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Homework 1 For Ma 491: Adam A. Allan, PHD August 30, 2016

This document contains 15 multi-part math homework problems about curves, bases, and calculus for a graduate level math course. The problems cover topics like drawing regions defined by vector bases, proving properties of curves, computing arc lengths, curvature, and reparameterizing curves by arc length.

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21 views2 pages

Homework 1 For Ma 491: Adam A. Allan, PHD August 30, 2016

This document contains 15 multi-part math homework problems about curves, bases, and calculus for a graduate level math course. The problems cover topics like drawing regions defined by vector bases, proving properties of curves, computing arc lengths, curvature, and reparameterizing curves by arc length.

Uploaded by

Joowan Seo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Homework 1 for MA 491

Adam A. Allan, PhD


August 30, 2016

1. Let ~u = (1, 2), ~v = (a, b), and B = {~u, ~v }. Draw the regions in the ab-plane that
correspond to (i) B is not a basis, (ii) B is a positively oriented basis, and (iii) B is a
negatively oriented basis.
2. Suppose ~v1 ~v2 6= ~0. Prove that {~v1 , ~v2 , ~v1 ~v2 } is a positively oriented basis of R3 .
3. Suppose ~v , w
~ 6= ~0 are orthogonal. Are there none, finitely many, or infinitely many ~u
satisfying ~v ~u = w?
~ Hint: think in terms of the right hand rule and the fact that
|~v ~u| = |~v ||~u| sin().
4. Suppose and are regular curves. Use the coordinate formula for the dot product
to prove that
( )0 = 0 + 0
5. Given a parametric curve , prove that || is constant if and only if 0 = 0.
6. Suppose : [a, b] R3 is a regular curve and ~v R3 . Prove that
b

Z
((b) (a)) ~v =

0 (t) ~v dt

|0 (t)||~v | dt

Now assume (b) 6= (a) and define


~v =

(b) (a)
|(b) (a)|

Conclude from the first part that


Z
|(b) (a)|

|0 (t)| dt

In other words, we have shown that the shortest path from (a) to (b) is the line
segment from (a) to (b).

7. Suppose : [0, ) R3 by

(t) =

2
2t
1, 2
t2 + 1
t +1

Compute the arc length function s(t) of , find the inverse t(s) of s(t), and set (s) =
(t(s)). In other words, is the re-parametrization of by arc length. Prove
(s) = (cos(s), sin(s))
In the next three exercises we consider the logarithmic spiral : [0, ) R3 given by
(t) = (cos(t)et , sin(t)et )
8. Explain why (t) (0, 0) as t +. Using polar coordinates, sketch r as a function
of . Then draw the trace of in the xy-plane, including arrows that indicate the
direction of travel.
9. Compute the total arc length of (note: it is finite).
10. Compute the curvature (t) of . Explain from the trace of why (t) as
t +.
In the next five exercises we consider the rhodanea curve : [0, 2] R2 given by
() = (2 sin() cos2 (), 2 sin2 () cos())
11. Using polar coordinates, sketch r as a function of (remember that sin(2) = 2 sin() cos()).
Then draw the trace of in the xy-plane, including arrows that indicate the direction
of travel.
12. Compute the area bounded by .
13. Compute the curvature ().
14. Find the point of that has minimum curvature and the four points of that have
maximum curvature. Label these points on the trace of .
15. Find an equation of the osculating circle of for = 4 .

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