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MA 242

TEST #1 - SOLUTIONS

Spring, 2013

(Please show your work. Otherwise no partial credit will be possible)


1. (15 pts) Use the dot product to find the two values of x that will make the vector < x, x2 , 1 >
orthogonal to the vector ~v =< 3, 1, 2 >.
SOLUTION: Two vectors are orthogonal if their dot product is zero. Hence we force the
two vectors to be orthogonal by setting their dot product equal to zero:
[x, x2 , 1] [3, 1, 2] = 3x + x2 + 2 = 0
Solving this equations by factoring or by using the quadratic equation yields the two solutions
x = 2 and x = 1 .
2. (15 pts) Find an equation for the plane that passes through the point (1,-1,1) and contains
the line with equations x = t, y = 3 12 t and z = 2 + 3t.
SOLUTION: To find an equation of a plane we need a point P0 on the plane and a normal
vector ~n for the plane. We are given P0 = (1, 1, 1) so we must find a normal vector. We
look for two vectors parallel to the plane to use in the cross product to product a normal
vector. The direction vector for the line, namely ~v = [1, 21 , 3] is one such vector. To find
another vector parallel to the plane we find a point on the line, say P1 = (0, 3, 2) (obtained
by setting t = 0), and then the vector from P0 to P1 will also be parallel to the plane:
P1 P0 = w
~ = [1, 4, 3]. Computing the cross product of ~v and w
~ we obtain a normal
vector:
21
7
1
~n = [1, , 3] [1, 4, 3] = [ , 0, ]
2
2
2
Since any non-zero multiple of a normal vector is also a normal vector I will eliminate the
fractions (multiply by 2) and use
~n = [21, 0, 7]
An equation of the plane is then: 21(x 1) + 7(z 1) = 0
3. (15 pts) Find parametric equations of the line of intersection of the two planes x + y + z = 0
and x y + z = 3.
SOLUTION: To find equations of a line we need a point on the line P0 and a direction
vector ~v for the line. For this problem we must solve for both P0 and ~v . To find a point on
the line we solve the equations for the two planes simultaneously, adding in a third equation.
Here are two points on the line of intersection:
3 3
P1 = (0, , )
2 2

3 3
P2 = ( , , 0)
2 2

As discussed in class the cross product of the two normal vectors ~n1 = [1, 1, 1] and ~n2 =
[1, 1, 1] yields a direction vector ~v for the line. Computing we find
~n1 ~n2 = ~v = [2, 0, 2]

Then two correct forms of the line of intersection are


x = 2t , y = 23 , z =

3
2

2t (Using P0 = P1 )

OR
x=

3
2

+ 2t , y = 32 , z = 2t (Using P0 = P2 )

4. (10 pts) Find the projection of the vector < 1, 2, 3 > onto the direction of the normal vector
of the plane 2x 3y + 4z = 1.
SOLUTION: Let ~u =< 1, 2, 3 >. The normal vector for the given plane is: ~n = [2, 3, 4].
The formula for the projection of ~u onto the direction ~n is:
~u ~n
|~n|

proj~n (~u) =
The magnitude of ~n is |~n| =
projection is:

~n
|~n|

29 and the dot product of ~u and ~n is ~u ~n = 8. Hence the

proj~n (~u) =

~u ~n
|~n|

~n
=
|~n|

8
[2, 3, 4]
29

5. (10 pts) Determine if the vector-valued function


~r(t) =<

6t2 + 1
, sin(t), et >
2t2 1

is continuous at t = 0. You must explain your answer for full credit on this problem.
6. (35 pts = 7 pts each part) Consider the curve given by the vector function
~r(t) =< t2 , t2 , t >
SOLUTION: Before answering each question we compute the necessary quantities:

~r0 = [2t, 2t, 1] , |~r0 | = 1 + 8t2 , ~r00 = [2, 2, 0]


(a) Find the Unit Tangent vector T(t).
[2t, 2t, 1]
SOLUTION: T(t) =
1 + 8t2
(b) Find parametric equations of the tangent line to this curve at t = 1.
SOLUTION: At t = 1 the curve defines the point P0 = ~r(1) = (1, 1, 1). Evaluating
the tangent vector at t = 1 yields a direction vector for the line: ~v = [2, 2, 1]. Hence
parametric equations of the tangent line at that point are:
x = 1 + 2t ,

y = 1 + 2t ,

z =1+t

(c) Find the tangential component aT (t) of the acceleration.


SOLUTION: The simplest formula for the tangential component aT (t) of the acceler0
00
ation is: aT = ~r 0 ~r . Computing we find
|~r |
aT (t) =

8t
1 + 8t2

(d) Find the normal component aN (t) of the acceleration.


SOLUTION: The simplest formula for the normal component aN (t) of the acceleration
| ~
r0 ~r00 |
is: aN =
. Computing we find
|~r0 |

|[2, 2, 0]|
8

=
aN (t) =
1 + 8t2
1 + 8t2
(e) Find the curvature (t) of the curve .
SOLUTION: The simplest formula for the curvature is =

8
( 1 + 8t2 )3

aN . Then
|~r0 |2

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