DGS
Assignment
Module No. 2: Multivariable Differential Calculus
(Topic: Total differential, Jacobian, Taylor’s expansion for two variables, Linear Approx-
imation and Increment estimation)
1. Obtain the quadratic approximation near origin using Taylor’s formula for the temperature dis-
tribution T (x, y) = ex sin y in a rectangular plate and hence obtain approximate temperature at
(0.2, 0.2).
2. Consider the potential function f (x, y) = sin x cos y and use Taylor’s expansion formula to find
quadratic approximations of the potential function at the origin. Estimate the error in the ap-
proximation if |x| ≤ 0.1 and |y| ≤ 0.1.
3. Use Taylor’s formula to find a quadratic approximation of ey sin x at the origin. Estimate the
error in the approximation if |x| ≤ 0.1 and |y| ≤ 0.2.
4. Suppose the function f (x, y) = ex sin y represents velocity potential of certain fluid flow. Find
the quadratic approximation of f (x, y) at the origin.
5. Suppose that a cylindrical can is designed to have radius 2 inch and a height of 10 inch, but that
the radius and heights are off by the amounts dr = +0.06 and dh = −0.2. Estimate the resulting
change in the volume of the can.
x+y
6. Given that u = 1−xy and v = tan−1 x + tan−1 y. Estimate whether the given functions are
functionally dependent or not?
7. The dimensions of a rectangular box are measured to be 75 cm, 60 cm, and 40 cm and each
measurement is correct to within 0.2 cm. Use differentials to estimate the largest possible error
when the volume of the box is calculated from these measurements.
8. Use Taylor’s expansion formula and find the second order Taylor polynomial of the function
f (x, y) = x2 y + 2y at (1, 1).
9. Determine the linear and second order Taylor polynomial of function f (x, y) = xey + 1 for (x, y)
near the point (1, 0).
10. Obtain the quadratic approximation near origin using Taylor’s formula for the temperature dis-
tribution T (x, y) = ex sin y in a rectangular plate and hence obtain approximation temperature
at (0.2, 0.2).
DGS
Assignment
Module No. 2: Multivariable Differential Calculus
(Topic: Partial derivatives, Chain Rules)
∂2w ey
1. Find ∂x∂y if w = xy + y 2 +1
.
∂z
2. Find ∂x assuming that the equation yz −ln z = x+y defines z as a function of the two independent
variables x and y and the partial derivatives exists.
3. If resistors of R1 , R2 and R3 ohms are connected in parallel to make an R-ohm resistor, the value
of R can be found from the equation R1 = R11 + R12 + R13 . Find the value of ∂R
∂R
1
when R1 = 30,
R2 = 45, and R3 = 90 ohms.
4. Suppose that at a given moment, the radius of a right circular cylinder is 2 cm and increasing at
a rate of 0.4 cm/min, and height is 5 cm and decreasing at a rate of 0.3 cm/min. Find the rate
at which the volume can be changed.
5. If f (u, v, w) is differentiable function and u = x − y, v = y − z, and w = z − x, then find the value
of ∂f ∂f ∂f
∂x + ∂y + ∂z .
6. The altitude of a right circular cone is 15 cm and is increasing at the rate 0.2 cm/sec. The radius
of the base is 10 cm and is decreasing at the rate 0.3 cm/sec. How fast the volume of the cone is
changing.
7. For what values of α, z = f (x + 2t) + g(x − αt) represents a solution of the motion of a plucked
string with zxx = Tρ ztt . Here T represents the tension that acts tangent to the string, rho is the
mass per unit length (both assumed to be constants) and α = Tρ .
8. The temperature at a point (x, y) is T (x, y),√ measured in degree celsius. A bug crawls so that
its position after t seconds is given by x = 1 + t, y = 2 + 13 t, where x and y are measured in
centimeters. The temperature function satisfies Tx (2, 3) = 4 and Ty (2, 3) = 3. How fast is the
temperature rising on the bug’s path after 3 seconds?
∂w ∂w
9. Express ∂r and ∂s in terms of r and s if w = x + 2y + z 2 , x = rs , y = r2 + log s, z = 2r.
dw
10. Let w = x2 e2y cos 3z. Find the value of dt at the point (1, ln 2, 0) on the curve x = cos t,
y = ln t + 2, z = t.
DGS
Assignment
Module No. 2: Multivariable Differential Calculus
(Topic: Maxima, minima and saddle points, Constrained maxima and minima, La-
grange’s multiplier method)
1. Find the local extreme values of f (x, y) = 3y 2 − 2y 3 − 3x2 + 6xy.
2. A container with an open top is to have 10 m3 capacity and be made of thin sheet metal. Calculate
the dimensions of the box if it is to use the minimum possible amount of metal.
3. A particle is moving on a plane x + 2y + 3z = 13. Find the point on this plane which is closest
to the point (1, 1, 1).
4. Suppose that the temperature at a point (x, y) on circle of radius 4 centered at the origin is
T (x, y) = 3x − y + 6. An ant walks around the circle. Find the highest and lowest temperatures
encountered by the ant.
5. The temperature at a point (x, y) on a metal plate is T (x, y) = 4x2 − 4xy + y 2 . An ant on the
plate walks around the circle of radius 5 centered at the origin. What are the highest and lowest
temperatures encountered by the ant?
x2 y2
6. Find the maximum and minimum values of the function f (x, y) = xy on the ellipse 8 + 2 = 1,
by using Lagrange multiplier method.
7. The temperature at a point (x, y) on a metal plate is T (x, y) = x2 − y 2 . An ant on the plate walks
around the circle of radius 2 with center at the origin, that is, x2 + y 2 = 4. Find the highest and
lowest temperature encountered by the ant using Lagrange’s multiplier.
8. An engineer is tasked with designed a cylindrical vessel to maximize its volume while maintaining
a surface area constraint of 600 square meters. The volume V of the cylinder is given by V = πr2 h,
and the surface area S is S = 2πr(h + r). Use the method of Lagrange Multipliers to determine
the optimal dimensions (radius r and height h) that maximize the volume under the given surface
area constraint.
9. A space probe in the shape of ellipsoid 4x2 + y 2 + 4z 2 = 16 enters the earth atmosphere and its
surface begins to heat. After one hour the temperature at the point (x, y, z) on the surface if
T (x, y, z) = 8x2 + 4yz − 16z + 600. Use Lagrange multiplier method and find the hottest point
on the probe surface.
10. Suppose that T (x, y) = 4x2 − 4xy + 4y 2 be the temperature at the point (x, y) on the circle
x = 2 cos t, y = 2 sin t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 2π. Find the maximum and minimum values of T on the circle.
11. Find the dimensions of the rectangular box of maximum capacity whose surface area is given
when the box is open at the top. Use Lagrange’s multiplier method. Take the volume of the box
V (x, y, z) = xyz and surface area S(x, y, z) = xy + 2yz + 2zx.
12. Suppose that the celsius temperature at the point (x, y, z) on the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 is
T = 400xyz 2 . Locate the highest and lowest temperature on the sphere.
13. A right cylindrical can is to have a volume of 0.25 cubic feet (approximately 2 gallons): Find the
height h and radius r that will minimize surface area of the can. What is the relationship between
the resulting r and h?
14. The pressure P at any point (x, y, z) in the space is P = 400xyz 2 . Use Lagrange multiplier
method and determine the highest pressure at the surface of unit sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1.
DGS
15. You are in charge of erecting a radio telescope on a newly discovered planet. To minimize in-
terference, you want to place it where the magnetic field of the planet is weakest. The planet is
spherical, with a radius of 6 units. Based on a coordinate system whose origin is at the center of
the planet, the strength of the magnetic field is given by M (x, y, z) = 6x − y 2 + xz + 60. Where
should you locate the radio telescope?
16. What are the dimensions of a rectangular wooden block with maximum volume that can be
inscribed in a sphere of radius R units?