MATH 53 – OLD EXAM QUESTIONS

Problem #1. Find the length of the curve

r(t) =< cos t + t sin t, sin t − t cos t >
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 10.
Problem #2. Compute |ru × rv | for
r(u, v) =< v, uv, u + v > .

Problem #3. Let C denote the circle (x − 2)2 + (y − 3)2 = 4 in the

xy–plane, oriented counterclockwise. Compute
Z
(2x + y 2 )dx + (2xy + 3x)dy.
C

Problem #4. Find the critical points of

f (x, y) = x4 − 2x2 + y 2 − 2,
and classify each as a local maximum, a local minimum, or a saddle
point.
Problem #5. Calculate
ZZ
F · dS,
S
where F =< x, y + z 3 , ey > and S is the boundary of the solid region
E determined by 0 ≤ x2 + y 2 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ z ≤ 1. Orient S by the outward
pointing unit normal field.
Problem #6. Use Lagrange multipliers to find the point on the
plane
x + 2y + 3z = 14
that is closest to the origin.
Problem #7. Let S denote that part of the surface z = 4−(x2 +y 2 )
lying in the half-space z ≥ 0. Orient S by the upward pointing unit
normal field. Compute
ZZ
(∇ × F) · dS
S
for the vector field F =< x + z, x + y, x3 >.
Problem #8. Assume b > a > 0. Calculate the value of the
integral Z ∞ −ax
e − e−bx
dx
0 x
1
2

e−ax −e−bx
Rb
in terms of a and b. (Hint: x
= a
e−xy dy.)
Problem #9. Let u and v be two parametric curves in three di-
mensions that satisfy (
u0 = v − u
v0 = v + u
for all times t, where 0 = d
dt
. Show that u × v is constant in time.
Problem #10. A point moves along the curve of intersection of
the paraboloid z = x2 + 14 y 2 and circular cylinder x2 + y 2 = 25. We
are given that x = 3, y = 4 and x0 = 4 at time t = 0, where 0 = dtd .
Calculate y 0 and z 0 at time t = 0.
Problem #11. Suppose that f is a function of a single variable
and that the
expression
u = f (x − ut)
implicitly defines u as a function of x and t. Show that
ut + uux = 0.

Problem #12. Prove the Divergence Theorem in the special case

that F =< 0, 0, R > and E is a solid region lying between two graphs
in the z–direction:
E = {(x, y, z) | (x, y) ∈ D, u1 (x, y) ≤ z ≤ u2 (x, y)}.
Draw a picture to illustrate the various terms in your calculation.
Problem #13. Let S be a surface whose boundary is the positively
oriented curve C. Suppose also that f, g are real–valued functions.
Show that ZZ Z
(∇f × ∇g) · dS = (f ∇g) · dr.
S C

Problem #14. Find the volume of the solid enclosed by the surface
(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )2 = 2z(x2 + y 2 ).
(Hints: Note that we must have z ≥ 0 in this formula. You will need
to use the identity cos3 φ = cos φ(1 − sin2 φ).)
Problem #15. Is the vector field
F =< yez , xz, y 3 >
conservative or not? Explain your answer.
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Problem #16. Compute

Z
(y + ex sin y) dx + (ex cos y − x) dy,
C

where C is the positively–oriented circle (x − 3)2 + y 2 = 1.

RR
Problem #17. Calculate S F · dS, where S is the surface of the
cube with vertices at (±1, ±1, ±1) and F =< 2x + y 3 , 2y + ez , z 2 >.
(We orient S by the outward-pointing unit normal vector field.)
Problem #18. Compute
Z 1 Z √1−x2
(x2 + y 2 )3 dydx.
0 0

Problem #19. Evaluate

ZZ
xz 2 dS,
S
p
where S is the graph z = x2 + y 2 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y ≤ 1.
Problem #20. Show that the curve r(t) =< 32 (t2 +1), t4 +1, t3 > is
perpendicular to the ellipsoid x2 + 2y 2 + 3z 2 = 20 at the point (3, 2, 1).
Problem #21. Find the critical points of the function
f (x, y) = x2 + y 3 − 6xy,
and classify each as a local maximum, a local minimum, or a saddle
point.
Problem #22. The formula
z = xy sin(xyz)
∂z
implicitly defines z as a function of x, y. Compute ∂y
in terms of x, y, z.

Problem #23. Assume z = f (x, y), for x = g(t), y = h(t). Write

down a formula for
d2 z
,
dt2
in terms of dx , dy , etc., and the partial derivatives of f .
dt dt

Problem #24. Let S be that part of the sphere x2 +y 2 +(z−1)2 = 4

lying in the half-space z ≥ 0, and
RR orient S by the outward-pointing unit
3 x
normal vector field. Compute S (∇ × F) · dS, for F =< z , x + y, e >.
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Problem #25. Let E be the solid region bounded above by the

plane y + z = 4, below by the plane z = 0, and on the sides by the
cylinder x2 + y 2 = 16. Evaluate
ZZZ p
x2 + y 2 dV.
E

Problem #26. A particle moves in space in such a way that its

position vector r(t) satisfies
r00 (t) = a × r0 (t),
for all times t, where a is a fixed vector. Show that the speed of the
particle is constant in time.
Problem #27. Determine the area of the surface z = x2 −y 2 within
the cylinder x2 + y 2 = 4.
Problem #28. Let S be a surface given in cylindrical coordinates
by z = f (r, θ) for (r, θ) ∈ D. Show that the area of S is
ZZ
1
(r2 fr2 + fθ2 + r2 ) 2 dA.
D
(HINT: Start by writing down the formula for the area of a gen-
eral parametric surface, in terms of the parameterization r(u, v) =<
x(u, v), y(u, v), z(u, v) >. Then take u = r, v = θ.)