Math 105: Solutions to Practice Problems

Steven Miller
May 13, 2010

Abstract
Below are detailed solutions to some problems similar to some assigned
homework problems.

Contents
1 The Geometry of Euclidean Space 2

2 Differentiation 2
2.1 The geometry of real-valued functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.2 Limits and continuity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.3 Differentiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.4 Introduction to paths and curves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.5 Properties of the derivative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.6 Gradients and directional derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.7 Review Exercises - Page 173 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3 Higher-order derivatives; maxima and minima 8

3.1 Iterated partial derivatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2 Taylor’s theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.3 Extrema of real-valued functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.4 Constrained extrema and Lagrange multipliers . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4 Vector-valued functions 17

1
5 Double and Triple Integrals 17
5.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
5.2 The Double Integral over a Rectangle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
5.3 The Double and Triple Integral Over More General Regions . . . 21
5.4 Changing the order of integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
5.5 Mathematical Modeling: Baseball / Sabermetrics Lecture . . . . . 25

6 Change of variable formula and applications of integration 27

6.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
6.2 The Change of Variable Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

7 Sequences and Series 34

7.1 Page 10.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
7.2 Page 10.6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
7.3 Page 10.7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.4 Page 10.8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
7.5 Page 10.10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

8 From path integrals to Stokes’ Theorem 39

1 The Geometry of Euclidean Space

2 Differentiation
2.1 The geometry of real-valued functions
2.2 Limits and continuity
2.3 Differentiation
2.4 Introduction to paths and curves
2.5 Properties of the derivative
2.6 Gradients and directional derivatives
The assignment is: Section 2.6: #2ab, #4a, #6a, #16 (the (in)famous Captain
Ralph problem), #18.

2
 𝑥
Question: #2c: Compute the ) derivative of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 cos(𝜋𝑦),
( directional
(𝑥0 , 𝑦0) = (0, −1) and →
−
𝑣 = − √15 , √25 .
Solution: We have
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = , = (𝑒𝑥 cos(𝜋𝑦), −𝜋𝑒𝑥 sin(𝜋𝑦)) ,
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦

and thus if we evaluate at (0, −1) we find

(∇𝑓 )(0, −1) = (−1, 0) .

The directional derivative in general is

(∇𝑓 )(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) ⋅ →
−
𝑣,

so for this problem the answer is

( )
1 2 1
(−1, 0) ⋅ − √ , √ = √ .
5 5 5
Note that →
−
𝑣 is a unit length vector.

2 3
Question: #2d: Compute the ) derivative of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥 𝑦,
( directional
(𝑥0 , 𝑦0) = (4, −2) and →
−
𝑣 = √110 , √310 .
Solution: We have

(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥2 𝑦, 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥3 ,

( )

and thus if we evaluate at (4, −2) we find

(∇𝑓 )(4, −2) = (−92, 48) .

The directional derivative in general is

(∇𝑓 )(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) ⋅ →
−
𝑣,

so for this problem the answer is

( )
1 3 52
(−92, 48) ⋅ √ ,√ = √ .
10 10 10

3
Note that →
−
𝑣 is a unit length vector.

Question: #3a: Compute 𝐷𝑓 for 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑥2 𝑦, 𝑒−𝑥𝑦 ).

Solution: Note that 𝑓 : ℝ2 → ℝ2 , and thus 𝐷𝑓 will be a 2 × 2 matrix.
Writing 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) as (𝑓1 (𝑥, 𝑦), 𝑓2 (𝑥, 𝑦)), we have the first row of 𝐷𝑓 is ∇𝑓1 , while
the second row is ∇𝑓2 . Explicitly,
( )
∂𝑓1 ∂𝑓1
𝑥2
( )
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 2𝑥𝑦
(𝐷𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∂𝑓2 ∂𝑓2 = .
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
−𝑦𝑒−𝑥𝑦 −𝑥𝑒−𝑥𝑦

Question: #4c: Find the plane tangent to 𝑥𝑦𝑧 = 1 at the point (1, 1, 1).
Solution: We use equation (1) on the bottom of page 167, which says that if
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑘 (for some constant 𝑘) then the tangent plane at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) is given
by
(∇𝑓 )(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) ⋅ (𝑥 − 𝑥0 , 𝑦 − 𝑦0 , 𝑧 − 𝑧0 ) = 0.
For our problem, 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦𝑧 and 𝑘 = 1. We have

(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (𝑦𝑧, 𝑥𝑧, 𝑥𝑦),

which yields
(∇𝑓 )(1, 1, 1) = (1, 1, 1).
Thus the tangent plane is all (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) satisfying

(1, 1, 1) ⋅ (𝑥 − 1, 𝑦 − 1, 𝑧 − 1) = 0,

or equivalently it is
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 − 3 = 0.

Question: #6b: Compute the gradient of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧.

Solution: The gradient is defined as the vector of partial derivatives:
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
grad(𝑓 ) = ∇𝑓 = , , .
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑧
A straightforward computation shows

∇𝑓 = (𝑦 + 𝑧, 𝑥 + 𝑧, 𝑥 + 𝑦).

4
Question: #6c: Compute the gradient of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 1/(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ).
Solution: By symmetry, it suffices to compute ∂𝑓
∂𝑥
, as ∂𝑓
∂𝑦
and ∂𝑓
∂𝑧
are obtained
∂𝑓
through analogous computations. To compute ∂𝑥 , we use the one-variable chain
(or power) rule:
∂ 2 ∂ ( 2
(𝑥 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−1 −(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )−2 𝑥 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2
)
=
∂𝑥 ∂𝑥
2𝑥
= −
(𝑥2
+ 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 )2
= −2𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)2 ⋅ 𝑥.

Collecting yields
∇𝑓 = −2𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧).

Question: #8b: Compute the equation of the tangent planes for 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
𝑥3 − 2𝑦 3 + 𝑧 3 = 0 at (1, 1, 1).
Solution: First, we note that the point (1, 1, 1) is on the surface. The tangent
plane is given by equation (1) on page 167. Explicitly, it is all (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) satisfying

(∇𝑓 )(1, 1, 1) ⋅ (𝑥 − 1, 𝑦 − 1, 𝑧 − 1).

As
∇𝑓 = (3𝑥2 , −6𝑦 2 , 3𝑧 2 ),
we have
(∇𝑓 )(1, 1, 1) = (3, −6, 3),
which implies the tangent plane is

(3, −6, 3) ⋅ (𝑥 − 1, 𝑦 − 1, 𝑧 − 1) = 0,

or
3𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 0.

5
Question: #19: A function 𝑓 : ℝ𝑛 → ℝ is said to be even if 𝑓 (→ −𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (−→−𝑥 ) for
→
− →
−
all 𝑥 . If 𝑓 is differentiable and even, find (𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ).
Solution: Whenever we have to prove something in several variables, it is not
a bad idea to look at some examples from one-variable calculus to build up our
intuition. We first recall some even, differentiable functions: 𝑥2 , 𝑥4 , 𝑥2𝑛 , cos 𝑥.
All of these have first derivative equal to 0 at the origin, and thus it is natural to
→
− →
−
guess that (𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ) = 0 .
One way to prove this is by using the Chain Rule. Let 𝑔(→ −𝑥 ) = −→ −𝑥 (so
𝑛 𝑛
𝑔 : ℝ → ℝ ). Then
𝐴(𝑥) = 𝑓 (→−𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑔(→ −
𝑥 )),
so
(𝐷𝐴)(→ −𝑥 ) = (𝐷𝑓 )(→−𝑥 ) = (𝐷𝑓 )(𝑔(→
−
𝑥 ))(𝐷𝑔)(→
−
𝑥 ).
As 𝑔(→
−
𝑥 ) = −→
−𝑥 , unwinding this we find

𝑔(𝑥1 , . . . , 𝑥𝑛 ) = (−𝑥1 , . . . , −𝑥𝑛 ),

which implies
(𝐷𝑔)(→
−
𝑥 ) = (∇𝑔)(→
−
𝑥 ) = −𝐼,
where 𝐼 is the 𝑛 × 𝑛 identity matrix which is 1 along the main diagonal and 0
elsewhere. The reason this is the answer is that 𝑔 has 𝑛 inputs and 𝑛 outputs.
Thus (𝐷𝑔) is a matrix with 𝑛 rows and 𝑛 columns. The first row is 𝐷𝑔1 or ∇𝑔1 ,
where 𝑔1 (𝑥1 , . . . , 𝑥𝑛 ) = −𝑥1 , while the last row is 𝐷𝑔𝑛 or ∇𝑔𝑛 .
→
− →
− →
−
At the origin, 𝑔( 0 ) = 0 and (𝐷𝑔)( 0 ) = −𝐼, and thus
→
− →
− →
−
(𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ) = (𝐷𝑓 )(− 0 )(𝐷𝑔)( 0 )

becomes
→
− →
− →
−
(𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ) = (𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ) (−𝐼) = −(𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ).
→
−
We thus have an equation of the form → −𝑢 = −→ −
𝑢 ; the only solution is →
−
𝑢 = 0 , or
→
−
in other words since (𝐷𝑓 )( 0 ) equals its own negative, it must be the zero vector.

2.7 Review Exercises - Page 173

Question: #22: Find the direction in which the function 𝑤(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑦
increases most rapidly at the point (−1, 1). What is the magnitude of ∇𝑤 at this
point.

6
 Solution: We have ∇𝑤 = (2𝑥 + 𝑦, 𝑥), so (∇𝑤)(−1, 1) = (−1, −1). As the
directional derivative in the direction →
−
𝑣 at (−1, 1) is (∇𝑤)(−1, 1) ⋅ →
−
𝑣 , which is
maximized when → −𝑣 = (∇𝑤)(−1, 1) = (−1, 1).

Question: #24: Let 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓 (𝑥 − 𝑦)/𝑦 (where 𝑓 is differentiable and 𝑦 ∕= 0),

∂𝑧 ∂𝑧
show that the identity 𝑧 + 𝑦 ∂𝑥 + 𝑦 ∂𝑦 = 0.
Solution: We have
∂𝑧 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 − 𝑦)(−1) ⋅ 𝑦 − 𝑓 (𝑥 − 𝑦) ∂𝑧 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 − 𝑦)
= , = .
∂𝑦 𝑦2 ∂𝑥 𝑦
Thus
∂𝑧 ∂𝑧 𝑓 (𝑥 − 𝑦) −𝑓 ′ (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑦 − 𝑓 (𝑥 − 𝑦)
𝑧+𝑦 +𝑦 = + 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 − 𝑦) + = 0.
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
In the arguments above, we frequently used the one-variable chain rule. For ex-
ample,
∂ ∂
𝑓 (𝑥 − 𝑦) = 𝑓 (𝑔(𝑦)),
∂𝑦 ∂𝑦
where 𝑔(𝑦) = 𝑥 − 𝑦. We can now use the one-variable chain rule. As 𝑥 is fixed,
the answer is just 𝑓 ′ (𝑔(𝑦)) ⋅ 𝑔 ′(𝑦), which is 𝑓 ′ (𝑥 − 𝑦) ⋅ (−1).

Question: #44: Verify the chain rule for the function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 /(2 + cos 𝑦)
and the path 𝑐(𝑡) = (𝑥(𝑡), 𝑦(𝑡)) = (𝑒𝑡 , 𝑒−𝑡 ).
Solution: Setting 𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡)), we have (𝐷𝐴)(𝑡) = (𝐷𝑓 )(𝑐(𝑡))𝑐′(𝑡). We
have 𝑐′ (𝑡) = (𝑒𝑡 , −𝑒−𝑡 ) (which should really be written as a column vector). For
𝐷𝑓 , we have
𝑥2 sin 𝑦
( ) ( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓 2𝑥
𝐷𝑓 = , = ,− ;
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 2 + cos 𝑦 (2 + cos 𝑦)2

however, we want (𝐷𝑓 )(𝑐(𝑡)), which is

2𝑒𝑡 𝑒2𝑡 sin 𝑒−𝑡

( )
(𝐷𝑓 )(𝑐(𝑡)) = ,− .
2 + cos 𝑒−𝑡 (2 + cos 𝑒𝑡 )2
Taking the dot product, we obtain

2𝑒𝑡 𝑡 𝑒2𝑡 sin 𝑒−𝑡

(𝐷𝐴)(𝑡) = ⋅ 𝑒 + ⋅ 𝑒−𝑡 .
2 + cos 𝑒−𝑡 (2 + cos 𝑒𝑡 )2

7
 We can also compute this derivative directly, as

𝑒2𝑡
𝐴(𝑡) = 𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡)) = .
(2 + cos 𝑒−𝑡 )
Taking the derivative yields

2𝑒2𝑡 (2 + cos 𝑒−𝑡 ) + 𝑒2𝑡 sin 𝑒−𝑡

𝐴′ (𝑡) = ,
(2 + cos 𝑒−𝑡 )2
which does agree with the Chain Rule.

3 Higher-order derivatives; maxima and minima

3.1 Iterated partial derivatives
2 2 2 ∂2𝑓
Question: #3: Compute ∂∂𝑥𝑓2 , ∂𝑥∂𝑦
∂ 𝑓 ∂ 𝑓
, ∂𝑦∂𝑥 and ∂𝑦 2
for 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = cos(𝑥𝑦 2 ), and
verify the equality of the mixed derivatives.
Solution: We have
∂𝑓
= −𝑦 2 sin(𝑥𝑦 2)
∂𝑥
∂2𝑓
= −𝑦 4 cos(𝑥𝑦 2 )
∂𝑥2
∂2𝑓
= −2𝑦 sin(𝑥𝑦 2 ) − 2𝑥𝑦 3 cos(𝑥𝑦 2).
∂𝑦∂𝑥
Similarly, we find
∂𝑓
= −2𝑥𝑦 sin(𝑥𝑦 2 )
∂𝑦
∂2𝑓
= −2𝑥 sin(𝑥𝑦 2 ) − 4𝑥2 𝑦 2 cos(𝑥𝑦 2 )
∂𝑦 2
∂2𝑓
= −2𝑦 sin(𝑥𝑦 2 ) − 2𝑥𝑦 3 cos(𝑥𝑦 2).
∂𝑥∂𝑦
∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓
Note that we do have ∂𝑥∂𝑦
= ∂𝑦∂𝑥
.

8
Question: #8b: Find all the second partial derivatives of 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 𝑦 2𝑒2𝑥𝑦 .
Solution: We have
∂𝑧
= 2𝑥𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥2 𝑦 3 𝑒2𝑥𝑦
∂𝑥
∂2𝑧
= 2𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑦 3 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥𝑦 3 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥2 𝑦 4 𝑒2𝑥𝑦
∂𝑥2
∂2𝑧
= 4𝑥𝑦𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥2 𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑥2 𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥3 𝑦 3 𝑒2𝑥𝑦
∂𝑦∂𝑥
∂𝑧
= 2𝑥2 𝑦𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥3 𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦
∂𝑦
∂2𝑧
= 2𝑥2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥3 𝑦𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥3 𝑦𝑒2𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑥4 𝑦 2 𝑒2𝑥𝑦 .
∂𝑦 2

Question: Supplemental problem related to #11: Use the fact that the derivative
of a sum is the sum of the derivatives to prove that the derivative of a sum of
three terms is the sum of the three derivatives.
Solution: The idea to solve this problem is quite useful in mathematics (and
may be useful to attacking #11). We know that for any two functions 𝑓 (𝑥) and
𝑑 𝑑𝑓 𝑑𝑔
𝑔(𝑥) that 𝑑𝑥 (𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝑑𝑥 + 𝑑𝑥 . We now use this result to show a similar
claim holds for the sum of three functions. We have

𝐴(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)

𝑑𝐴 𝑑
= (𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥))
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑
= (𝐵(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥)) , 𝐵(𝑥) = 𝑓 (𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝐵 𝑑ℎ
= +
𝑑𝑥
( 𝑑𝑥 )
𝑑𝑓 𝑑𝑔 𝑑ℎ
= + +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑓 𝑑𝑔 𝑑ℎ
= + + ,
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
where we constantly used the fact that the derivative of a sum of two functions is
the sum of the two derivatives.

9
Question: #11: Use Theorem 1 to show that if 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) is of class 𝐶 3 then
∂3𝑓 ∂3𝑓
∂𝑥∂𝑦∂𝑧
= ∂𝑦∂𝑧∂𝑥 .
Hint: Slowly switch orders of differentiation. For example, we know ∂𝑓 ∂𝑧
= ∂𝑓
∂𝑧
,
∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓
and so we may differentiate both sides with respect to 𝑥, obtaining ∂𝑥∂𝑧 = ∂𝑥∂𝑧 ,
∂2𝑓
and then we may rewrite the right hand side as ∂𝑧∂𝑥 . We now differentiate both
sides with respect to 𝑦, and keep switching orders.

3.2 Taylor’s theorem

Question: #1: Find the second order Taylor series expansion for 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) =
(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 about (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) = (0, 0).
Solution: We give two solutions. The first is the standard solution. We have
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = , = (2(𝑥 + 𝑦), 2(𝑥 + 𝑦))
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
and ( )
∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓 ( )
∂𝑥2 ∂𝑥∂𝑦 2 2
(𝐻𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓 = .
2 2
∂𝑦∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 2

Thus the second order expansion is

( )
1 𝑥
𝑓 (0, 0) + (∇𝑓 )(0, 0) ⋅ (𝑥, 𝑦) + (𝑥, 𝑦)(𝐻𝑓 )(0, 0) ,
2 𝑦
which is
( )( ) ( )
1 2 2 𝑥 1 2𝑥 + 2𝑦
0 + (𝑥𝑦) = (𝑥𝑦)
2 2 2 𝑦 2 2𝑥 + 2𝑦
1
= [𝑥(2𝑥 + 2𝑦) + 𝑦(2𝑥 + 2𝑦)]
2
= 𝑥(𝑥 + 𝑦) + 𝑦(𝑥 + 𝑦) = (𝑥 + 𝑦)2.

We now present another solution. The Taylor series expansion of 𝑔(𝑢) = 𝑢2

is simply 0 + 0𝑢 + 𝑢2 , and thus taking 𝑥 + 𝑦 for 𝑢 gives the second order Taylor
series is just (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 .
It isn’t surprising that this is the answer – 𝑓 is a polynomial of degree 2, and
thus its second order Taylor series should equal itself!

10
Question: #4: Find the second order Taylor series expansion for 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) =
2 2
𝑒−(𝑥 +𝑦 ) cos(𝑥𝑦) about (𝑥0 , 𝑦0) = (0, 0).
Solution: The long way to do this is to compute
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = ,
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
and ( )
∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓
∂𝑥2 ∂𝑥∂𝑦
(𝐻𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∂2𝑓 ∂2𝑓 ,
∂𝑦∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 2
and then use our result that the second order expansion is
( )
1 𝑥
𝑓 (0, 0) + (∇𝑓 )(0, 0) ⋅ (𝑥, 𝑦) + (𝑥, 𝑦)(𝐻𝑓 )(0, 0) .
2 𝑦
This is not pleasant; for instance,
∂𝑓 2 2 2 2
= −2𝑥𝑒−(𝑥 +𝑦 ) cos(𝑥𝑦) − 𝑦𝑒−(𝑥 +𝑦 ) sin(𝑥𝑦).
∂𝑥
There is a faster way. Rolling up our sleeves and doing the work, we find
𝑓 (0, 0) = 1,
(∇𝑓 )(0, 0) = (0, 0)
and after even more work we find
( )
−2 0
(𝐻𝑓 )(0, 0) = ;
0 −2
∂2𝑓
we can make our life a little easier by noting that 𝑓 is of class 𝒞 2 , and thus ∂𝑥∂𝑦
=
∂2𝑓
∂𝑦∂𝑥
. Thus we have one fewer painful derivative to take.
By Taylor’s theorem, the second order approximation is just
( )
1 𝑥
𝑓 (0, 0) + (∇𝑓 )(0, 0) ⋅ (𝑥, 𝑦) + (𝑥, 𝑦)(𝐻𝑓 )(0, 0) .
2 𝑦
Substituting gives
( )( )
1 −2 0 𝑥
1 + (0, 0) ⋅ (𝑥, 𝑦) + (𝑥, 𝑦)
2 0 −2 𝑦
( )
1 −2𝑥
= 1 + (𝑥, 𝑦)
2 −2𝑦
= 1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦 2 .

11
 We can determine the Taylor series very easily using our trick. We have

𝑢2
𝑒𝑢 = 1 + 𝑢 + +⋅⋅⋅ ,
2
so
2 +𝑦 2 )
𝑒−(𝑥 = 1 − (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 ) + ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ;
we stopped at this term as this term is already of order 2 in 𝑥 and 𝑦, and thus there
is no need to keep further terms (as we only want up to second order). Similarly
we find
𝑤2
cos(𝑤) = 1 − +⋅⋅⋅ ,
2
so
cos(𝑥𝑦) = 1 − ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ;
here we only kept one term as the next term would be 𝑤 2 /2 = 𝑥2 𝑦 2 /2, which
is a fourth order (and not a second order) term. We thus find the Taylor series
expansion of order 2 at the origin is simply

1 − (𝑥2 + 𝑦 2),

and this was obtained with significantly less work!

You of course need to know how to compute a Taylor series in general, but
this trick will work in most of the problems you need.

3.3 Extrema of real-valued functions

Question: #4: Find the critical points of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 3𝑥𝑦.
→
−
Solution: We must solve ∇𝑓 = 0 . We have
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
(∇𝑓 ) = , = (2𝑥 + 3𝑦, 2𝑦 + 3𝑥).
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦

Thus an extremum occurs when

2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 0, 3𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 0.

There are several ways to proceed. Note, however, that at this point it is no longer
a calculus problem, but rather an algebra one. A common approach is to solve

12
for one variable in terms of the other (i.e., the substitution method). Another is to
multiply the equations by various constants and combine.
Let’s solve for 𝑦 in terms of 𝑥. We have 𝑦 = −2𝑥/3 from the first equation
and 𝑦 = −3𝑥/2 from the second. Thus the only solution is 𝑥 = 𝑦 = 0.
Another way of arranging the algebra is to find 𝑦 = −2𝑥/3 from the first equa-
tion, and then substitute this into the second, which becomes 3𝑥 + 2(−2𝑥/3) = 0,
which clearly implies 𝑥 = 0.
Alternatively, note 5𝑥 + 5𝑦 = 0 so 𝑥 = −𝑦 and then −2𝑦 + 3𝑦 = 0 yields
𝑦 = 0.

Question: #6: Find the critical points of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 − 3𝑥𝑦 + 5𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 6𝑦 2 + 8.

→
−
Solution: The critical points are where ∇𝑓 = 0 . For our function we have
( )
∂𝑓 ∂𝑓
(∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦) = , = (2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5, −3𝑥 − 2 + 12𝑦),
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
so in order for this to equal the zero vector we must have
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 + 5 = 0, and − 3𝑥 + 12𝑦 − 2 = 0.
These are two equations in two unknowns. We have
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = −5, −3𝑥 + 12𝑦 = 2.
There are lots of ways to solve this. We could multiply the first equation by 4
and add it to the second. This will cancel all the 𝑦 terms, and leave us with
8𝑥 − 3𝑥 = −20 + 2, or 5𝑥 = −18 or 𝑥 = −18/5. As 𝑦 = 2𝑥+5 3
, this implies
11
𝑦 = − 15 .
Another way to solve this system of equations is to isolate 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥
using the first equation, and substitute this into the second. We find 2𝑥−3𝑦 = −5,
so 𝑦 = 2𝑥+53
. Substituting this into the second equation yields
2𝑥 + 5
−3𝑥 − 2 + 12 = 0,
3
which implies
−3𝑥 − 2 + 8𝑥 + 20 = 0,
or
18
𝑥 = − ,
5
exactly as before.

13
3.4 Constrained extrema and Lagrange multipliers
Question: #1: Find the extrema of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 − 𝑦 + 𝑧 subject to 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 2.
Solution: By the method of Lagrange multipliers, we need (∇𝑓 )(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
𝜆(∇𝑔)(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) for (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) to be an extremum. We have

∇𝑓 = (1, −1, 1)

and
∇𝑔 = (2𝑥, 2𝑦, 2𝑧).
Thus we are searching for a 𝜆 and a point (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) where

(1, −1, 1) = 𝜆(2𝑥, 2𝑦, 2𝑧).

We find
2𝜆𝑥 = 1, 2𝜆𝑦 = −1, 2𝜆𝑧 = 1.
As 𝜆 ∕= 0 (if 𝜆 = 0 then there is no way to have the two gradients equal), we have
𝑥 = 𝑧 = −𝑦. We still have another equation to use, namely 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 2. There
are several ways to proceed. We can solve and find 𝑥 = 𝑧 = 1/2𝜆, 𝑦 = −1/2𝜆,
and thus
1 1 1
2
+ 2 + 2 = 2,
4𝜆 4𝜆 4𝜆
√
which implies 3/4𝜆2 = 2 or 𝜆2 = 3/8, which yields 𝜆 = ± 3/8. There are thus
two points where 𝑓 may have an extremum, namely
√ √ √ √ √ √
(1/2 3/8, −1/2 3/8, 1/2 3/8), (−1/2 3/8, 1/2 3/8, −1/2 3/8).
√
Evaluating 𝑓 at the
√ first point gives 1/2 3/8, while evaluating 𝑓 at the second
point gives −1/2 3/8.

Question: #4: Find the extrema of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 subject to 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥2 +2𝑦 2 = 3.

Solution: We have ∇𝑓 = (1, 0) and ∇𝑔 = (2𝑥, 4𝑦). Thus at an extremum the
point (𝑥, 𝑦) must satisfy, for some 𝜆, the equation

(1, 0) = 𝜆(2𝑥, 4𝑦).

This implies 1 = 2𝜆𝑥 and 0 = 4𝜆𝑦. We must therefore have 𝑦 = 0, but at this
point we cannot determine 𝑥 and 𝜆, only their product (which is 1/2). All is not

14
lost, however,
√ as we know 𝑥2 + 2𝑦 2 = 3. As 𝑦 = 0, we then 2
√ find 𝑥 = 3 so
𝑥 = ± 3. We could now easily determine 𝜆 (it is just ±1/2 3); however, there
is no need to. The only reason we care about 𝜆 is that it is supposed to help us in
finding where 𝑓 has an extremum. As we already know the 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates,
√
we have all the information we need. Thus the extrema occur at 𝑥 = ± 3.
We could have predicted this answer in the beginning. We have our function
depending only on 𝑥 and constrained to lie on an ellipse. We thus naturally want
the 𝑥-extension as large as possible, which means taking 𝑦 = 0 and being at the
extremes of the major-axis.

Question: Find the maximum value of 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦𝑧 given that 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 3 and 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ≥ 0.
Solution: We may interpret this problem as saying we have a bar three units in
length, and we can fold it twice at right angles to give a skeleton of part of a box;
how should we divide it so that the volume is maximized? While it seems clear
that the answer should be 𝑥 = 𝑦 = 𝑧 = 1, we must prove this. The main constraint
is 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 3; we need the other constraint so as to eliminate possible solutions
such as (−100)(−100)(203).
Using Lagrange multipliers, we want ∇𝑓 = 𝜆∇𝑔. As

∇𝑓 = (𝑦𝑧, 𝑥𝑧, 𝑥𝑦)

and
∇𝑔 = (1, 1, 1),
this means
(𝑦𝑧, 𝑥𝑧, 𝑥𝑦) = 𝜆(1, 1, 1).
If 𝜆 = 0 then at least one of 𝑥, 𝑦 and 𝑧 equals zero, and the volume 𝑥𝑦𝑧 is zero;
thus this clearly cannot be the maximum. We may thus assume 𝜆 ∕= 0. We have

𝑦𝑧 = 𝑥𝑧 = 𝑥𝑦 = 𝜆,

and we may assume none of 𝑥, 𝑦 or 𝑧 vanish. As 𝑦𝑧 = 𝑥𝑧, since 𝑧 ∕= 0 we have

𝑦 = 𝑥. Looking at the other equality yields 𝑦 = 𝑧, and hence 𝑥 = 𝑦 = 𝑧. As
𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 3, since the three variables are equal we must have each
of them equal to 1.

More generally, if we have 𝑛 non-negative numbers with a fixed sum, then

their product is maximized when they are all equal. The next, more advanced

15
question we could ask is what 𝑛 maximizes the product for a given sum. This
question is related to what base we should use in building computers. Interest-
ingly, this implies that if we are primarily concerned with data storage, we should
work in base 3 and not base 2. The answer is related to 𝑒, and the fact that 3 is
closer to 𝑒 than 2. This was an extra credit problem earlier in the semester; for a
non-multivariable calculus solution, see
http://www.williams.edu/go/math/sjmiller/public html/
105/extracredit/ExtraCredit SummandsN.pdf

Question: Maximize the function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧 on the unit sphere

𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 1. Note this is a hard problem, but looking through
the arguments below will give you a great grounding in how to handle the alge-
bra that can arise.
Solution: We need ∇𝑓 = 𝜆∇𝑔. Differentiating yields
∇𝑓 = (𝑦 + 𝑧, 𝑥 + 𝑧, 𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝜆(2𝑥, 2𝑦, 2𝑧) = 𝜆∇𝑔.
We thus have four equations in four unknowns:
𝑦+𝑧 = 2𝜆𝑥
𝑥+𝑧 = 2𝜆𝑦
𝑥+𝑦 = 2𝜆𝑧
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧2
2 2
= 1.
There are many ways to solve these equations. We describe a few. First, note
that if we take ratios of any two of the first three equations that the 𝜆 disappears.
(Note 𝜆 cannot equal 0. If it did, we would have 𝑥 + 𝑧 = 0 and 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 0.
This would force 𝑦 to equal 𝑧, which when substituted into 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 0 would give
𝑦 = 𝑧 = 0. We would then have 𝑥 = 0, and hence the constraint 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 1
𝑦+𝑧
could not be satisfied.) Dividing the first equation by the second gives 𝑥+𝑧 = 𝑥𝑦 .
Cross multiplying gives 𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧 = 𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑧. Looking at the ratio of the second
𝑥+𝑧
and the third equations gives 𝑥+𝑦 = 𝑦𝑧 , or 𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑧 = 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦. We thus have

𝑥2 + 𝑥𝑧 = 𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑧, 𝑧 2 + 𝑥𝑧 = 𝑦 2 + 𝑥𝑦.
Subtracting these two equations from each other gives
𝑥2 − 𝑧 2 = 𝑦𝑧 − 𝑥𝑦,

16
or
(𝑥 − 𝑧)(𝑥 + 𝑧) = 𝑦(𝑧 − 𝑥).
There are thus two solutions: either 𝑥 − 𝑧 = 0 or 𝑦 = −(𝑥 + 𝑧). We leave the rest
of this approach to the reader.

Another way to attack this problem is to add the first three equations to each
other, which gives

(𝑦 + 𝑧) + (𝑥 + 𝑧) + (𝑥 + 𝑦) = 2𝜆𝑥 + 2𝜆𝑦 + 2𝜆𝑧,

or equivalently
2(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧) = 2𝜆(𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧).
Thus either 𝑥+𝑦 +𝑧 = 0 or 𝜆 = 1. If 𝜆 = 1 then squaring the first three equations
gives
(𝑦 + 𝑧)2 + (𝑥 + 𝑧)2 + (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 4𝑥2 + 4𝑦 2 + 4𝑧 2 = 4,
where the last follows from the fact that 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 1. If we expand the
squares we find

𝑦 2 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 𝑧 2 + 𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑧 + 𝑧 2 + 𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 4.

Note the left hand side has 2(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ), which is 2. Thus we have

2 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 2𝑥𝑧 + 2𝑥𝑦 = 4,

or
𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧 + 𝑦𝑧 = 1.
Note, however, that 𝑦𝑧 + 𝑥𝑧 + 𝑦𝑧 is just our function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)! We leave the rest
of the details of this problem to the reader.

4 Vector-valued functions
5 Double and Triple Integrals
5.1 Introduction
∫ 𝜋/2 ∫ 1
Question: #1b: Find 0 0
(𝑦 cos 𝑥 + 2)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥.

17
 Solution: We first do the 𝑦-integral, and then the 𝑥-integral. We have
∫ 𝜋/2 ∫ 1 ∫ 𝜋/2 [∫ 1 ]
(𝑦 cos 𝑥 + 2)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = (𝑦 cos 𝑥 + 2)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0 0 0
⎡  1 ⎤
∫ 𝜋/2 1
2
𝑦  
=  cos 𝑥 + 2𝑦  ⎦ 𝑑𝑥
⎣ 
0 2  
0 0
∫ 𝜋/2 (
cos 𝑥 )
= + 2 𝑑𝑥
0 2
[ ] 𝜋/2
sin 𝑥
= + 2𝑥 

2 
0
1
= + 𝜋.
2

∫0 ∫2
Question: #1d: Find −1 1 (−𝑥 ln 𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥.
Solution: Again, we do the 𝑦-integral first, followed by the 𝑥-integral. We
need to find a function whose derivative is ln 𝑦. It is natural (forgive the pun) to
try 𝑦 ln 𝑦. Why is this a reasonable guess? When we take the derivative, we use
the product rule and the first piece is just 1 ⋅ ln 𝑦. Thus this is close to what we
want, though not quite the correct answer. The problem is the full derivative is
1
1 ⋅ ln 𝑦 + 𝑦 ⋅ = ln 𝑦 + 1;
𝑦
again, this is almost correct, but we are off by 1. We may interpret this as saying
our guess is off by a function whose derivative is 1; one example of such a function
is 𝑦. If we subtract this from our original guess, we should end up with the correct
anti-derivative. Specifically,
1
(𝑦 ln 𝑦 − 𝑦)′ = 1 ⋅ ln 𝑦 + 𝑦 ⋅ − 1 = ln 𝑦;
𝑦
we have thus found the sought-after anti-derivative. This is the Method of Guess
and Check, and it is a powerful way to find anti-derivatives.

18
 Armed with the anti-derivative for ln 𝑦, we can solve the problem. We have
∫ 0∫ 2 ∫ 0 [∫ 2 ]
(−𝑥 ln 𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = (−𝑥 ln 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
−1 1 −1 1
∫ 0 [∫ 2 ]
= − 𝑥 ln 𝑦𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
−1 1
∫ 0 2

= − 𝑥 [𝑦 ln 𝑦 − 𝑦]  𝑑𝑥

−1 
1
∫ 0
= − 𝑥 [(2 ln 2 − 2) − (1 ln 1 − 1)] 𝑑𝑥
−1
∫ 0
= − 𝑥(2 ln 2 − 1)𝑑𝑥
−1
∫ 0
= −(2 ln 2 − 1) 𝑥𝑑𝑥
−1
⎡  ⎤
0
2
𝑥
= −(2 ln 2 − 1) ⎣  ⎦

2
−1
[ ]
1
= −(2 ln 2 − 1) −
2
2 ln 2 − 1
= .
2

5.2 The Double Integral over a Rectangle

(𝑥𝑦)2 cos(𝑥3 )𝑑𝐴, where 𝑅 = [0, 1] × [0, 1].
∫∫
Question: #1c: Evaluate 𝑅
Solution: We need to choose whether or not we want to integrate first with
respect to 𝑥 or with respect to 𝑦. For this problem, it does not matter as we can
write the integral as 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑔(𝑦) for some functions 𝑓 and 𝑔 (here 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥2 cos(𝑥3 )

19
and 𝑔(𝑦) = 𝑦 2 ). Let’s do the integration with respect to 𝑦 first. We have
∫ ∫ ∫ 1 [∫ 1 ]
2 3 2 2 3
(𝑥𝑦) cos(𝑥 )𝑑𝐴 = 𝑥 𝑦 cos(𝑥 )𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑅 0 0
∫ 1 [∫ 1 ]
3 2 2
= cos(𝑥 )𝑥 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0
⎡ ⎤
∫ 1 1
3
𝑦
= cos(𝑥3 )𝑥2 ⎣  ⎦ 𝑑𝑥

0 3
0
∫ 1
1
= cos(𝑥3 )𝑥2 𝑑𝑥
0 3
∫ 1
1
cos(𝑥3 )3𝑥2 𝑑𝑥;
9 0
where we multiplied by 1 in the form 3/3 to facilitate the application of 𝑢-substitution
below (though of course this is not needed). Let 𝑢 = 𝑥3 . Then 𝑑𝑢 = 3𝑥2 𝑑𝑥, and
as 𝑥 : 0 → 1 we have 𝑢 : 0 → 1. (Note it is very important that our function
𝑢 = 𝑥3 is monotonic or strictly increasing in this domain). Thus we have

1 1
∫ ∫ ∫
2 3
(𝑥𝑦) cos(𝑥 )𝑑𝐴 = cos 𝑢𝑑𝑢
𝑅 9 0
1
sin 𝑢 
9 

0
sin 1
= .
9

∫1∫1
Question: Compute 0 0 𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝐴.
Solution: We have a choice as to whether or not we want to integrate with
respect to 𝑥 first or with respect to 𝑦. Note the integrand is 𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦). If we
integrate with respect to 𝑥 first, then everything will work out nicely through 𝑢-
substitution; if we do the 𝑦 integral first we have to use the method of Guess and
Check to figure out an anti-derivative (with respect to 𝑦) of 𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦). Thus let’s

20
integrate with respect to 𝑥 first. We have
∫ 1∫ 1 ∫ 1 [∫ 1 ]
𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝐴 = 𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
0 0 0 0
∫ 1 [∫ 1 ]
= cos(𝑥𝑦)𝑦𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦.
0 0

Let 𝑢 = 𝑥𝑦, so 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑦𝑑𝑥 and 𝑥 : 0 → 1 means 𝑢 : 0 → 𝑦. We find

∫ 1∫ 1 ∫ 1 [∫ 𝑦 ]
𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦)𝑑𝐴 = cos 𝑢𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑦
0 0 0 0
∫ 1[ 𝑦 ]

= sin 𝑢 𝑑𝑦

0 
0
∫ 1
= sin 𝑦
0
1

= [− cos 𝑦] 


0
= (− cos 1) − (−1)
= 1 − cos 1.

5.3 The Double and Triple Integral Over More General Re-
gions
Question: #1a: Evaluate the iterated integral
∫ 1 ∫ 𝑥2
𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥,
0 0

state whether or not the region is 𝑥-simple, 𝑦-simple or simple. Draw the region.
Solution: Solution: The region is drawn in Figure 1.
The region is 𝑦-simple, as for 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1 we have 𝜙1 (𝑦) ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝜙2 (𝑦)
with 𝜙1 (𝑦) = 0 and 𝜙2 (𝑦) = 𝑥2 . Similarly we see the region is 𝑥-simple. For
√ √
0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1 we have 𝑦 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1; we take 𝜓1 (𝑦) = 𝑦 and 𝜓2 (𝑦) = 1. As the
region is both 𝑥-simple and 𝑦-simple, it is simple.

21
 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Figure 1: Region corresponding to 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑥2 .

We now evaluate the integral. We have

[∫ ]
∫ 1 ∫ 𝑥2 ∫ 1 𝑥2
𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 1𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 0 0 0
⎡  2⎤
∫ 1 𝑥
= ⎣𝑦  ⎦ 𝑑𝑥
0 
0
∫ 1
= 𝑥2 𝑑𝑥
0
1
𝑥3 
= .
3
0

Question: #1a: Evaluate the iterated integral

∫ 2 ∫ 𝑦2
(𝑥2 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦,
−3 0

state whether or not the region is 𝑥-simple, 𝑦-simple or simple. Draw the region.
Solution: The region is drawn in Figure 2.
The region is clearly 𝑥-simple, as for −3 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2 we have 𝜓1 (𝑦) ≤ 𝑥 ≤
𝜓2 (𝑦), where 𝜓1 (𝑦) = 0 and 𝜓2 (𝑦) = 𝑦 2 (and of course 𝜓1 (𝑦) ≤ 𝜓2 (𝑦). The
region is not 𝑦-simple (and hence it is not simple). The reason it is not 𝑦-simple

22
 2

-1

-2

-3
0 2 4 6 8

Figure 2: Region corresponding to −3 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2 and 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑦 2 .

is that for 𝑥 ∈ [0, √

1] the values
√ of 𝑦 vary discontinuously. For example, if 𝑥 = 2
then −3 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ − 2 and 2 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 2.
We now evaluate the integral. We have
∫ 2 ∫ 𝑦2 ∫ 2 [∫ 𝑦 2 ]
(𝑥2 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = (𝑥2 + 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
−3 0 −3 0
⎡ 𝑦2 𝑦2 ⎤
2 3
⎣ 𝑥  + 𝑥𝑦  ⎦ 𝑑𝑦
∫ 
=
−3 3 
0 0
∫ 2( 6 )
𝑦
= + 𝑦 3 𝑑𝑦
−3 3
2 2
𝑦 7  𝑦 4 
=  + 
21  4
−3 −3
128 729 81
= + +4−
21 7 4
7895
= .
84

5.4 Changing the order of integration

∫1∫1
Question: #1a: Sketch the region and evaluate 0 𝑥
𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 both ways.

23
 1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0

Figure 3: Region corresponding to 𝑥 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1 and 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1.

Solution: See Figure 3 for a sketch of the region.

We have
∫ 1∫ 1 ∫ 1 [∫ 1 ]
𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑦𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
0 𝑥 0 𝑥
⎡  ⎤
∫ 1 1
2
𝑦
= 𝑥 ⎣  ⎦ 𝑑𝑥

0 2
𝑥
∫ 1 [
1 𝑥2
]
= 𝑥 − 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2
∫ 1(
𝑥 𝑥3
)
= − 𝑑𝑥
0 2 2
1 1
𝑥2  𝑥4 
=  − 
4 8
0 0
1 1 1
= − = .
4 8 8
We now do the integration in the opposite order. We fix 𝑦 now, and 𝑦 varies

24
from 0 to 1. It is now 𝑥 that varies, and 𝑥 ranges from 0 to 𝑦. We thus find
∫ 1∫ 1 ∫ 1∫ 𝑦
𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥𝑦𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦
0 𝑥 0 0
∫ 1 [∫ 𝑦 ]
= 𝑦 𝑥𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
0 0
∫ 1 [ 2 𝑦 ]
𝑥 
= 𝑦  𝑑𝑦
0 2
0
∫ 1 ( 2)
𝑦
= 𝑦 𝑑𝑦
0 2
1
𝑦 4  1
=  = .
8 8
0

Note that the two orders of integration lead to the same answer for this problem.

5.5 Mathematical Modeling: Baseball / Sabermetrics Lecture

The following are some problems related to the ones from the baseball lecture.
The slides are online at

http://www.williams.edu/go/math/sjmiller/public html

/105/talks/PythagWLTalk GeneralCalcVersion.pdf
Question: #1: Let 𝑓 (𝑥) = 6𝑥(1 − 𝑥) for 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1 and 0 otherwise, and
let 𝑔(𝑦) = 12𝑦 2(1 − 𝑦) for 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 1 and zero otherwise. Prove 𝑓 and 𝑔
are probability distributions. Let 𝑋 be a random variable whose probability
density of taking on the value 𝑥 is 𝑓 (𝑥), and let 𝑌 be a random variable whose
probability density of taking on the value 𝑦 is 𝑔(𝑦). Compute the probability that
𝑋 > 𝑌 (assuming, of course, that 𝑋 and 𝑌 are independent).
Solution: To prove that 𝑓 and 𝑔 are probability distributions, we must show
that each is non-negative and integrates to 1. Both are clearly non-negative; we
are left with showing each integrates to one. The fastest way to do this is to note

25
that it suffices to study the integral from 0 to 1 of 𝑥𝑘 (1 − 𝑥). We have
∫ 1 ∫ 1
𝑘
[ 𝑘
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑘+1 𝑑𝑥
]
𝑥 (1 − 𝑥) =
0 0
1 1
𝑥𝑘+1  𝑥𝑘+2 
=  −
𝑘 + 1 𝑘 + 2

0 0
1 1
= −
𝑘+1 𝑘+2
1
= .
(𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 + 2)

Thus {
(𝑘 + 1)(𝑘 + 2)𝑥𝑘 (1 − 𝑥) if 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1
ℎ(𝑥) =
0 otherwise
is a probability distribution for any positive integer 𝑘. In particular, if we take
𝑘 = 1 we see that we should have 6𝑥(1 − 𝑥), while if 𝑘 = 2 we should have
12𝑥2 (1 − 𝑥), which we do. This thus verifies both distributions are probability
distributions simultaneously.
We now compute the probability that 𝑋 > 𝑌 . We are integrating over the
triangle 0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1, and have
∫ 1 ∫ 𝑥
Prob(𝑋 ≥ 𝑌 ) = 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑔(𝑦)𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑥
𝑥=0 𝑦=0
∫ 1 [∫ 𝑥 ]
= 𝑓 (𝑥) 𝑔(𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=0 𝑦=0
∫ 1 [∫ 𝑥 ]
2
= 6𝑥(1 − 𝑥) 12𝑦 (1 − 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=0 𝑦=0
∫ 1 [∫ 𝑥 ]
2 3
= 6𝑥(1 − 𝑥)12 (𝑦 − 𝑦 )𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=0 𝑦=0
∫ 1 [ 𝑥 𝑥 ]
3 4
𝑦 𝑦
= 72(𝑥 − 𝑥2 )  −  𝑑𝑥
 
𝑥=0 3 4
∫ 1 [ 3 0 4] 0
𝑥 𝑥
= 72(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) − 𝑑𝑥.
𝑥=0 3 4

26
The simplest way to evaluate this is to expand, and we find
∫ 1[ 6
7𝑥5 𝑥4
]
𝑥
Prob(𝑋 ≥ 𝑌 ) = 72 − + 𝑑𝑥
0 4 12 3
1 1 1
7 6 5
𝑥  7𝑥  𝑥 
=  −  + 
28  72  15 
0 0 0
13
= .
2520

6 Change of variable formula and applications of

integration
6.1
6.2 The Change of Variable Theorem
Question: #1: Consider the change of variables 𝑢 = 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 and 𝑣 = 4𝑦. Show
that this map takes the unit square [0, 1] × [0, 1] (i.e., the set of points (𝑥, 𝑦) with
0 ≤ 𝑥, 𝑦 ≤ 1) to a parallelogram. Use the change of variables formula to find
the area of the parallelogram.
Solution: The unit square is mapped to the parallelogram shown in Figure 4.
To see this, look and see where each vertex of the unit square is sent. We have
(0, 0) goes to (0, 0), we have (1, 0) goes to (2, 0), (0, 1) goes to (3, 4) and finally
(1, 1) goes to (5, 4). More generally, if we take a point of the form (𝑥, 0) it is
mapped to the point (2𝑥, 0), so we see the interval [0, 1] on the 𝑥-axis is mapped
to the interval [0, 2] in the 𝑢-axis. A similar analysis shows all the other lines of
the unit square are mapped to lines in the 𝑢𝑣-plane. For example, consider the
line (𝑥, 1) with 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 1. This is mapped to the line (2𝑥 + 3, 4) in the 𝑢𝑣-plane,
or equivalently the line from (3, 4) (corresponding to 𝑥 = 0) to the point (5, 4)
(corresponding to 𝑥 = 1).
We need the inverse transformation 𝑇 −1 , which gives us the 𝑥 and 𝑦 corre-
sponding to a choice of 𝑢 and 𝑣. We have to invert the relations
𝑢 = 2𝑥 + 3𝑦, 𝑣 = 4𝑦.
The second is the easiest; we clearly need to have 𝑦 = 𝑣/4. Knowing this, we
then find
3𝑣
𝑢 = 2𝑥 + ,
4
27
 Figure 4: Region the unit square is mapped to under 𝑇 (𝑥, 𝑦) = (2𝑥 + 3𝑦, 4𝑦).

or
𝑢 3𝑣
𝑥 = − .
2 4
In other words, we have
( )
−1 𝑢 3𝑣 𝑣
𝑇 (𝑢, 𝑣) = (𝑥(𝑢, 𝑣), 𝑦(𝑢, 𝑣)) = − , .
2 4 4
We now find the determinant of the derivative. First we compute
( ∂𝑥 ∂𝑥 ) ( 1 3
)
−1 ∂𝑢 ∂𝑣 2
− 4
(𝐷𝑇 )(𝑢, 𝑣) = ∂𝑦 ∂𝑦 = .
∂𝑢 ∂𝑣
0 14
The determinant is
1 1 3 1
det((𝐷𝑇 −1 )(𝑢, 𝑣)) = ⋅ + ⋅0 = ,
2 4 4 8
and thus the absolute value of the determinant is

det((𝐷𝑇 −1 )(𝑢, 𝑣)) = 1 ,

 
8
which means

det((𝐷𝑇 −1)(𝑢, 𝑣)) 𝑑𝑢𝑑𝑣 = 1 𝑑𝑢𝑑𝑣.

 
𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 −→
8
28
 By the Change of Variables formula, if 𝑆 is the original unit square in 𝑥𝑦-space
and 𝑃 = 𝑇 (𝑆) is the parallelogram in 𝑢𝑣-space, we have

1
∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ ∫
 −1

1𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = 1 det((𝐷𝑇 )(𝑢, 𝑣)) 𝑑𝑢𝑑𝑣 =
  1 ⋅ 𝑑𝑢𝑑𝑣.
𝑆 𝑇 (𝑆) 𝑇 (𝑆) 8

As 1/8 is constant, we can pull it out of the integral and find

1
∫ ∫ ∫ ∫
1𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = 1𝑑𝑢𝑑𝑣;
𝑆 8 𝑇 (𝑆)

the left double integral is the area of the unit square, while the right double integral
is the area of our parallelogrma. We thus find
1 1
Area(𝑆) = Area(𝑇 (𝑆)) = Area(𝑃 ),
8 8
or equivalently that the area of the parallelogram is 8:

Area(𝑃 ) = 8Area(𝑆) = 8 ⋅ 1 = 8.

We could consider more general maps from squares to parallelograms, but this
illustrates the principle and proves a nice, known result: the area of a parallelo-
gram is base times height. For our parallelogram, the has has length 2 and the
height is 4, which do multiply to give an area of 8.
Notice that we are able to deduce the formula for the parallelogram’s area
by knowing the area of the square because the absolute value of the determinant
of the derivative matrix is constant (i.e., independent of 𝑢 and 𝑣). This allows
us to pull out that common factor of 1/8 and leaves us with the integral of 1
over the parallelogram, which is thus its area. Whenever we have a change of
variables where the determinant is constant, these calculations can often allow
us to deduce the area of one region from knowing another. This is true in the
homework problem, where you are asked to find the area of an ellipse knowing
the area of another region. For that problem, consider the ellipse
( 𝑥 )2 ( 𝑦 )2
+ ≤ 1.
𝑎 𝑏
Consider the change of variables 𝑢 = 𝑥/𝑎 and 𝑣 = 𝑦/𝑏, so

𝑇 (𝑥, 𝑦) = (𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦), 𝑣(𝑥, 𝑦)) = (𝑥/𝑎, 𝑦/𝑏)

29
or equivalently the inverse map 𝑇 −1 would be
𝑇 −1 (𝑢, 𝑣) = (𝑥(𝑢, 𝑣), 𝑦(𝑢, 𝑣)) = (𝑎𝑢, 𝑏𝑣).
Note this maps the ellipse to the unit disk
𝑢2 + 𝑣 2 ≤ 1,
and we know the area of the unit disk is just 𝜋12 = 𝜋!

Question: #1: This is a slight modification of Problem #1 from Section 6.2: Let
𝐷 be the unit disk 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 ≤ 1. Consider the integral
∫ ∫
cos(𝑥2 + 𝑦 2)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦.
𝐷

Evaluate this using polar coordinates.

Solution: We have 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 goes to 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃, and the unit disk becomes 0 ≤ 𝑟 ≤ 1
and 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋. We replace 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) with 𝑓 (𝑟 cos 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃), and thus find
∫ ∫ ∫ 2𝜋 ∫ 1
2 2
cos(𝑥 + 𝑦 )𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = cos(𝑟 2 cos2 𝜃 + 𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃)𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃
𝐷
∫𝜃=0 𝑟=0
2𝜋 ∫ 1
= cos(𝑟 2 )𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃
𝜃=0 𝑟=0
∫ 2𝜋 [∫ 1 ]
1 2
= cos(𝑟 )2𝑟𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃
𝜃=0 2 𝑟=0
⎡ 1 ⎤
∫ 2𝜋
1⎣ 
= sin(𝑟 2 ) ⎦ 𝑑𝜃

𝜃=0 2 
0
∫ 2𝜋
sin 1
= 𝑑𝜃
𝜃=0 2
sin 1
= ⋅ 2𝜋 = 𝜋 sin 1.
2

Question: #13: This is a problem similar to Problem #13 from Section 6.2.
Consider the cylinder 𝐶 given by 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 ≤ 9 and −1 ≤ 𝑧 ≤ 2. Evaluate
∫ ∫ ∫
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧
𝐶

30
where √
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑧 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2.

Solution: If we wanted to write down the integral explicitly in Cartesian coor-

dinates, we would have
∫ 2 ∫ 3 ∫ √9−𝑦2 √
√ 𝑧 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧.
𝑧=−1 𝑦=−3 𝑥=− 9−𝑦 2

2 2
√boundary 𝑥
To see this, note that on the √ + 𝑦 = 9, so if we have chosen a value
of 𝑦 then 𝑥 ranges from − 9 − 𝑦 2 to 9 − 𝑦 2 ; these are not integrals we desire
to evaluate! For cylindrical coordinates, we have

𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧 −→ 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧,

and
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃, 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃, 𝑧 = 𝑧.
Our function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) becomes 𝑓 (𝑟 cos 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃, 𝑧), or in our case
√ √
𝑧 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 −→ 𝑧 𝑟 2 cos2 𝜃 + 𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃 = 𝑧𝑟.

The bounds of integration are 𝑧 ranges from −1 to 2, 𝜃 ranges from 0 to 2𝜋, and 𝑟

31
ranges from 0 to 3. We thus have
∫ ∫ ∫ ∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋 ∫ 3
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧 = 𝑓 (𝑟 cos 𝜃, 𝑟 sin 𝜃, 𝑧)𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝐶 𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 𝑟=0
∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋 ∫ 3 √
= 𝑧 𝑟 2 cos2 𝜃 + 𝑟 2 sin2 𝜃𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 𝑟=0
∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋 ∫ 3
= 𝑧𝑟 ⋅ 𝑟𝑑𝑟𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 𝑟=0
∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋 [∫ 3 ]
2
= 𝑧 𝑟 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 𝑟=0
⎡ ⎤
∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋 3 3
= 𝑧 ⎣ 𝑟  ⎦ 𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 3
0
∫ 2 ∫ 2𝜋
27
= 𝑧 𝑑𝜃𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0 3
∫ 2 [∫ 2𝜋 ]
= 9 𝑧 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1 𝜃=0
∫ 2
= 9 𝑧2𝜋𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1
∫ 2
= 18𝜋 𝑧𝑑𝑧
𝑧=−1
2
2
𝑧 
= 18𝜋 
2
[ −1 ]
4 1
= 18𝜋 −
2 2
3
= 18𝜋 ⋅
2
= 27𝜋.

Question: #21: This is a problem similar to Problem #21 from Section 6.2.
Consider the unit sphere 𝑆 given by 𝑥2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≤ 1. Evaluate
∫ ∫ ∫
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧
𝑆

32
for
1
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = .
(𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2)
If we were to write the integral out explicitly in Cartesian coordinates, we would
find it equals
∫ 1 ∫ √ 1−𝑧 2 ∫ √ 1−𝑦 2 −𝑧 2

√ √ 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧,
𝑧=−1 𝑦=− 1−𝑧 2 𝑥=− 1−𝑦 2 −𝑧 2

and these bounds of integration should look horrible! We now convert to spherical
coordinates. We have

𝑥 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃, 𝑦 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃, 𝑧 = 𝜌 cos 𝜙,

with
0 ≤ 𝜌 ≤ 1, 0 ≤ 𝜃 ≤ 2𝜋, 0 ≤ 𝜙 ≤ 𝜋.
Our function 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) becomes
1
𝑓 (𝜌 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃, 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃, 𝜌 cos 𝜙) =
𝜌2
after some simple algebra. Finally,

𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧 −→ 𝜌2 sin 𝜙𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙.

Note: other textbooks change the role of 𝜃 and 𝜙, especially physics books. We

33
thus have
∫ ∫ ∫
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦𝑑𝑧
𝑆
∫ 𝜋 ∫ ∫ 1
2𝜋
= 𝑓 (𝜌 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃, 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃, 𝜌 cos 𝜙)𝜌2 sin 𝜙𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0 𝜃=0 𝜌=0
𝜋 2𝜋 1
1 2
∫ ∫ ∫
= 𝜌 sin 𝜙𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0 𝜃=0 𝜌=0 𝜌2
∫ 𝜋 ∫ 2𝜋 ∫1
= sin 𝜙𝑑𝜌𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0 𝜃=0 𝜌=0
∫ 𝜋 ∫ 2𝜋 [∫ 1 ]
= sin 𝜙 𝑑𝜌 𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0 𝜃=0 𝜌=0
∫ 𝜋 [∫ 2𝜋 ]
= sin 𝜙 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0 𝜃=0
∫ 𝜋
= 2𝜋 sin 𝜙𝑑𝜙
𝜙=0
[ 𝜋 ]

= 2𝜋 − cos 𝜙


0
= 2𝜋 [(− cos 𝜋) − (− cos 0)]
= 2𝜋 (1 + 1)
= 4𝜋.

7 Sequences and Series

7.1 Page 10.3
Question: #2: Give an example of a sequence that does not have a limit.
Solution: Let 𝑎𝑛 = (−1)𝑛 . Clearly this sequence does not have a limit, as
half the time the sequence is 1 and half the time the sequence is -1. For another
example, consider 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛!, which clearly grows without bound.

34
Question: #4: Compute the limit of the sequence 𝑎𝑛 = 3/𝑛2 or explain why it
does not converge.
Solution: Note lim𝑛→∞ 3 = 3 and lim𝑛→∞ 𝑛2 = ∞. Technically we cannot
use the limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limit as the denominator tends to
infinity and thus doesn’t converge; however, as the numerator is bounded (it is in
fact always 3) and the denominator becomes arbitrarily large, we can see that the
sequence does converge to 0. For example, if 𝑛 ≥ 55 then 3/𝑛2 ≤ 1/1000, if
𝑛 ≥ 174 then 3/𝑛2 ≤ 1/10000, and if 𝑛 ≥ 548 then 3/𝑛2 ≤ 1/100000.
3 2
Question: Similar Problem to #5: Find the limit of 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛 3𝑛+2𝑛 −𝑛−2
3 +𝑛−11 , or prove it

does not exist.

Solution: There are several ways to do this. We cannot use the limit of a
quotient is the quotient of the limits, as both the numerator and denominator tend
to infinity as 𝑛 → ∞. One approach is to pull out the largest power of 𝑛 in the
numerator and denominator:
𝑛3 1 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛12 − 𝑛23 1 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛12 − 𝑛23
( )
𝑛3 + 2𝑛2 − 𝑛 − 2
𝑎𝑛 = = = .
𝑛3 3 + 𝑛12 − 𝑛113 3 + 𝑛12 − 𝑛113
( )
3𝑛3 + 𝑛 − 11

After pulling out the 𝑛3 , we see the numerator tends to 1 as 𝑛 → ∞ and the
denominator tends to 3 as 𝑛 → ∞. We can now use the limit of a quotient is the
quotient of the limit, and find

1 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛12 − 𝑛23 lim𝑛→∞ 1 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛12 − 𝑛23

( )
1
lim 𝑎𝑛 = lim 1 11 = ( 1 11
) = .
𝑛→∞ 𝑛→∞ 3 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛3 lim𝑛→∞ 3 + 𝑛2 − 𝑛3 3

Alternatively, we can use L’Hopital’s rule to evaluate the limit; we keep taking
derivatives until we no longer have infinity over infinity:
𝑛3 + 2𝑛2 − 𝑛 − 2 3𝑛2 + 4𝑛 − 1
lim = lim
𝑛→∞ 3𝑛3 + 𝑛 − 11 𝑛→∞ 9𝑛2 + 1
6𝑛 + 4
= lim
𝑛→∞ 18𝑛
6 1
= lim = .
𝑛→∞ 18 3

4𝑛2 −11𝑛+1
Question: Similar Problem to #7: Find the limit of 𝑎𝑛 = 5𝑛6 +12
, or prove the
limit does not exist.

35
 Solution: The limit is zero. One way to see this is to pull out the highest power
of 𝑛 from the numerator and the denominator; it is 𝑛2 for the numerator and 𝑛6
for the denominator. We have
𝑛2 4 − 11 + 𝑛12 4 − 11 + 𝑛12
( )
4𝑛2 − 11𝑛 + 1 𝑛 𝑛
𝑎𝑛 = = = ) .
𝑛6 +5 𝑛126 𝑛4 +5 𝑛126
( ) (
5𝑛6 + 12
Note the numerator tends to 4 as 𝑛 → ∞ while the denominator tends to infinity;
thus the ratio tends to 0.
Alternatively, we could use L’Hopital’s rule, taking derivatives until we no
longer have infinity over infinity:
4𝑛2 − 11𝑛 + 1 8𝑛 − 11
lim = lim
𝑛→∞ 5𝑛6 + 12 𝑛→∞ 30𝑛5
8
= lim = 0.
𝑛→∞ 150𝑛4

7.2 Page 10.6

2𝑛
∑∞
Question: Similar Problem to #8: Find the limit of the series 𝑛=0 3𝑛 or prove
it does not exist.
Solution: Note that this sum is the same as
∞ ( )𝑛
∑ 2
;
𝑛=0
3

∑𝑟 = 2/3,
this is the same as a geometric series with ratio which is less than 1 in
absolute value. We know the geometric series ∞ 𝑛=0 𝑟 𝑛
converges if ∣𝑟∣ < 1; thus
this series converges.

Question: #10: Find 𝑛 such that 1 + 21 + 13 + ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ + 𝑛1 > 106 .

Solution: The 𝑛th harmonic number, 𝐻𝑛 , is defined by
1 1 1
𝐻𝑛 = 1 + + +⋅⋅⋅+ .
2 3 𝑛
We have 𝐻100 ≈ 5.2, 𝐻1000 ≈ 7.5, 𝐻1010 ≈ 23.6, 𝐻10100 ≈ 230.8, 𝐻101000 ≈
2303.2, and so on. Note how slowly this grows! In fact, 𝐻𝑛 ≈ ln 𝑛 for 𝑛 large.
The sought after value of 𝑛 is about 10434295 , which is quite large!

36
 There are ways to find 𝑛 that will work without knowing 𝐻𝑛 ≈ ln 𝑛. One way
is to note that 1/3 + 1/4 ≥ 1/2, 1/5 + 1/6 + 1/7 + 1/8 ≥ 1/2, 1/9 + ⋅ ⋅ ⋅+ 1/16 ≥
1/2 and so on. Thus we can keep getting at least 1/2....

7.3 Page 10.7

Question: Similar Problem to #13: Find all 𝑝 such that the sequence 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑛 ln1𝑝 𝑛
converges.
Solution: For any fixed 𝑝, once 𝑛 is large the sequence is strictly decreasing
and we can use the integral test. Thus the series converges or diverges depending
on whether or not ∫ ∞
1
𝑝 𝑑𝑥
𝑥=big 𝑥 ln 𝑥

converges or diverges; we write ‘big’ to indicate that the lower bound does not
really matter – what matters is the behavior at infinity. We integrate by parts. Let
𝑢 = ln 𝑥 so 𝑑𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥/𝑥, and thus our integral becomes
∫ ∞
𝑢−𝑝 𝑑𝑢.
𝑢=ln(big)

1−𝑝
The integral of 𝑢−𝑝 is 𝑢 𝑝 if 𝑝 ∕= 1 and ln 𝑢 if 𝑝 = 1. Thus the integral converges
if 𝑝 > 1 and diverges 𝑝 ≤ 1.

7.4 Page 10.8

1√
Question: Similar Problem to #14: Determine if the series ∞
∑
𝑛=1 2𝑛 + 𝑛 con-
verges or diverges.
Solution: We use the comparison test. Note that while ∞ √1
∑
𝑛=1 𝑛 diverges,
∑∞ 1 𝑛
√
𝑛=1 2𝑛 converges. As 2 + 𝑛 ≥ 2𝑛 , we have

1 1
0≤ √ ≤ .
2𝑛 + 𝑛 2𝑛

Thus the series converges by the comparison test.

37
 √
∑∞ 𝑛
Question: Similar Problem to #15: Determine if the series 𝑛=1 5𝑛 converges
or diverges. √
Solution: We have 𝑛 ≤ 2𝑛 . Thus
√ ( )𝑛
𝑛 2𝑛 2
𝑛
≤ 𝑛 = .
5 5 5

Our series is thus bounded term by term by the geometric series with ratio 2/5,
and thus converges by the comparison.

𝑛
Question: Similar Problem to #16: Determine if the series ∞ √2 ⋅𝑛!
∑
𝑛=1 𝑛+11 con-
verges or diverges.
Solution: This series diverges. Note the numerator is growing much faster
than the denominator. The easiest way to see this is that the denominator is at
most 𝑛 for large 𝑛, and 𝑛!/𝑛 = (𝑛 − 1)!. In other words, the terms in the sequence
tend to infinity, and thus the sum cannot converge.

7.5 Page 10.10

Question: #20: Determine if 𝑛𝑘=0 310𝑘 converges or diverges.
∑ 2𝑘+1

Solution: We can re-write the terms in a more illuminating manner. We have

𝑛 𝑛
∑ 32𝑘+1 ∑ 32𝑘
= 3
10𝑘 10𝑘
𝑘=0 𝑘=0
𝑛
∑ 9𝑘
= 3
𝑘=0
10𝑘
𝑛 ( )𝑘
∑ 9
= 3 .
𝑘=0
10

Note the above sum is just three times the geometric series with ratio 3, and thus
converges.

38
 Instead of using the comparison test we can also use the Ratio Test. We look
at 𝑎𝑘+1 /𝑎𝑘 , which for us is
𝑎𝑘+1 32𝑘+3 /10𝑘+1 9
= = .
𝑎𝑘 32𝑘+1 /10𝑘 10
Thus the limit of 𝑎𝑘+1 /𝑎𝑘 is 9/10 < 1, and the series therefore converges by the
Ratio Test.

𝑘 4
Question: #22: Determine if 𝑛𝑘=0 3 (𝑘 5+𝑘+1)
∑
𝑘 converges or diverges.
Solution: If we didn’t have the factor 𝑘 4 + 𝑘 + 1, it would be straightfor-
ward, as the series would just be the geometric series with ratio 3/5. As 𝑘 4 grows
polynomially but 3𝑘 and 5𝑘 grow exponentially, we expect the series to still con-
verge. Thus we look for an upper bound for the numerator such that, even when
multiplied by 3𝑘 , it grows slower than the denominator by a significant margin.
For example, let’s try and show the numerator is bounded by 𝐶 ⋅ 4𝑘 for some
constant 𝐶. We want to show for 𝑘 large that
3𝑘 (𝑘 4 + 𝑘 + 1) ≤ 𝐶 ⋅ 4𝑘 ,
or
𝑘 4 + 𝑘 + 1 ≤ 𝐶 ⋅ (4/3)𝑘 .
We have 𝑘 4 + 𝑘 + 1 ≤ 3𝑘 4 , and thus if we take 𝐶 = 3 we need only show, for
𝑘 large, that 𝑘 4 ≤ (4/3)𝑘 . While this is not true for small 𝑘, it is true for large 𝑘
and thus the series is bounded by the geometric series with ratio 4/5, and hence
converges.
We now provide an alternative proof using the ratio test. We look at 𝑎𝑘+1 /𝑎𝑘 ,
which for us is
𝑎𝑘+1 (3/5)𝑘+1((𝑘 + 1)4 + 𝑘 + 2) 3 (𝑘 + 1)4 + 𝑘 + 2
= = ⋅ .
𝑎𝑘 (3/5)𝑘 (𝑘 4 + 𝑘 + 1) 5 𝑘4 + 𝑘 + 1
If we take the limit as 𝑘 → ∞, we see that the limit is 3/5. As this is less than 1,
by the Ratio Test the series converges.

8 From path integrals to Stokes’ Theorem

The final homework assignment of the semester is: Section 4.2: #1 (see formula
at the bottom of the page for help). Section 4.4: #1, #14. Section 7.1: #3b. Section
7.2: #1c. Section 8.1: #3a. The problems below are similarly chosen problems.

39
Question: Section 4.2: #2: Find the arc length of the curve 𝑐(𝑡) = (1, 3𝑡2 , 𝑡3 )
for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1.
Solution: The answer is ∫ 1
∣∣𝑐′ (𝑡)∣∣ 𝑑𝑡,
0
where
𝑐′ (𝑡) = (0, 6𝑡, 3𝑡2)
so √ √
∣∣𝑐′ (𝑡)∣∣ = 36𝑡2 + 9𝑡4 = 3𝑡 4 + 𝑡2 ;
this will lead to a straightforward integral because of the factor of 𝑡 outside the
square-root. We have
∫ 1 ∫ 1 √
′
∣∣𝑐 (𝑡)∣∣ 𝑑𝑡 = 3𝑡 4 + 𝑡2 𝑑𝑡
0 0
3 1
∫
= (4 + 𝑡2 )1/2 2𝑡𝑑𝑡
2 0
1

2 3/2 
= (4 + 𝑡 ) 

0
3/2 3/2
= 5 −4 .

Question: Section 4.4: #2: Find the divergence and the curl of 𝑉 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
(𝑦𝑧, 𝑥𝑧, 𝑥𝑦) = (𝑉1 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧), 𝑉2 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧), 𝑉3(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)).
Solution: The divergence is
∂𝑉1 ∂𝑉2 ∂𝑉3
div(𝑉 ) = ∇ ⋅ 𝑉 = + + = 0;
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑧
the fact that the divergence is zero has physical interpretations. For the curl, we
have  →
 −𝑖 → − → − 
 𝑗 𝑘 
∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl(𝑉 ) = ∇ × 𝑉 =  ∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 ∂𝑧 
.
 𝑉 𝑉 𝑉 
1 2 2

Expanding gives
( )
∂𝑉3 ∂𝑉2 ∂𝑉1 ∂𝑉3 ∂𝑉2 ∂𝑉1
− , − , − = (0, 0, 0) ;
∂𝑦 ∂𝑧 ∂𝑧 ∂𝑥 ∂𝑥 ∂𝑦

40
thus this vector field has both zero curl and zero divergence!
∫
Question:
√ Section 7.1: #3a: Find the path integral 𝑐
𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)𝑑𝑠 where 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) =
2
exp( 𝑧) and 𝑐(𝑡) = (1, 2, 𝑡 ) for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 1.
Solution: The path integral is
∫ 1
𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡))∣∣𝑐′ (𝑡)∣∣ 𝑑𝑡.
0

We have
𝑐′ (𝑡) = (0, 0, 2𝑡), ∣∣𝑐′ (𝑡)∣∣ = 2∣𝑡∣
(which is 2𝑡 as 𝑡 ≥ 0). Further,
√
𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡)) = 𝑓 (1, 2, 𝑡2) = exp( 𝑡2 ) = exp(𝑡).

Thus the path integral is

∫ 1 ∫ 1
𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡))∣∣𝑐′(𝑡)∣∣ 𝑑𝑡 = exp(𝑡)2𝑡𝑑𝑡.
0 0

The integral (or anti-derivative) of exp(𝑡)𝑡 is just exp(𝑡)(𝑡 − 1), and thus we have
∫ 1 1

𝑓 (𝑐(𝑡))∣∣𝑐′(𝑡)∣∣ 𝑑𝑡 = 2 exp(𝑡)(𝑡 − 1) = 2.

0 
0

Question: Section 7.2: #1b: Let 𝐹 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧). Evaluate the integral of
𝐹 along the path 𝑐(𝑡) = (sin 𝑡, 0, cos 𝑡) for 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋.
Solution: We have
𝑐′ (𝑡) = (cos 𝑡, 0, − sin 𝑡)
,
𝐹 (𝑐(𝑡)) = 𝐹 (sin 𝑡, 0, cos 𝑡) = (sin 𝑡, 0, cos 𝑡).
Thus the line integral is
∫ 2𝜋 ∫ 1
𝐹 (𝑐(𝑡)) ⋅ 𝑐′ (𝑡)𝑑𝑡 = (sin 𝑡, 0, cos 𝑡)(cos 𝑡, 0, − sin 𝑡)𝑑𝑡
0 0
∫ 2𝜋
= 0𝑑𝑡 = 0.
0

41
Question: Section 8.1: #3b: Verify Green’s theorem for the disk with center
(0, 0) and radius 𝑅 and the functions 𝑃 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 + 𝑦, 𝑄(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦.
Solution: We have
∂𝑄 ∂𝑃
− = 0 − 1 = −1;
∂𝑥 ∂𝑦
thus ∫ ∫ ( )
∂𝑄 ∂𝑃
∫ ∫
− 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = −1𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦 = −Area(𝐷);
𝐷 ∂𝑥 ∂𝑦 𝐷

of course, the area of the disk is 𝜋𝑅2 so this double integral is −𝜋𝑅2 .
For the other part of Green’s theorem, we note the boundary curve is

𝑐(𝑡) = (𝑅 cos 𝑡, 𝑅 sin 𝑡), 0 ≤ 𝑡 ≤ 2𝜋

(remember we must travel so that the region 𝐷 is on our left). Thus

𝑐′ (𝑡) = (−𝑅 sin 𝑡, 𝑅 cos 𝑡).

Further,
→
− →
−
𝐹 (𝑐(𝑡)) = 𝐹 (𝑅 cos 𝑡, 𝑅 sin 𝑡) = (𝑅 cos 𝑡 + 𝑅 sin 𝑡, 𝑅 sin 𝑡),

and hence
2𝜋
→
− → →
−
∫ ∫
𝐹 ⋅ 𝑑−
𝑠 = 𝐹 (𝑐(𝑡)) ⋅ 𝑐′ (𝑡)𝑑𝑡
𝑐
∫0 2𝜋
= (𝑅 cos 𝑡 + 𝑅 sin 𝑡, 𝑅 sin 𝑡) ⋅ (−𝑅 sin 𝑡, 𝑅 cos 𝑡)𝑑𝑡
0
∫ 2𝜋
= −𝑅2 sin2 𝑡𝑑𝑡.
0

We evaluated the sine-integral many ways, and found it equals 𝜋; one could also
use trig identities and find sin2 𝑡 = 1−cos(2𝑡)
2
. Thus the integral equals 𝜋 times
2
−𝑅 , which does match.

42