MY ACCOUNT

Calculus III
Study concepts, example questions & explanations

Question #1: Directional Derivative

Find the directional derivative of the function 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝒙𝒚) at the
𝝅
⃑ = 〈𝟏, 𝟑〉.
point ( , 𝟏) in the direction of the vector 𝒗
𝟑

Answer:
The directional derivative of f at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the direction of the unit
⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 is
vector 𝑢

𝐷 𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑

𝝅
We first compute the gradient vector at ( 𝟑 , 𝟏):

𝑓𝑥 = 𝑦 2 cos(𝑥𝑦) , 𝑓𝑦 = 𝑥𝑦 cos(𝑥𝑦),

𝝅 𝝅
𝑓𝑥 ( , 𝟏) = 1/2, 𝑓𝑦 ( , 𝟏) = 𝜋/6
𝟑 𝟑

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉

𝝅 𝝅 𝝅
∇𝑓 ( , 𝟏) = 〈𝑓𝑥 ( , 𝟏) , 𝑓𝑦 ( , 𝟏)〉 = 〈1/2, 𝜋/6〉
𝟑 𝟑 𝟑

Note that 𝒗⃑ is not a unit vector, but since |𝒗

⃑ | = √10, the unit vector in
1 𝟏 𝟑
the direction 𝒗 ⃑ = | |𝒗
⃑ of is 𝑢 ⃑ = 〈 𝟏𝟎 , 𝟏𝟎〉.
⃑
𝒗 √ √
Therefore, we have
𝝅 𝝅 1 𝜋 1 3 1 𝜋 1+𝜋
𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 ( , 𝟏) = ∇𝑓 ( , 𝟏) ∙ 𝑢
⃑ = 〈 , 〉∙〈 , 〉= + =
𝟑 𝟑 2 6 √10 √10 2√10 2√10 2√10
Question #2: Directional Derivative
If 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒍𝒏(𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚), (a) find the gradient of f and (b) find the
directional derivative of f at (5, 1) in the direction of 𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋.

Answer:
𝝅
The gradient vector of f is at ( 𝟑 , 𝟏):

2𝑥 − 3𝑦 −3𝑥 + 1
𝑓𝑥 = , 𝑓𝑦 = ,
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚

2𝑥 − 3𝑦 −3𝑥 + 1
∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉 = 〈 , 〉
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚

The directional derivative of f at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the direction of the unit

⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 is
vector 𝑢

𝐷 𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑

At (5,1) we have
7
∇𝑓(𝟓, 𝟏) = 〈𝑓𝑥 (𝟓, 𝟏), 𝑓𝑦 (𝟓, 𝟏)〉 = 〈
, −14/11〉
11
⃑ = 𝒊 + 𝟐𝒋 is not a unit vector, but since |⃑𝒗| = √5, the unit
Note that 𝒗
1 𝟏 𝟐
⃑ =
⃑ = of is 𝑢
vector in the direction 𝒗 ⃑ =〈
𝒗 , 〉.
|𝒗
⃑| √𝟓 √𝟓
Therefore, we have
7 14 𝟏 𝟐 7 28 −21
𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 (𝟓, 𝟏) = ∇𝑓(𝟓, 𝟏) ∙ 𝑢
⃑ =〈 ,− 〉 ∙ 〈 , 〉 = − =
11 11 √𝟓 √𝟓 11√5 11√5 11√5
Question #3: Directional Derivative
If 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒙𝒆𝒚 + 𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝒙𝒚), find the rate of change of f at the point P(2, 0)
in the direction from P to Q(5,-4).

Answer:

We first compute the gradient vector:

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉 = 〈𝒆𝒚 − 𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝒙𝒚), 𝒙𝒆𝒚 − 𝒙𝒔𝒊𝒏(𝒙𝒚)〉

The gradient of f at (2, 0) is

∇𝑓(2,0) = 〈𝑓𝑥 (2,0), 𝑓𝑦 (2,0)〉 = 〈𝟏, 𝟐〉

The directional derivative of f at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the direction of the unit

⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 is
vector 𝑢

𝐷 𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑

1 𝟑 −𝟒
⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ = 〈3, −4〉 is 𝑢
The unit vector in the direction of 𝑃𝑄 ⃑ = ⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑
𝑃𝑄 =〈 , 〉.
⃑⃑⃑⃑⃑ |
|𝑃𝑄 𝟓 𝟓
Therefore, we have
3 −4 3 8
𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 (2,0) = ∇𝑓(2,0) ∙ 𝑢
⃑ = 〈1,2〉 ∙ 〈 , 〉 = − = −1.
5 5 5 5
Question #4: Directional Derivative
Find the derivative of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒙𝟑 − 𝒙𝒚𝟐 − 𝒛 at P0(1, 1, 0) in the
direction of 𝒗 ⃑.
⃑ = 𝟐𝒊 − 𝟑𝒋 + 𝟔𝒌

Answer:

We first compute the gradient vector:

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 , 𝑓𝑧 〉 = 〈𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝒚𝟐 , −𝟐𝒙𝒚, −𝟏〉

The gradient of f at (1, 1, 0) is

∇𝑓(1,1,0) = 〈𝑓𝑥 (1,1,0), 𝑓𝑦 (1,1,0), 𝑓𝑧 (1,1,0)〉 = 〈2, −2, −1〉

The directional derivative of f at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) in the direction of the unit

⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐〉 is
vector 𝑢

𝐷 𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑

The unit vector in the direction of 𝒗 ⃑ is

⃑ = 𝟐𝒊 − 𝟑𝒋 + 𝟔𝒌
1 𝟐 −𝟑 𝟔
⃑ = 𝑣 = 〈 , , 〉.
𝑢 |𝑣 | ⃑ 𝟕 𝟕 𝟕

Therefore, we have
2 −3 6 4
𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 (1,1,0) = ∇𝑓(1,1,0) ∙ 𝑢
⃑ = 〈2, −2, −1〉 ∙ 〈 , , 〉= .
7 7 7 7
Question #5: Directional Derivative
𝒙𝟐 𝒚𝟐
Find the maximum rate of change of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = + at the point (1, 1)
𝟐 𝟐
and the direction in which it occurs.

Answer:
The maximum value of the directional derivative 𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓(𝒙) is |∇𝑓(𝒙)| and
⃑ has the same direction as the gradient vector ∇𝑓(𝒙).
it occurs when 𝑢

We first compute the gradient vector:

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉 = 〈𝒙, 𝒚〉

and so

∇𝑓(1,1) = 〈𝟏, 𝟏〉

The maximum rate of change of 𝒇 at the point (1, 1) is

|∇𝑓(1,1)| = |〈𝟏, 𝟏〉| = √12 + 12 = √2

and it occurs in the direction of the gradient vector

∇𝑓(1,1) = 〈𝟏, 𝟏〉.

Question #6: Directional Derivative
Suppose that the temperature at a point (𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) in space is given by
𝟖𝟎
𝑻(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝟐 𝟐 𝟐
, where T is measured in degrees Celsius and
𝟏+𝒙 +𝟐𝒚 +𝟑𝒛
x, y, z in meters. In which direction does the temperature increase
fastest at the point (𝟏, 𝟏, −𝟐)? What is the maximum rate of increase?

Answer:
The maximum value of the directional derivative 𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓(𝒙) is |∇𝑓(𝒙)| and
⃑ has the same direction as the gradient vector ∇𝑓(𝒙).
it occurs when 𝑢

The gradient of T is:

∇𝑇 = 〈𝑇𝑥 , 𝑇𝑦 , 𝑇𝑧 〉
−𝟏𝟔𝟎𝒙 −𝟑𝟐𝟎𝒚 −𝟒𝟖𝟎𝒛
=〈 , , 〉
(𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + 𝟑𝒛𝟐 )𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + 𝟑𝒛𝟐 )𝟐 (𝟏 + 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝒚𝟐 + 𝟑𝒛𝟐 )𝟐

At the point (𝟏, 𝟏, −𝟐) the gradient is

𝟓 𝟏𝟎 𝟑𝟎
∇𝑇(𝟏, 𝟏, −𝟐) = 〈− , − , 〉
𝟖 𝟖 𝟖

The temperature increases fastest in the direction of the gradient

vector ∇𝑇(𝟏, 𝟏, −𝟐). The maximum rate of increase is the length of
the gradient vector:

5
|∇𝑇 (𝟏, 𝟏, −𝟐)| = |〈𝟏, 𝟏〉| = √41 ≈ 4° 𝐶/𝑚.
8
Question #7: Directional Derivative
Find the directions in which the function increase and decrease most
rapidly at P0. Then find the derivatives of the function in these
directions.
𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝐱𝟐 𝒚 + 𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒚, 𝑷𝟎 (𝟏, 𝟎).

Answer:

The gradient of f is:

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉 = 〈𝟐𝒙𝒚 + 𝒚𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒚, 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚 + 𝒙𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒚〉.

At the point (𝟏, 𝟎) the gradient is

∇𝑓(𝟏, 𝟎) = 〈𝟎, 2〉.

The function increases most rapidly in the direction of

∇𝑓(𝟏, 𝟎) = 〈𝟎, 2〉 and the rate of change in this direction is

|∇𝑓(𝟏, 𝟎)| = |〈𝟎, 𝟐〉| = 2.

The function decreases most rapidly in the direction of −∇𝑓(𝟏, 𝟎) =

〈𝟎, −2〉 and the rate of change in this direction is

−|∇𝑓(𝟏, 𝟎)| = −|〈𝟎, 𝟐〉| = −2.

Question #8: Directional Derivative
Find the directions in which the directional derivative of 𝒇(𝒙, 𝒚) = 𝒚𝒆−𝒙𝒚
at the point (0, 2) has the value 1.

Answer:
The directional derivative of f at (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the direction of the unit
⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 is
vector 𝑢

𝐷 𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑

The gradient of f is:

∇𝑓 = 〈𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 〉 = 〈−𝒚𝟐𝒆−𝒙𝒚 , −𝒙𝒚𝒆−𝒙𝒚 + 𝒆−𝒙𝒚〉.

At the point (𝟎, 𝟐) the gradient is

∇𝑓(𝟎, 𝟐) = 〈−4,1〉.

The directional derivative of f at (0,2) in the direction of the unit

⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉, is
vector 𝑢

𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = ∇𝑓 ∙ 𝑢
⃑ = 〈−4,1〉 ∙ 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 = −4𝑎 + 𝑏.

Thus 𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 has the value 1 in the direction of

𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = −4𝑎 + 𝑏 = 1 ⇛ 𝑏 = 1 + 4𝑎.

⃑ = 〈𝑎, 𝑏〉 is a unit vector we have that √𝑎2 + 𝑏2 = 1 or 𝑎2 +

Since 𝑢
𝑏2 = 1.

In this case we have

𝑎 2 + 𝑏2 = 1

𝑎2 + (1 + 4𝑎)2 = 1

𝑎2 + 1 + 8𝑎 + 16𝑎2 = 1

17𝑎2 + 8𝑎 = 0

𝑎(17𝑎 + 8) = 0
 𝑎 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑎 = −8/17.

Then
8 8 15
𝑎 = 0 ⇛ 𝑏 = 1 and 𝑎 = − 17 ⇛ 𝑏 = 1 + 4 (− 17) = − 17,

The directions in which 𝐷𝑢⃑ 𝑓 = 1 are

8 15
〈0,1〉, 〈− , − 〉.
17 17
Question #9: Tangent Plane and Normal Line
Find the equations of the tangent plane and normal line at the point
(0, 1, 1) to the surface
𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 = 𝟐𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 .

Answer:

The tangent plane at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k has normal vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

The normal line at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k is in the direction of the vector 𝑣 = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

First we rewrite the equation of the surface in the form F(x, y, z) = k

as:

𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 − 𝟐𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 = 𝟎

and so

𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙 + 𝒚 + 𝒛 − 𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 .

Therefore we have

𝐹𝑥 = 1 − 2𝑦𝑧𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 , 𝐹𝑦 = 1 − 2𝑥𝑧𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 , 𝐹𝑧 = 1 − 2𝑥𝑦𝒆𝒙𝒚𝒛 ,

𝐹𝑥 (0,1,1) = −1, 𝐹𝑦 (0,1,1) = 1, 𝐹𝑧 (0,1,1) = 1,

∇𝐹(0,1,1) = 〈𝐹𝑥 (0,1,1), 𝐹𝑦 (0,1,1), 𝐹𝑧 (0,1,1)〉 = 〈−1,1,1〉

The tangent plane at the point (0,1,1) to the surface has normal
vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(0,1,1) = 〈−1,1,1〉. Therefore the equation of the
tangent plane is

(−1)(𝑥 − 0) + (1)(𝑦 − 1) + (1)(𝑧 − 1) = 0

which simplifies to −𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 = 2.

The normal line at the point (0,1,1) to the surface is in the direction of
the vector 𝑣 = ∇𝐹(0,1,1) = 〈−1,1,1〉. Parametric equations of the
normal line are

𝑥 = 0 − 𝑡, 𝑦 = 1 + 𝑡, 𝑧 = 1 + 𝑡.
Question #10: Tangent Plane and Normal Line
Find the equations of the tangent plane and normal line at the point
(1, 2, 4) to the surface
𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒛 = 𝟗.

Answer:

The tangent plane at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k has normal vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

The normal line at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k is in the direction of the vector 𝑣 = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

The equation of the surface is already written in the form

F(x, y, z) = k, and so

𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 + 𝒛.

The gradient is

𝐹𝑥 = 2𝑥, 𝐹𝑦 = 2𝑦, 𝐹𝑧 = 1,

∇𝐹(1,2,4) = 〈𝐹𝑥 (1,2,4), 𝐹𝑦 (1,2,4), 𝐹𝑧 (1,2,4)〉 = 〈2,4,1〉

The tangent plane at the point (1,2,4) to the surface has normal
vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(1,2,4) = 〈2,4,1〉. The tangent plane is therefore the
plane

2(𝑥 − 1) + 4(𝑦 − 2) + 1(𝑧 − 4) = 0

which simplifies to 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 + 𝑧 = 14.

The normal line at the point (1,2,4) to the surface is in the direction of
the vector 𝑣 = ∇𝐹(1,2,4) = 〈2,4,1〉. Parametric equations of the
normal line are

𝑥 = 1 + 2𝑡, 𝑦 = 2 + 4𝑡, 𝑧 = 4 + 𝑡.
Question #11: Tangent Plane and Normal Line
Find the tangent plane to the surface 𝒛 = 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝒚) − 𝒚𝒆𝒙 at (0, 0, 0).

Answer:

The tangent plane at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k has normal vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

First we rewrite the equation of the surface in the form F(x, y, z) = k

as:

𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝒚) − 𝒚𝒆𝒙 − 𝑧 = 0

and so

𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙𝒄𝒐𝒔(𝒚) − 𝒚𝒆𝒙 − 𝑧.

We first calculate the partial derivatives of F

𝐹𝑥 = cos(𝑦) − 𝑦𝒆𝑥 , 𝐹𝑦 = −𝑥𝑠𝑖𝑛(𝑦) − 𝒆𝒙 , 𝐹𝑧 = −1,

𝐹𝑥 (0,0,0) = 1, 𝐹𝑦 (0,0,0) = −1, 𝐹𝑧 (0,1,1) = −1,

Then,

∇𝐹(0,0,0) = 〈𝐹𝑥 (0,0,0), 𝐹𝑦 (0,0,0), 𝐹𝑧 (0,0,0)〉 = 〈1, −1, −1〉.

The tangent plane at the point (0,0,0) to the surface has normal
vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(0,0,0) = 〈1, −1, −1〉. Therefore the equation of the
tangent plane is

(1)(𝑥 − 0) + (−1)(𝑦 − 0) + (−1)(𝑧 − 0) = 0

which simplifies to 𝑥 − 𝑦 − 𝑧 = 0.
Question #12: Tangent Plane
At what point on the paraboloid 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐 is the tangent plane parallel
to the plane 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1?

Answer:

The tangent plane at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k has normal vector 𝑛⃑ = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

The normal line at the point 𝑃(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the surface

F(x, y, z) = k is in the direction of the vector 𝑣 = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ).

First we rewrite the equation of the paraboloid in the form F(x, y, z) =

k as:

𝒙𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐 − 𝒚 = 𝟎

and so

𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐 − 𝒚.

Therefore we have

𝐹𝑥 = 2𝑥, 𝐹𝑦 = −1, 𝐹𝑧 = 2𝑧,

∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) = 〈2𝑥0 , −1,2𝑧0 〉.

The tangent plane at the point (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) to the paraboloid has

normal vector ⃑⃑⃑⃑𝑛1 = ∇𝐹(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) = 〈2𝑥0 , −1,2𝑧0 〉. The given plane
𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1 has normal vector ⃑⃑⃑⃑ 𝑛2 = 〈1,2,3〉. The two planes are
parallel if their normal vectors are parallel, ⃑⃑⃑⃑ ⃑⃑⃑⃑2 . Thus,
𝑛1 //𝑛

⃑⃑⃑⃑ ⃑⃑⃑⃑2 ⇛ 〈2𝑥0, −1,2𝑧0 〉 = 𝑘〈1,2,3〉 ⇛ 2𝑥0 = 𝑘, 2𝑘 = −1,2𝑧0 = 3𝑘

𝑛1 = 𝑘𝑛
1 𝑘 1 3𝑘 3
So, 𝑘 = − 2 , 𝑥0 = 2 = − 4 , 𝑧0 = 2
= − 4.

5
The point (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) is a point on the paraboloid if 𝑦0 = 𝑥0 2 + 𝑧0 2 = 8.
Therefore, the point on the paraboloid 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒛𝟐 where the tangent
plane is parallel to the plane 𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 3𝑧 = 1 is

1 5 3
(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , 𝑧0 ) = (− , , − ).
4 8 4
Question #13: The Gradient
The cylinder 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐 and the plane 𝒙 + 𝒛 = 𝟒 meet in an ellipse E.
Find parametric equations for the line tangent to E at the point P 0(I, 1, 3).

Answer:

First we rewrite the equations of the two surfaces in the form

F(x, y, z) = k as:

𝑭(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐, 𝑮(𝒙, 𝒚, 𝒛) = 𝒙 + 𝒛

The tangent line is orthogonal to both ∇𝐹 and ∇𝐺 at Po, and therefore

parallel to 𝑣 = ∇𝐹 × ∇𝐺. We have

∇𝐹(1,1,3) = 〈2,2,0〉, ∇𝐺(1,1,3) = 〈1,0,1〉,

𝑖 𝑗 𝑘⃑
𝑣 = ∇𝐹 × ∇𝐺 = |2 2 0| = 2𝑖 − 2𝑗 − 2𝑘⃑.
1 0 1

The tangent line is

𝑥 = 1 + 2𝑡, 𝑦 = 1 − 2𝑡, 𝑧 = 3 − 2𝑡.