vector function of one variables
1. r(t) is the position vector in the xy-plane/space at time t. Find an equation in x and y whose
graph is the path of the particle. Then find the particle’s velocity and acceleration vectors at
the given value of t:
(a) r(t) = (t + 1)î + (t2 − 1)ĵ, t = 1.
(b) r(t) = et î + 2/9e2t ĵ, t = ln 3.
(c) r(t) = 2 cos tî + 3 sin tĵ + 4tk̂, t = π/2 .
(d) r(t) = 2 ln(t + 1)î + t2 ĵ + t2 /2k̂, t = 1.
2. Integrate vector-valued √ functions:
Z 1" #
2 3
(a) √ î + ĵ .
0 1 − t2 1 + t2
Z π/3 h i
(b) sec(t) tan(t) î + tan(t) ĵ + (2sin(t)cos(t)) k̂ .
0
3. Show that the vector-valued function
! !
1 1 1 1 1
r(t) = (2 î + 2 ĵ + k̂) + cos(t) √ î − √ ĵ + sin(t) √ î + √ ĵ + √ k̂
2 2 3 3 3
describes the motion of a particle moving in the circle of radius 1 and centered at the point
(2,2,1) and lying in the plane x + y − 2z = 2.
4. A particle traveling in a straight line is located at the point (1,-1,2) and has speed 2 at time
t=0. The particle moves toward the point (3,0,3) with constant acceleration 2 î + ĵ + k̂. Find
its position vector r(t) at time t.
5. Find the unit tangent vector and length of the indicated
√ portion of the curve:
(a) r(t) = (t sin t + cos t) î + (tcos(t) − sin(t))ĵ. 2 ≤ t ≤ 2.
(b) r(t) = 6t3 î − 2t3 ĵ − 3t3 k̂, 1 ≤ t ≤ 2.
6. Find the point on the curve r(t) = 12sin(t) î − 12 cos(t) ĵ + 5tk̂ at a distance 13π units along
the curve from the origin in the direction opposite to the direction of increasing arc length.
7. Find T, N, B and curvature (κ) and torsion (τ ) for the following curves:
(a) r(t) = ln(sect) î + t ĵ, −π/2 < t < π/2.
(b) r(t) = (cosh(t) î − sinh(t) ĵ + t k̂.
(c) r(t) = (cos(t) + t sin(t)) î + (sin(t) − t cos(t)) ĵ + 3k̂.
8. Show that the curvature of a smooth curve r(t) = f (t) î+g(t) ĵ defined by twice-differentiable
function x = f (t) and y = g(t) is given by the formula
|ẋÿ − ẏẍ|
κ=
(ẋ2 + ẏ 2 )3/2
9. Show that the parabola y = ax2 , a ̸= 0, has its largest curvature at its vertex and has no
minimum curvature.
10. Find the tangential and normal component √ of acceleration without finding T, N:
(a) r(t) = (et cos(t)) î + (et sin(t)) ĵ + 2et k̂, t = 0
(b) r(t) = (t + 1) î + 2t ĵ + t2 k̂, t = 1
11. Find the equation for the osculating, normal and rectifying planes at that value of t:
(a) r(t) = (cos(t)) î + (sin(t)) ĵ − k̂, t = π/4
(b) r(t) = (cos(t)) î + (sin(t)) ĵ + t k̂, t = 0
Maxima and Minima
1. Find all the local maxima, local minima and saddle points of the functions:
(a) f(x,y)=2xy − 5x2 − 2y 2 + 4x − 4
(b) f (x, y) = 1/(x2 + y 2 − 1)
(c) f (x, y) = e2x cos(y)
(d) f (x, y) = x4 + y 4 + 4xy
(e) f (x, y) = 1/x + xy + 1/y
(f) f (x, y) = 8x3 + y 3 + 6xy
2. Find the absolute maxima and minima of the functions:
(a) f (x, y) = x2 +y 2 on the closed triangular plate bounded by the lines x = 0, y = 0, y+2x = 2
in the first quadrant.
(b) f (x, y) = (4x − x2 )cos(y) on the rectangular plate 1 ≤ x ≤ 3, − π/4 ≤ y ≤ π/4.
3. Find two numbers a and b with a ≤ b such that
Z b
(24 − 2x − x2 )1/3 dx
a
has its largest value.
4. For what values of the constant k does the second derivative test guarantee that f (x, y) =
x2 + kxy + y 2 will have a saddle point at (0,0)? A local minima at (0,0)? For what values of
k is the second derivative test in conclusive? Give reason.
5. The function f (x, y) = x + y fails to have an absolute maximum value in the closed first
quadrant x ≥ 0 and y ≥ 0. Does this contradicts the discussion on finding absolute extrema?
Give reasons.
6. Consider the function f (x, y) = x2 + y 2 + 2xy − x − y + 1 over the square 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and
0 ≤ y ≤ 1.
Show that f has an absolute minimum along the line segment 2x + 2y = 1 in this square.
What is the absolute minimum value? Find its absolute maximum value over the square.
7. Find the absolute maxima and minima of the following functions on the given curves;
(a) f(x,y)= 2x2 + y 2 (b) g(x,y)=xy
Curves:
(i) The semicircle x2 + y 2 = 4, y ≥ 0
(ii) The quarter circle x2 + y 2 = 4, y ≥ 0, x ≥ 0
8. (a) Find the point on the curve x2 y = 54 nearest to origin.
(b) Find the dimensions of the rectangle of largest perimeter that can be inscribed in the
inscribed in the ellipse x2 /a2 + y 2 /b2 = 1 with side parallel to the coordinates axes. What is
the largest perimeter?
(c) Find the maximum and minimum values of x2 + y 2 subject to the constraint x2 − 2x +
y 2 − 4y = 0.
9. (a) Find the point on the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 4 farthest from the point (1, −1, 1).
(b) Find three real numbers whose sum is 9 and sum of whose squares is as small as possible.
(c) Find the dimensions of the closed rectangular box with maximum volume that can be
inscribed in the unit sphere.
(d) Find the point closed to the origin on the curves of intersection of the plane 2y + 4z = 5
and the cone z 2 = 4x2 + 4y 2 .
(e) Minimize the function f (x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 + z 2 subject to the constraints
x + 2y + 3z = 6, x + 3y + 9z = 9
(f) Find the maximum value that f (x, y, z) = x2 + 2y − z 2 can have on the line of intersection
of planes 2x-y=0 and y+z=0.
