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Math 4441 - Fall 2013 Homework 1

This document contains homework problems on curves and curvature from a mathematics class. Specifically: - Problem 2 asks to show the formula for curvature of a parameterized curve. - Problem 4 asks to find the curvature of a parameterized ellipse. - Problem 6 asks for the formula of curvature of a curve in R3 defined as a graph. - Problem 8 relates the derivative of the normal vector of a curve parameterized by arc length to its curvature. - Problem 10 asks to prove that if a curve's normal lines pass through a single point, then the curve is contained in a circle around that point.

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27 views2 pages

Math 4441 - Fall 2013 Homework 1

This document contains homework problems on curves and curvature from a mathematics class. Specifically: - Problem 2 asks to show the formula for curvature of a parameterized curve. - Problem 4 asks to find the curvature of a parameterized ellipse. - Problem 6 asks for the formula of curvature of a curve in R3 defined as a graph. - Problem 8 relates the derivative of the normal vector of a curve parameterized by arc length to its curvature. - Problem 10 asks to prove that if a curve's normal lines pass through a single point, then the curve is contained in a circle around that point.

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itz1223
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Math 4441 - Fall 2013 Homework 1

Work all these problems and talk to me if you have any questions on them, but carefully write up and turn in only problems 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10. Due: In class September 4 1. Give a formula for the arc length along an ellipse. Look up the integral in a standard table or on-line. What is the integral called? Any guesses as to why? What does this mean concerning parameterizing the ellipse by arc length? 2. Show that if : [a, b] Rn is a regular parameterization of a curve then the curvature at (t) is (t) 1 (t) = . (t) (t) 3. Let (t) = (a cos2 t, a sin t cos t, a sin t). Find the curvature of . 4. Find the curvature of the ellipse: (t) = (a cos t, b sin t). 5. Give a formula, in terms of x(t) and y (t) and their derivatives, for the curvature for a curve in R2 given by (t) = (x(t), y (t)). 6. Give a formula, in terms of f and its derivatives, for the curvature of a curve in R3 given by {(x, y, z ) : y = x, z = f (x)}. 7. Prove that the curvature of the curve in R2 given as the graph y = f (x) at (x, f (x)) is given by |f (x)| . = (1 + (f (x))2 )3/2 8. Let C be a plane curve parameterized by arc length by (s), T (s) its unit tangent vector and N (s) be its unit normal vector. Show d N (s) = (s)T (s). ds 9. Let : [a, b] Rn be a parameterized curve in Rn such that (a) = p and (b) = q . Show that for any constant vector v with v = 1 we have
b b

(q p) v =
a

(t) v dt
a

(t) dt.

Using this show that


b

(b) (a)
a

(t) dt = lenght()

Since (b) (a) is the length of the line segment joining p to q we see that in Rn the shortest path between two points is a line! Hint: For the rst part recall the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality and for the second part (b)(a) consider v = . (b)(a) 1

10. Assume that is a regular curve in R2 and all the normal lines of the curve pass though the origin. Prove that is contained in a circle around the origin. (Recall the normal line at (t) is the line through (t) pointing in the direction of the normal vector N (t).) 11. Assume that is a regular curve in R2 and all of the tangent lines of pass through the origin. Show that is contained in a straight line through the origin. (Recall the tangent line at (t) is the line through (t) pointing in the direction of the tangent vector T (t).)

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