Northwestern University

Math 230 Final exam

December 9, 2015

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Instructions:

This exam has 13 problems and 16 pages. Please make sure that all pages are in-
cluded.
Read each problem carefully.
Write legibly.
Cross off anything you do not wish graded.
Write in complete sentences.
You may not use books, notes, calculators or phones.
You have 120 minutes to complete this exam.
DO NOT write outside of the box on each page.
Show ALL your work to receive credit! No credit will be given for answers with no
work shown, unless noted in the problem.

Good luck!
Problem 2 (16 points)
(a) Consider the curve
r = 2 cos
in polar coordinates. Write an equation for the curve in Cartesian coordinates x, y and
sketch the curve on the xy-plane.

Sketch the curve:

Cartesian equation: ( x 1)2 + y2 = 1

(b) Consider the surface
3
=
4
in spherical coordinates. Write an equation for the surface in Cartesian coordinates x, y, z
and sketch the surface.

Sketch the surface:

p
Cartesian equation: z = x 2 + y2
Problem 4 (15 points) Consider the following space curves

r1 (t) = ht, 1 t, 3 + t2 i, r2 (s) = h3 s, s 2, s2 i.

(a) Find the unit tangent vector T1 of the curve r1 at the point P(0, 1, 3).

The point P(0, 1, 3) corresponds to t = 0. We have r10 (t) = h1, 1, 2ti so that

r10 (0) h1, 1, 0i

T1 (0) = 0 = .
||r1 (0)|| 2

5 points for the correct answer. -2 points if the tangent vector at t = 0 has not been
normalized.

(b) Find the principal unit normal vector N1 of r1 at P. Hint: To simplify your calcula-

0
tions, use the product rule f (t)v(t) = f 0 (t)v(t) + f (t)v0 (t), and plug in the value
of t at an opportune step of the computation.

We have
d d 1 3 1
T10 (t) = T1 (t) = (2 + 4t2 ) 2 h1, 1, 2ti = 4t(2 + 4t2 ) 2 h1, 1, 2ti + (2 + 4t2 ) 2 h0, 0, 2i.
dt dt
1
Hence, T10 (0) = 2 2 h0, 0, 2i = 2h0, 0, 1i, so that

T10 (0)
N1 (0) = = h0, 0, 1i.
||T10 (0)||

7 points for the correct answer. 2 points if a correct general formula for N was
provided.

(c) At what point do the two curves r1 and r2 intersect?

We want to solve the system t = 3 s, 1 t = s 2 and 3 + t2 = s2 . Plugging the

first equation in the third one yields 3 + (3 s)2 = s2 , i.e. 3 + 9 6s + s2 = s2 , which
means that s = 2 and t = 1. Thus, the curves intersect at the point

r1 (1) = r2 (2) = h1, 0, 4i.

3 points for the correct answer. 1 point if the system of equations to be solved has
been written down properly. 0 otherwise.
Problem 5 (15 points) Consider the curve C given by the graph of y = e x . Note that we
can parametrize this curve in 3-dimensions by setting z = 0.

(a) Write an expression for the length of the curve C from x = 0 to x = 1. Do not evaluate
the integral.

t 0 t 0
can parametrize this curve by r(t) = ht, e , 0i. Then, r (t) = h1, e , 0i and ||r (t)|| =
We
1 + e2t . The length L of C between x = 0 and x = 1 is thus given by the following
integral
Z 1 Z 1p
0
L= ||r (t)||dt = 1 + e2t dt.
0 0

5 points for a correct answer. Only one point if the general integral is correct, but
without the explicit computation of the magnitude of the tangent vector.

(b) Find the curvature of the curve at x = 1.

We have r00 (t) = h0, et , 0i so that

r0 (t) r00 (t) = h0, 0, et i.

Thus, the general expression for the curvature is

||r0 (t) r00 (t)|| et

(t) = = 3 .
||r0 (t)||3 (1 + e2t ) 2
Since x = 1 corresponds to t = 1, we have
e
(1) = 3 .
(1 + e2 ) 2

5 points for the correct answer. 2 points for a valid curvature formula but with a
computation mistake.

(c) Calculate the limit of the curvature as x .

As x , the graph of y = e x becomes asymptotically horizontal. We should

expect the curvature to tend to 0. Indeed,

et
lim (t) = lim 3 = 0.
t t (1 + e2t ) 2
5 points for the correct answer. It is also ok if the student argues solely geometrically
using the graph of y = e x to justify the correct answer. 3 points if the limit is computed
properly, but taken on an incorrect expression for the curvature computed in b).
Problem 6 (15 points)
Find the equations of the planes that are parallel to the plane

x + 2y 2z = 1
and that are at a distance of 2 units away from it. Note that there are two such
planes.

Solution. Without loss of generality, assume that the parallel planes are of
the form (3pts)
x + 2y 2z =
The distance between parallel planes is given by (3pts)
D = |D 2 D1 |
a2 +b2 +c2
Plugging in values,
2 = 2 |1|
2 2
1 +2 +(2)
Isolating
6 = | 1|
Thus, (4pt)
= {5, 7}
And the equations of the planes are (5pts)
x + 2y 2z = 5
and
x + 2y 2z = 7
(-1) for algebra mistakes
(-3) for only one plane

1
Problem 7 (15 points) It is the final game of the 2016 World Series, where the Cubs face
the White Sox in an all-Chicago battle. At the end of the 9th inning, a Cubs batter hits the
baseball, which is 4 ft above the ground, towards the center field fence of Wrigley Field.
The fence is 8 ft high and 330 ft from the batter. If the ball clears the fence, it is a home run
and the Cubs win; otherwise, the ball is caught for the last out and the White Sox win.
The ball left the bat with speed 66 2 ft/s at an angle of 45 above the horizontal. Who
wins the World Series? You may assume that the gravitational constant is g = 30 f t/s2 .

Solution. The acceleration of the ball at time t is given by

a(t) = h0, 30i,

where the y-coordinate represents the height above the ground. The initial velocity of the
ball is given by
v(0) = h66 2 cos 45 , 66 2 sin 45 i = h66, 66i.
Integrating a(t), we see that

v(t) = h0, 30ti + h66, 66i = h66, 66 30ti.

The initial position of the ball (taking the origin to be the home plate) is r(0) = h0, 4i.
Integrating v(t) we obtain

r(t) = h66t, 66t 15t2 i + h0, 4i = h66t, 4 + 66t 15t2 i.

The ball is at the fence of the stadium when the x-coordinate is 330, which occurs when
t = 5. At this point the height of the ball is

4 + 66 5 15 (52 ) = 4 + 330 375 < 0,

which means that the ball will have hit the ground before it gets to the fence.
So the White Sox win!
Problem 8 (15 points) Determine the value of the constant c, if it exists, such that the
following function is continuous everywhere. Justify your answer.
4 4

x +y

if ( x, y) 6= (0, 0)
2
f ( x, y) = ( x 2 + y2 ) 3

c if ( x, y) = (0, 0)

(3 pts) If ( x, y) 6= (0, 0) then the function f is continuous at ( x, y), since it is a ratio of

two continuous functions, and denominator is non zero.
x 4 + y4
The function f is continuous at (0,0) if the limit lim( x,y)(0,0) 2 exists, and
( x 2 + y2 ) 3
equals to c.

(2 pts) We have x = r cos( ), y = r sin( ).

 
4
x 4 + y4 r4 cos4 ( ) + r4 sin4 ( ) r4 (cos4 ) + sin ( )
lim 2 = lim 2 = lim 2 =
( x,y)(0,0)( x 2 + y2 ) 3 ( x,y)(0,0) (r2 cos2 ( ) + r2 sin2 ( )) 3 ( x,y)(0,0) (r 2 ) 3
 
r4 cos4 ( ) + sin4 ( )  
4 34 4 4
= lim 4
= lim r cos ( ) + sin ( ) =
( x,y)(0,0) r 3 ( x,y)(0,0)
8
 
4 4
= lim r cos ( ) + sin ( ) (6 pts)
3
( x,y)(0,0)

Since | sin( )| 1 and | cos( )| 1 for any , we have

8
  8 8
0 r 3 cos4 ( ) + sin4 ( ) r 3 (14 + 14 ) = 2r 3

If ( x, y) (0, 0) then r 0. So lim( x,y)(0,0) r8/3 = 0. Thus the limit is 0 (2 pts) .

So for c = 0 the function f is continuous everywhere (2 pts).
 Method 2:
(3 pts) If ( x, y) 6= (0, 0) then the function f is continuous at ( x, y), since it is a ratio of two
continuous functions, and denominator is non zero.
x 4 + y4
The function f is continuous at (0,0) if the limit lim( x,y)(0,0) 2 exists, and
( x 2 + y2 ) 3
equals to c.

x 4 + y4 x4 y4
lim 2 = lim 2 + lim 2 (2 pts).
( x,y)(0,0) ( x 2 + y2 ) 3 ( x,y)(0,0) ( x 2 + y2 ) 3 ( x,y)(0,0) ( x 2 + y2 ) 3

x4 x4 2 8
0 2 2 = | x |4 3 = | x | 3 (4 pts),
( x 2 + y2 ) 3 ( x2 ) 3

y4 y4 2 8
0 2 2 = |y|4 3 = |y| 3 (4 pts).
( x 2 + y2 ) 3 ( y2 ) 3

x4 y4
By the squeeze theorem lim 2 = 0 and lim 2 = 0.
( x 2 + y2 ) 3
( x,y)(0,0) ( x,y)(0,0) ( x2 + y2 ) 3
So for c = 0 the function f is continuous everywhere (2 pts).
Problem 9 (15 points) The two legs of a right triangle are measured as 3 m and 4 m with
a possible error in measurement of at most 0.002 m in each. Use differentials to estimate
the maximum error in the calculated value of the length of the hypotenuse. Write your
answer as a decimal.

Solution. The hypotenuse (h) in terms of its legs (x, y) is: h2 = x2 + y2 . Then:

2hdh = 2xdx + 2ydy.

When ( x, y) = (3, 4), so h = 5, with a possible measurement error dx = dy = 0.002:

1 14
dh = (6dx + 8dy) = (0.002) = 0.0028 m.
10 10
Problem 10 (15 points) Katniss and Peeta find themselves on a mountain.

(a) According to their phone, the gradient of the temperature at their current location
points in the northeast direction. Circle your answers to the following questions.
Peeta opts for lower temperatures. In which direction(s) can he walk in order to ex-
perience the largest decrease in temperature?

Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest

3 points for the correct answer.

Katniss, however, prefers constant temperature. In which direction(s) can she walk to
avoid a change in temperature?

Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest

3 points for the correct answer. 1 point for one of them but not the other. 0 for anything else.

(b) The mountain is in the shape of the graph of the function

f ( x, y) = 2000 5x2 + xy 6y2

where x and y are measured in meters. Katniss notices a mountain lion whose posi-
tion on the mountain is given by

x = t, y = 2t

where t is measured in minutes. Suppose that the mountain lion reaches the point
x = 1, y = 2. At what rate is the elevation of the lion changing at this point?

Solution 1. (9 points) Using the chain rule,

df f dx f dy
= + .
dt x dt y dt
f f f f
But x = 10x + y so x (1, 2) = 10 + 2 = 8. And y = x 12y so y (1, 2) = 1 24 =
dx dy
23. We have dt =1 and dt = 2. At (1, 2), which corresponds to t = 1, we have

df
= (8)(1) + (23) (2) = 54.
dt
Hence the elevation of the lion is changing at a rate of 54 meters per minute. (i.e. de-
creasing at a rate of 54m/min).
Solution 2. (9 points) The elevation of the lion at time t is given by

f (t) = 2000 5t2 + t(2t) 6(2t)2 = 2000 27t2 .

Compute f 0 (t) = 54t. The lion is at the point (1, 2) when t = 1, and f 0 (1) = 54. Hence
the elevation of the lion is changing at a rate of 54 meters per minute.
Problem 11 (16 points) Consider the surface given by cos( xyz) = x2 + y2 z2 .

(a) Find an equation for the plane tangent to this surface at the point P(1, 0, 0).

Solution. The surface is F ( x, y, z) = x2 + y2 z2 cos( xyz) = 0. The normal vector to

the tangent plane of the surface at P(1, 0, 0) is:

F ( P) =< 2x + sin( xyz)yz, 2yz2 + sin( xyz) xz, 2zy2 + sin( xyz) xy > | P =< 2, 0, 0 > .

Therefore the plane is: 2( x 1) + 0(y 0) + 0(z 0) = 0, which simplifies to x = 1.

x
(b) The equation of the surface implicitly defines x as a function of y and z. Find at P.
y
Solution. Here we use the chain rule with independent variables y, z:

x Fy ( P) 2yz2 + sin( xyz) xz 

( P) = =  = 0.
y Fx ( P) 2x + sin( xyz)yz P

Alternatively, you could find

y (cos( xyz ) = x2 + y2 z2 ), which is:
 
x x
sin( xyz) yz + xz = 2x + 2yz2 .
y y
x
Evaluating at P, we get y ( P ) = 0.
Problem 12 (16 points) Find and classify (i.e., local maximum, local minimum, saddle
point, or inconclusive) all critical points of the function

f ( x, y) = x2 y xy2 3xy

Solution

f x ( x, y) = 2xy y2 3y = y(2x y 3)
f y ( x, y) = x2 2xy 3x = x ( x 2y 3)

If f x = f y = 0, there are 4 possibilities:

1. y = 0 and x = 0 = (0, 0)

2. y = 0 and x 2y 3 = 0 = (3, 0)

3. 2x y 3 = 0 and x = 0 = (0, 3)

4. 2x y 3 = 0 and x 2y 3 = 0 = (1, 1)

D ( x, y) = f xx ( x, y) f yy ( x, y) [ f xy ( x, y)]2 , and

f xx = 2y
f yy = 2x
f xy = 2x 2y 3

1. D (0, 0) = (0)(0) (3)2 = 9 < 0 = (0, 0) is a saddle

2. D (3, 0) = (0)(6) (3)2 = 9 < 0 = (3, 0) is a saddle

3. D (0, 3) = (6)(0) (3)2 = 9 < 0 = (0, 3) is a saddle

4. D (1, 1) = (2)(2) (1)2 = 3 > 0 and f xx (1, 1) = 2 < 0

= (0, 0) is a local maximum
Problem 13 (16 points) Find the maximum and minimum values of

f ( x, y, z) = x4 + y4 + z4

over the closed ball x2 + y2 + z2 3. Justify your answer fully.

First, we find the critical points. We have f = h4x3 , 4y3 , 4z3 i, so the only critical
point is (0, 0, 0). At the critical point, f ( x, y, z) = 0.

Second, we use Lagrange multipliers to find possible locations of the maximum and
minimum values on the boundary.
If we let g( x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2 3, then the boundary is given by g( x, y, z) = 0. We
are looking for points on the boundary where f = g. This equation is

h4x3 , 4y3 , 4z3 i = h2x, 2y, 2zi

Thus 4x3 = 2x, 4y3 = 2y, and 4z3 = 2z. It follows that x2 = y2 = z2 = 21 , or at least
one of x, y, and z is zero.
In the first case, since we also need x2 + y2 + z2 = 3, we must have 32 = 3, and = 2.
Then x, y, and z are each 1. At these points, f ( x, y, z) = 3.
In the second case, if one of the variables is zero (say, z), then x2 = y2 = 32 . At these
points, f ( x, y, z) = 92 .

Finally, if two of the variables are zero, then the third one is 3, and f ( x, y, z) = 9.

Thus the minimum value is 0, and the maximum is 9.

Grading:

2 points for finding the critical point

4 points for the equation f = g and understanding what to do with it

6 points for solving the resulting equations

4 points for checking the relevant points and finding the answer