2011 Endsem Paper
2011 Endsem Paper
ln x
1. (i) Consider the function f : (0, ∞) → R defined by f (x) = . Find the intervals in (0, ∞)
x
where f is convex and the intervals in (0, ∞) where f is concave. Justify your answers.
[2 marks]
(ii) For each n ∈ N, let fn : [0, 1] → R be the function defined by
k
1 if x = for some integer k with 0 ≤ k ≤ n!,
fn (x) = n!
0 otherwise.
(a) Show that for each n ∈ N, the function fn is Riemann-integrable on [0, 1] and determine
Z 1
fn (x)dx.
0
(b) Determine the values of x ∈ [0, 1] for which the limit lim fn (x) exists. Suppose we
n→∞
denote lim fn (x) by f (x). Then does f define a Riemann-integrable function on [0, 1]?
n→∞
Justify your answers. [3 marks]
Solution: (i) Clearly, f is twice differentiable on (0, ∞) and
1 − ln x 2 ln x − 3
f 0 (x) = and f 00 (x) = for x ∈ (0, ∞). [1]
x2 x3
Hence
3 3
f 00 (x) < 0 when ln x < , i.e., x < e3/2 and f 00 (x) > 0 when ln x > , i.e., x > e3/2 .
2 2
and thus
f is concave on (0, e3/2 ) and convex on (e3/2 , ∞). [1]
(ii) For a fixed n ∈ N, there are only finitely many numbers of the form k/n! where k is
an integer with 0 ≤ k ≤ n!. Thus fn (x) = 0 for all except finitely many values of x and in
particular,
R1 fn has at most finitely many discontinuities. Hence fn is Riemann-integrable
and 0 fn (x)dx = 0 for all n ∈ N. [1]
Now let x ∈ [0, 1]. To determine if lim fn (x) exists, we consider two cases:
n→∞
Case 1: x is rational, say x = p/q where p, q are integers with p ≥ 0, q > 0, and q ≥ p.
In this case, for each n ≥ q, we can write x = k/n! for some integer k with 0 ≤ k ≤ n!.
Hence fn (x) = 1 for all n ≥ q and so in this case lim fn (x) = 1. [1]
n→∞
Case 2: x is irrational.
In this case, fn (x) = 0 for all n ∈ N and so lim fn (x) = 0.
n→∞
It follows that f (x) := lim fn (x) exists for all x ∈ [0, 1] and is given by
n→∞
(
1 if x is rational,
f (x) =
0 if x is irrational.
Thus f is the Dirichlet function, which is not Riemann integrable on [0, 1]. [1]
1
2. (i) Suppose f : R2 → R is such that the first order partial derivatives fx and fy exist and are
nonnegative at every point of R2 . Prove that
Now, using the Mean Value Theorem [applied to the real-valued functions x 7→ f (x, b + k)
and y 7→ f (a, y) on the intervals [a, a + h] and [b, b + k], respectively), the RHS above can
be written as
hfx (α, b + k) + kfy (a, β) for some α ∈ (a, a + h) and β ∈ (b, b + k). [1]
Since fx ≥ 0 and fy ≥ 0 on R2 and also since h > 0 and k > 0, it follows that
p p
(ii) For any x, y ∈ R, we have |x| ≤ x2 + y 2 and |y| ≤ x2 + y 2 . Hence
p
|f (x, y)| ≤ x2 + y 2 for all (x, y) ∈ R2
and so by Sandwich Theorem, it follows that lim f (x, y) exists and is equal to
(x,y)→(0,0)
f (0, 0) = 0. Thus f is continuous at (0, 0). [1]
Next, for any h, k ∈ R with h 6= 0 and k 6= 0, we have
2
3. Let φ : R3 → R be a differentiable scalar field and let P, Q, R, S, and T denote the points
(1, 2, 1), (1, 2, 2), (1, 1, 2), (2, 2, 0), and (2, 2, 3), respectively. Suppose the directional derivatives
−−→ −→ −→
of φ at P in the directions of P Q, P R, and P S are 1, √12 , and 0, respectively. Then find a unit
vector u such that the directional derivative of φ at P in the direction of u has the maximum
−→
magnitude. Also, compute the directional derivative of φ at P in the direction of P T . [5 marks]
Solution: Since φ is differentiable, for any unit vector u in R3 , the directional derivative
Du φ(P ) exists and is equal to ∇φ(P ) · u.
−−→ −→ −→
Now let ∇φ(P ) = ai + bj + ck. The unit vectors in the direction of P Q, P R, and P S are
−j + k i−k
u−
−→ = k,
PQ
u−→ =
PR
√ , and u−→ = √
PS
[1]
2 2
Using the given values of directional derivatives of φ at P and the relation Du φ(P ) =
∇φ(P ) · u, we obtain
|Du φ(P )| = |∇φ(P )| cos θ where θ is the angle between ∇φ(P ) and u,
3
4. Let p, q be real numbers such that p > 1 and q > 1.
ap bq
ab ≤ + for all a, b ∈ (0, ∞). [2 marks]
p q
1 1 a b
(ii) Suppose + = 1. Given any a, b ∈ (0, ∞), consider x = 1/p
and y = .
p q (ab) (ab)1/q
Note that x, y ∈ (0, ∞) and xy = 1. Hence from part (i) above, we obtain
1 1 xp y q ap bq ap bq
1= + ≤ + = + and so ab ≤ + . [2]
p q p q abp abq p q
4
5. (i) Consider the vector field F = (2xy +z 3 )i+x2 j+3xz 2 k on R3 . Determine a potential function
φ on R3 such that F = ∇φ. Also, find the work done by the vector field F in moving an
object from (1, −2, 1) to (3, 1, 4). [3 marks]
(ii) A vector field v on R3 is the product of a differentiable scalar field ψ and the gradient of a
scalar field φ, where φ has continuous first and second order partial derivatives. Compute
the real number v · curl v. [2 marks]
5
6. Let C be the astroid given by the parametric equations
(i) Using Green’s theorem, find the area of the planar region bounded by the closed curve C.
[3 marks]
(ii) Evaluate the line integral I
(2x + y 2 )dy − (2x2 + y)dx. [2 marks]
C
Solution: (i) Let R be the region bounded by C. Observe that C is a piecewise smooth
closed simple curve, which is oriented clockwise. Hence using Green’s theorem applied to
the vector field F(x, y) = xi, we get
Z
Area(R) = xdy , [1]
C−
where C − denotes the given curve C, but with opposite orientation. Hence
Z 0
Area(R) = 2 sin3 θ (2)(3) cos2 θ(− sin θ) dθ [1]
2π
Z 2π
= 12 sin4 θ cos2 θ dθ
0
Z 2π
= 12 [sin4 θ − sin6 θ] dθ
0
3 53 3π
= 12 π − π = . [1]
4 64 2
Changing the orientation of C and then applying Green’s theorem (normal form), we find
I I
2 2
(2x + y )dy − (2x + y)dx = − (2x + y 2 )dy − (2x2 + y)dx
C C−
ZZ
= − (div F)d(x, y) [1]
R
ZZ
= − (2 + 1)d(x, y)
R
9π
= −3 Area(R) = − . [1]
2
6
7. Let S be the surface given by x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9, 1 ≤ x ≤ 2, and let n beZthe
Z outward unit normal
to S. If F = (xi + yj + zk) × (i + j), then compute the surface integral (∇ × F) · n dS, using
S
Stokes’ theorem. [5 marks]
and C2 is parametrized by
√ √
r2 (θ) = 2i + 5 cos(2π − θ)j + 5 sin(2π − θ)k, 0 ≤ θ ≤ 2π. [1]
Now
Z Z 2π
F · ds = F(r1 (θ)) · r01 (θ) dθ
C1 0
Z 2π √ √ √ √ √
= [−2 2 sin θi + 2 2 sin θj + (1 − 2 2 cos θ)k] · [−2 2 sin θj + 2 2 cos θk]dθ
0
= −8 × 2π = −16π . [1]
and
Z Z 2π
F · ds = F(r2 (θ)) · r02 (θ) dθ
C2 0
Z 2π √ √ √ √ √
= [ 5 sin θi − 5 sin θj + (2 − 5 cos θ)k] · [− 5 sin θj − 5 cos θk]dθ
0
= 5 × 2π = 10π . [1]
Hence ZZ Z Z
∇ × F · n dS = F · ds + F · ds = −16π + 10π = −6π . [1]
S C1 C2
7
8. The sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 25 is intersected by the plane z = 3. Consider the solid R bounded by
the closed surface S0 = S1 ∪ S2 , where S1 is the part of the sphere corresponding to z ≥ 3, and
S2 is the part of the plane z = 3 lying on or inside the sphere. If the outward unit normal to R is
cos αi + cos βj + cos γk, then compute the value of the surface integral
ZZ
(xz cos α + yz cos β + cos γ) dS
S
when (a) S is the spherical cap S1 , and (b) S is the planar base S2 . Furthermore, compute the
value of this surface integral when S is the complete boundary S0 by using (a) and (b), and also
by using the Gauss’ divergence theorem. [5 marks]
Solution: Clearly, both S1 and S2 project onto the disc E := {(x, y) ∈ R2 : x2 + y 2 ≤ 16}
in the xy-plane.
p
(a) The spherical cap S1 is given by z = f (x, y), (x, y) ∈ E, where f (x, y) = 25 − x2 − y 2 ,
and so the unit outward normal n = cos α i + cos βj + cos γk to S1 is
x y
−fx i − fy j + k z i+ z j+k
x y
n= q =q and n dS = i + j + k d(x, y).
1 + fx2 + fy2 1 + fx2 + fy2 z z
Consequently,
ZZ ZZ
x y
(xz cos α + yz cos β + cos γ) dS = xz + yz + 1 d(x, y)
S1 z z
Z ZE
x2 + y 2 + 1 d(x, y)
=
E
Z 2π Z 4
2 1
= (r + 1)r dr dθ = 144π. [1 ]
0 0 2
(b) The planar base S2 is given by z = 3, (x, y) ∈ E, and the unit outward normal n =
cos α i + cos βj + cos γk to S2 is simply n = −k, while n dS = −k d(x, y). Consequently,
ZZ ZZ
(xz cos α + yz cos β + cos γ) dS = −d(x, y) = −Area(E) = −16π. [1]
S2 E