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1. (a) Find the area of the triangle P QR if P = (2, 1, 5), Q = (1, 3, 4), R = (3, 0, 6).
(5 points)
Solution:
P~Q = 3i + 2j k, P~R = i j + k.
The area of the triangle P QR is 21 |P~Q P~R|.
In this case, |P~Q P~R| = |i + 2j + k| =
6/2.
(b) Justify whether the collection of all points (x, y, z) that are equidistant from the
origin and (2,4,6) describes a line or a plane. If your answer is a line, then find
its parametric representation. If your answer is a plane, find its equation.
(5 points)
Solution:
The collection of all points equidistant from two points A and B is a plane,
passing through the midpoint of the line segment AB and perpendicular to
this line.
Accordingly, in this case the plane passes through (1, 2, 3) and is normal to
i + 2j + 3k.
The equation of the plane is therefore
(x 1) + 2(y 2) + 3(z 3) = 0,
or
x + 2y + 3z = 14.
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 2 of 11 pages
p
1 x2 y 2
1 x2 y 2 1
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 3 of 11 pages
(c) Sketch the level curves of f where the function assumes the values 0,
all three curves on the same diagram, with clear labels.
3
,
2
and 1. Plot
(5 points)
Solution:
The level curves are given by f (x, y) = k, where k is a constant, or
p
1 x2 y 2 = k
1 x2 y 2 = k 2
x2 + y 2 = 1 k 2
2
2
k = 0:
x + y = 1, circle of radius 1 centred at the origin
k = 23 : x2 + y 2 = 14 , circle of radius 12 centred at the origin
k = 1: x2 + y 2 = 0, one point (0, 0)
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 4 of 11 pages
z
(2, 1)
x
We have:
z
= 6x,
x
z
(2, 1) = 12.
x
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 5 of 11 pages
4. The productivity (measured in the dollar value of goods produced) of a certain country
is given by the function
1
3
f (x, y) = 160x 4 y 4 ,
where x denotes the amount (in dollars) invested in labor, and y is the amount invested
in capital. The marginal productivity of labor is the rate of change of productivity
with respect to labor, holding the amount of capital fixed. Similarly, the marginal
productivity of capital is the rate of change of productivity with respect to capital, for
a fixed investment of labor.
(a) Suppose that the country is currently utilizing 81 units of labor and 16 units
of capital. Find the current marginal productivity of labor and also the current
marginal productivity of capital.
(5 points)
Solution:
The marginal productivity of labor = fx (81, 16) and the marginal productivity of
capital = fy (81, 16).
1
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 6 of 11 pages
(b) Suppose that the government has the following two policy options,
Policy I: increase labor by 1 unit without changing capital, and
Policy II: increase labor by
1
2
1
3
units.
Using the marginal productivities obtained in part (a) and the concept of differentials,
find approximations for the changes in productivity under each of these policies. Based
on these approximations, which policy should the government encourage for higher
productivity?
(5+1=6 points)
Solution:
We need to use the differential formula df = fx dx + fy dy.
For policy I, estimated change in productivity = 80(1) + 135(0) = 80.
For policy II, estimated change in productivity = 80( 21 ) + 135( 13 ) = 40 + 45 = 85.
Thus the second policy would result in higher productivity.
(c) Find all vectors v with the property |v| = |f (81, 16)| that point in the direction of
no change in productivity from its current value.
(4 points)
Solution:
The direction should be perpendicular to f (81, 16).
In this case the two directions are h135, 80i.
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 7 of 11 pages
5. For each of the short-answer questions below put your answer in the box provided
and show your work. No credit will be given for the answer without the correct
accompanying work.
(a) Does
xy 2
(x,y)(0,0) x2 + y 4
lim
exist? If it does, find its value. If not, write does not exist in the box and give
reasons why.
(8 points)
Answer:
does not exist
Solution:
We will test the limiting behavior of the function on different paths. In particular,
let us try the parabolic paths x = my 2 , where m 6= 0 is an arbitrary constant.
On these paths,
xy 2
my 4
m
=
=
,
x2 + y 4
m2 y 4 + y 4
m2 + 1
which depends on m. Since the value of the function on a parabolic path depends
on the parameter associated to the path, the limit does not exist.
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 8 of 11 pages
(b) The radius r and height h of an aluminum can (a piece of a a circular cylinder, with
the ends included) are changing in time. At a particular time, the radius is increasing
at a rate of 20 cm/hr, the height is decreasing at rate of 30 cm/hr, the radius is 1 m,
and the height is 2 m. What is the rate of change of the volume at this time?
(6 points)
Answer:
m3 /hr
Solution:
The volume is V (r, h) = r2 h.
By the chain rule,
V dr V dh
V
=
+
t
r dt
h dt
dr
dh
= 2rh + r2
dt
dt
= 2 1 2(.2) + (.3)
= (.8 .3)
=
m3 /hr.
2
(c) Calculate the directional derivative of f (x, y) =
direction i + j.
p
y x2 at the point (1, 2) in the
(6 points)
Answer: 21 2
Solution: We have
x
fx (x, y) = p
,
y x2
1
,
fy (x, y) = p
2 y x2
fx (1, 2) = 1
1
fy (1, 2) = .
2
The gradient of f at (1, 2) is f (1, 2) = h1, 12 i. The unit vector in the direction of
i + j is u = 12 h1, 1i. The directional derivative of f at (1, 2) in the direction of i + j is
Du f (1, 2) = f (1, 2) u
1
1
= h1, i h1, 1i
2
2
1
1
= (1 1 + 1)
2
2
1
=
2 2
June 2013
Math 200/253
Name:
Page 9 of 11 pages
6. Find the point on the paraboloid z = x2 + y 2 where the tangent plane is parallel to
the plane 2x 2y z = 5.
(10 points)
Solution:
Let F (x, y, z) = zx2 y 2 . The paraboloid z = x2 +y 2 is the level surface F (x, y, z) = 0.
F (x, y, z) = h2x, 2y, 1i
is a normal vector to the surface at (x, y, z) and so is a normal vector for the tangent
plane there.
A normal vector to the plane 2x 2y z = 5 is h2, 2, 1i.
The tangent plane is parallel to the plane 2x 2y z = 5 when the normal vectors
of the planes are parallel. Two vectors are parallel if they are scalar multiples of each
other. So we need a point (x, y, z) on the paraboloid where
h2x, 2y, 1i = k h2, 2, 1i
Comparing the z-components we have k = 1, so
h2x, 2y, 1i = h2, 2, 1i
so
2x = 2
2y = 2
or
x=1
y = 1.
Then, since the point is on the paraboloid,
z = x2 + y 2 = 12 + (1)2 = 2
and the point is (1, 1, 2).
June 2013
Math 200/253
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Page 10 of 11 pages
1
+ 2bx + 3ay,
x
fy =
2
+ 3ax.
y
1
+ 2b = 1 + 2 = 0,
x2
2
fxy = 3a = ,
3
fyy =
2
2
= .
2
y
9
2
D(1, 2) = fxx fyy fxy
= 49 < 0. Therefore, the critical point (1, 3) is a saddle.