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Unit 4 PT 2 PT 2 Derivatives Vector Functions

This document discusses derivatives of vector functions. It provides examples of calculating the derivative r'(t) of a vector function r(t), finding the unit tangent vector T(t), and taking indefinite integrals. It also gives practice problems with solutions that involve finding derivatives of vector functions, tangent vectors, and parametric equations of tangent lines.

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34 views6 pages

Unit 4 PT 2 PT 2 Derivatives Vector Functions

This document discusses derivatives of vector functions. It provides examples of calculating the derivative r'(t) of a vector function r(t), finding the unit tangent vector T(t), and taking indefinite integrals. It also gives practice problems with solutions that involve finding derivatives of vector functions, tangent vectors, and parametric equations of tangent lines.

Uploaded by

sprinklesdb16
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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WTW 164

Unit 4.2.2: Derivatives of vector


functions
Dr HR (Maya) Thackeray
<[email protected]>
Derivatives of vector functions (page 1)
The derivative of r is defined as the vector function r’ such that
r’(t) = dr/dt := .
The vector r’(t) is the tangent vector to the curve traced out by r at the
point P with position vector r(t).
If r’(t) is not 0, then the unit tangent vector is T(t) = r’(t) and the
tangent line to the curve at P is the line through P parallel to r’(t).
Derivatives of vector functions (page 2)
If r(t) = , then
r’(t) =
and
=.
If R is an antiderivative of r (that is, R’ = r), then
= = R(b) – R(a),
and we have the indefinite integral
= R(t) + C
where C is a constant vector.
Questions (page 1)
Suppose r(t) = <3e2t, 4t3 + 3t, >.
• Find r’(t) and .
• Find the unit tangent vector to the curve traced out by r at t = 0.
Solution. r’(t) = <6e2t, 12t2 + 3, 2/>.
= <(3/2)e2t, t4 + (3/2)t2, (1/6)(4t + 1)3/2> + C, where C is a constant
vector.
r’(0) = <6, 3, 2>, so T(0) = r’(0) = <6, 3, 2>
= <6, 3, 2> = <6/7, 3/7, 2/7>.
Questions (page 2)
Consider the curve r(t) = <, t + 1>.
• Find r’(t), T(t), and r’’(t).
• Find r(1) and r’(1).
Solution. r’(t) = <t–1/2, 1>, T(t) = <t–1/2, 1>,
r’’(t) = <t–3/2, 0>, r(1) = <1, 2>, and r’(1) = <, 1>.
The curve is the right half of the parabola y = x2 + 1 (with (0, 1) as the
endpoint), traced from left to right. The tangent vector r’(1) can be
thought of as starting at the point (1, 2) with position vector r(1) = <1,
2>.
Questions (page 3)
Determine parametric equations for the tangent line to the curve
r(t) = <cos t, 3 sin t, t>
at the point (–1, 0, π).
Solution. r’(t) = <–sin t, 3 cos t, 1>.
We want t = π; r’(π) = <0, –3, 1>.
Therefore, the tangent line has parametric equations
x = –1, y = –3u, z = π + u, u real.
(Vector equation: R(u) = <–1, 0, π> + u<0, –3, 1>, u real.)

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