Chapter 14
14-1-4
The equations of the cross-sections when
i) x = 0, ⇒ f (x, y) = sin (–y) = –sin y
ii) y = 0, ⇒ f (x, y) = sin (x)
iii) x = y, ⇒ f (x, y) = 0
To determine the level curves, we set the function to a constant, k, so that
k = sin (x – y)
sin–1k = x – y
y = x – (sin–1 k)
which is an equation of a line with slope of 1, and the y-intercept [– (sin–1 k)].
Below is a plot of f (x, y) = sin (x – y).
Courtesy of 3D Surface Plotter
14-2-5
Let us recall a famous limit in Calculus I and Calculus II,
sin θ
lim =1
θ →0 θ
by the merit of the L'Hôpital's rule. Therefore, if we substitute θ for x2 + y2, we can see that the
limit of our surface at (0, 0) is 1, courtesy of 3D Surface Plotter.
Courtesy of 3D Surface Plotter
A picture is worth a thousand words, and we can safely dispense the burden of carrying out
the formal δ - ε proof that the limit is 1, i.e., for
0 < x2 + y 2 < δ
sin( x 2 + y 2 )
⇒ −1 < ε
x2 + y 2
14-3-6
This is a straightforward one….. We have
f ( x, y ) = x tan y
δ
f x ( x, y )
= = x tan y tan y
δx
δ
f y ( x, y )
= = x tan y x sec 2 y
δy
14-3-10
Courtesy of 3D Surface Plotter
Let us complete some background work on the above given surface.
f ( x, y)= x2 + y3
f x ( x, y ) = 2 x
f y ( x, y ) = 3 y 2
At, (3, 1, 10), fx (3,1) = 6, and fy (3,1) = 3.
The equation of the tangent plane at (3, 1, 10) is
− 10 f x (3,1)( x − 3) + f y (3,1)( y − 1)
z=
= 6( x − 3) + 3( y − 1)
z = 6( x − 3) + 3( y − 1) + 10
Note: Remember how we construct a linear equation, y = mx + b, going through an arbitrary
point, (xo, yo)?
14-4-5
Given 2x2 + 3y2 – 2z2 = 9, we can rearrange to have
f (x, y, z) = 2x2 + 3y2 – 2z2 – 9
And since it is a constant function, we should have all δf / δx, δf / δy, and δf / δz equals to
zero. Then, we can apply the chain rule:
δf δx δy δz
= fx + fy + fz =0
δy δy δy δy
δz
4 x(1) + 6 y (0) − 4 z 0
=
δx
δz x
=
δx z
and
δf δx δy δz
= fx + fy + fz =0
δy δy δy δy
δz
4 x(0) + 6 y (1) − 4 z 0
=
δy
δ z 3y
=
δ y 2z
14-4-9
We can rewrite the ideal gas law as
f (P, V, T) = PV – nRT = 0
What we need to do is to write out the total differential of the function f (P, V, T):
δf δf δf
df ( P, V , T ) = dP + dV + dT
δP δV δT
=VdP + pdV − nRdT
=0
Now, we will be given any two values of dP, dV, and dT, and asked to determine the other in
the following three parts of the exercise. We are ready…..
a) Given dP = 0.2, and dT = 1
pdV nRdT − VdP
=
nRdT − VdP
dV =
P
nR − 0.2V
=
P
b) Given dV = –0.3, and dT = 0.5
VdP nRdT − PdV
=
nRdT − PdV
dP =
V
(0.5)nR − P (−0.3)
=
V
nR + 0.6 P
=
2V
c) Given dP = –0.4, and dV = 3
VdP nRdT − PdV
=
nRdT
= VdP + PdV
PdV + VdP
dT =
nR
3P − 0.4V
=
nR
Note: It may be necessary for Dr. David Guichard to give unit of pressure (Pascal), volume
(Litre), and temperature (Kelvin) for the sake of completeness. However, we should have
ignored them in our attempt to deal with this problem. There is an inconsistency in the units
also. The pressure and temperature are in SI unit, whereas the volume is not cubic metre (1000
Litres). Anyway, let’s not worry about such details. Dr. Guichard is a mathematician, not a
physicist. Nevertheless, physicists have a love-hate relationship with SI units too. They prefer
cgs units.
14-5-10
The gradient of T at (1, 1, 1) is
∇T ( x , y , z ) =
yz , xz , xy
∇T (1,1,1) =
1, 1, 1
Let the direction from (1, 1, 1) that will maintain the same temperature be u = < a, b, c >.
What we mean by maintaining the same temperature is that the gradient and the vector u to be
perpendicular, i.e., the slope is
∇T ( x , y , z ) ⋅ u =0
∇T (1,1,1)⋅ < a, b, c >= 0
a+b+c =0
Zero slope means no change! To satisfy the above condition, we can set a = 1, b = –1, and c
= 0, so that we have u = < 1, –1, 0 >. Other possibilities are < –1, 1, 0 >, < 0, –1, 1 >, ……
Basically, we can set a, b, and c any value if their sum is zero!
14-5-18
The gradient of T and at (2, 1) is
∇T ( x, y ) =< −2 x, −9 y 2 >
∇T (2,1) =< −4, −9 >
a) The above derived gradient is the direction of steepest increasing temperature. Therefore,
the opposite direction will be the one with the steepest decreasing temperature. It is,
simply, < 4, 9 >.
b) We can apply the same trick in Ex 14-5-10. To maintain the same temperature means
zero slope, i.e.,
∇T ( x, y ) ⋅ u (a, b) =
0
∇T (1,3) ⋅ u (a, b) =< −2, −81 > ⋅ < a, b >
=−2a − 81b
2a + 81b =
0
This condition can easily be satisfied by setting a = –81 and b = 2, or a = 81 and b = –2.
These two sets of a and b are just convenient numbers. We have basically an infinite set of a and
b if the above condition is met.
