)→(0,0) x + y2
2 2
• Squeeze Theorem Approach

Let’s consider the absolute value of the expression:

 
π −1 1 π
− ≤ tan ≤
2 x2 + y 2 2
 
π 2 2 2 2 −1 1 π
− tan(x + y ) ≤ tan(x + y ) tan 2 2
≤ tan(x2 + y 2 )
2 x +y 2
Now, we can apply the squeeze theorem:
 
π 1
lim − tan(x2 + y 2 ) ≤ lim tan(x2 + y 2 ) tan−1
(x,y)→(0,0) 2 (x,y)→(0,0) x + y2
2
π
≤ lim tan(x2 + y 2 )
(x,y)→(0,0) 2

Therefore, by the squeeze theorem:

 
2 2 −1 1
0≤ lim tan(x + y ) tan ≤0
(x,y)→(0,0) x + y2
2

Thus  
2 2 −1 1
lim tan(x + y ) tan =0
(x,y)→(0,0) x + y2
2

x2 + y 2
(c) lim p
(x,y)→(0,0) x2 + y 2 + 1 − 1
We can rationalize the denominator:

p
x2 + y 2 x2 + y 2
x2 + y 2 + 1 + 1
lim p = lim p ·p
(x,y)→(0,0) x2 + y 2 + 1 − 1 (x,y)→(0,0) x2 + y 2 + 1 − 1 x2 + y 2 + 1 + 1
p
(x2 + y 2 )( x2 + y 2 + 1 + 1)
= lim
(x,y)→(0,0) x2 + y 2
p
= lim ( x2 + y 2 + 1 + 1)
(x,y)→(0,0)

=2

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 xy
(d) lim
(x,y)→(0,0) 3x2 + 2y 2
We can evaluate this limit using two approaches:

• Let y = mx : Then

xy mx2
lim = lim
(x,y)→(0,0) 3x2 + 2y 2 (x,y)→(0,0) 3x2 + 2m2 x2
m
=
3 + 2m2
Then limit DNE as it depends on m.

• Using polar coordinates: Let x = r cos θ and y = r sin θ:

xy r2 cos θ sin θ
lim = lim
(x,y)→(0,0) 3x2 + 2y 2 r→0 3r 2 cos2 θ + 2r 2 sin2 θ

r2 cos θ sin θ
= lim 2
r→0 r (3 cos2 θ + 2 sin2 θ)

cos θ sin θ
= lim
r→0 3 cos2 θ + 2 sin2 θ

This limit depends on θ, so the limit DNE.

x2 − y 2
3. Find fxy of f (x, y) = xy 2 .
x + y2

Solution: First, we find fx :

x2 − y 2
 
∂
fx = xy 2
∂x x + y2
x2 − y 2 2x(x2 + y 2 ) − 2x(x2 − y 2 )
=y 2 + xy
x + y2 (x2 + y 2 )2
y(x2 − y 2 )(x2 + y 2 ) 4x2 y 3
= +
(x2 + y 2 )2 (x2 + y 2 )2
y(x4 − y 4 ) + 4x2 y 3
=
(x2 + y 2 )2
x4 y − y 5 + 4x2 y 3
=
(x2 + y 2 )2

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 Now we find fxy :

(x2 + y 2 )2 (12x2 y 2 + x4 − 5y 4 ) − (4x2 y 3 + x4 y − y 5 )2(x2 + y 2 )(2y)

fxy =
(x2 + y 2 )4
(x2 + y 2 )(12x2 y 2 + x4 − 5y 4 ) − 4y 2 (4x2 y 2 + x4 − y 4 )
=
(x2 + y 2 )3

4. Find fuuv of f (u, v) = cos(u + v 2 )

Solution:
fu = − sin(u + v 2 )
fuu = − cos(u + v 2 )

∂
fuuv = (− cos(u + v 2 ))
∂v
∂
= sin(u + v 2 ) · (u + v 2 )
∂v
= 2v sin(u + v 2 )

z + z −1
5. Find fxyxzy for f (x, y, z) = y sin(xz) sin(x + z) + (x + z 2 ) tan y + x tan( ).
y − y −1
Hint: Use a well-chosen order on each term.

Solution:
z + z −1
fx = yz cos(xz) sin(x + z) + y sin(xz) cos(x + z) + tan y + tan( )
y − y −1
fxx = −yz 2 sin(xz) sin(x + z) + yz cos(xz) cos(x + z)
+ yz cos(xz) cos(x + z) − y sin(xz) sin(x + z)
fxxy = z 2 sin(xz) sin(x + z) + 2z cos(xz) cos(x + z) − sin(xz) sin(x + z)
fxxyy = 0
fxxyyz = 0

Or consider
f (x, y, z) = g(x, y, z) + h(x, y, z) + k(x, y, z),
where
•g(x, y, z) = y sin(xz) sin(x + z)

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 gy = sin(xz) sin(x + z)
gyy = 0
gxyxzy = 0.

•h(x, y, z) = (x + z 2 ) tan y

hx = tan y
hxx = 0
hxyxzy = 0

z + z −1
•k(x, y, z) = x tan( ).
y − y −1

z + z −1
kx = tan( )
y − y −1
kxx = 0
kxyxzy = 0.

Thus we obtain fxxyyz = 0.

6. Prove that there does not exist any function f (x, y) such that fx = xy and fy = x2 .
Hint: Show that f cannot satisfy Clairaut’s Theorem.

Solution:
fx = xy, fy = x2
fxy = x
fyx = 2x
We can see that fxy ̸= fyx for all x ̸= 0. This contradicts Clairaut’s Theorem, which
requires fxy = fyx for all x and y if f has continuous second partial derivatives. This
proof assumes that the function f should have continuous second partial derivatives.
If we don’t make this assumption, we can’t use Clairaut’s Theorem.

Therefore, our assumption must be false, and there does not exist a function f (x, y)
such that fx = xy and fy = x2 .

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7. Find an equation of the tangent plane at the point P = (2, 1) to the plane

r2 1
f (r, s) = √ + 3 .
s s

Solution: The equation of the tangent plane is:

z = f (2, 1) + fr (2, 1)(r − 2) + fs (2, 1)(s − 1)

2r
fr = √
s
r2 3
fs = − 3/2
− 4
2s s
2(2)
fr (2, 1) = √ = 4
1
22 3
fs (2, 1) = − 3/2
− 4 = −2 − 3 = −5
2(1) 1

Thus
z = 5 + 4(r − 2) − 5(s − 1) = 4r − 5s + 2.

8. Find an equation of the tangent plane at the point P = (0, 3, −1) to the surface

zex + ez+1 = xy − y + 3.

Solution: The equation of the tangent plane is:

Fx (0, 3, −1)(x − 0) + Fy (0, 3, −1)(y − 3) + Fz (0, 3, −1)(z + 1) = 0

Let F (x, y, z) = zex + ez+1 − xy + y − 3 = 0. Then

Fx = zex − y, ⇒ Fx (0, 3, −1) = −1 − 3 = −4

Fy = −x + 1, ⇒ Fy (0, 3, −1) = 1
Fz = ex + ez+1 , ⇒ Fz (0, 3, −1) = 1 + 1 = 2

Thus
−4x + y − 3 + 2(z + 1) = −4x + y + 2z − 1 = 0.

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 9. Find the directional derivative of f (x, y) = x2 + 4y 2 at the point P = (3, 2) in the
direction pointing to the origin.
Solution:
∇f = ⟨fx , fy ⟩ = ⟨2x, 8y⟩
∇f (3, 2) = ⟨6, 16⟩
v = ⟨0 − 3, 0 − 2⟩ = ⟨−3, −2⟩ (direction to origin)
v ⟨−3, −2⟩ ⟨−3, −2⟩
u= =p = √
∥v∥ (−3)2 + (−2)2 13

The directional derivative is:

⟨6, 16⟩ · ⟨−3, −2⟩ −18 − 32 50
Du f (3, 2) = ∇f (3, 2) · u = √ = √ = −√
13 13 13

10. Find the directional derivative of g(x, y, z) = xe−yz in the direction of v = ⟨1, 1, 1⟩ at
the point P = (1, 2, 0).
Solution:
gx = e−yz
gy = −xze−yz
gz = −xye−yz
∇g = ⟨e−yz , −xze−yz , −xye−yz ⟩
∇g(1, 2, 0) = ⟨e0 , −1 · 0 · e0 , −1 · 2 · e0 ⟩ = ⟨1, 0, −2⟩
v ⟨1, 1, 1⟩ ⟨1, 1, 1⟩
u= =√ = √
∥v∥ 2
1 +1 +1 2 2 3
The directional derivative is:
⟨1, 0, −2⟩ · ⟨1, 1, 1⟩ 1+0−2 1
Du g(1, 2, 0) = ∇g(1, 2, 0) · u = √ = √ = −√
3 3 3

11. Find a function f (x, y, z) such that ∇f = ⟨z, 2y, x⟩.

Solution: We need to find f such that:
∂f ∂f ∂f
= z, = 2y, =x
∂x ∂y ∂z
Integrating each component: The function f (x, y, z) is:
f (x, y, z) = xz + y 2 + C.

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 ∂z ∂z
12. Find and of F (x, y, z) = xz 2 + y 2 z + xy − 1 = 0.
∂x ∂y
Solution: Using implicit differentiation:
∂z
For :
∂x
∂z Fx z2 + y
=− =−
∂x Fz 2xz + y 2
∂z
For :
∂y
∂z Fy 2yz + x
=− =−
∂y Fz 2xz + y 2

∂g
13. Find at (u, v) = (0, 1) where g(x, y) = x2 − y 2 , x = eu cos v, y = eu sin v.
∂u
Solution: Using the chain rule:
∂g ∂g ∂x ∂g ∂y
= +
∂u ∂x ∂u ∂y ∂u
Calculate each term:
∂g
= 2x
∂x
∂g
= −2y
∂y
∂x
= eu cos v
∂u
∂y
= eu sin v
∂u
Substitute u = 0, v = 1:
x = e0 cos 1 = cos 1
y = e0 sin 1 = sin 1
∂g
Now, evaluate ∂u
at (0, 1):
∂g
= 2x · eu cos v + (−2y) · eu sin v
∂u
= 2 cos 1 · cos 1 + (−2 sin 1) · sin 1
= 2 cos2 1 − 2 sin2 1
= 2(cos2 1 − sin2 1), cos2 x − sin2 x = cos(2x)
= 2 cos 2

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© 2024 [Sutthirut Charoenphon]. This material is for use only by students and faculty of
MATH251. Any distribution, reproduction, or sharing outside this course is prohibited
without prior consent from the author.

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