NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

SEMESTER 2, 2012/2013

MA1521 Calculus for Computing Homework Assignment 2

N OTE: Please write your name, matriculation card number and tutorial group num-
ber on the answer script, and submit during the lecture on 1st April (Monday). The
assignment carries a total of 65 marks, and the final mark is capped at 60.∗

1. Suppose a differentiable function f has a zero at r (i.e., f (r ) = 0), and we want to

approximate r with error less than a given number ǫ > 0.
Step 1. Pick an initial estimate x0 of the root of f ( x ) = 0.
f ( x0 )
Step 2. Let x1 = x0 − .
f ′ ( x0 )
Step 3. Compute | x1 − x0 |.
(i) If | x1 − x0 | < ǫ then stop; and x1 is a required approximation of r.
f ( xn )
(ii) If | x1 − x0 | ≥ ǫ then using xn+1 = xn − to generate
f ′ ( xn )
x0 , x1 , x2 , . . . , x n , x n +1 ,

such that | xn+1 − xn | < ǫ. Then xn+1 is a required approximation to r.

(a) Apply Newton-Raphson’s method to the equation x2 − a = 0 to derive the fol-
√
lowing Babylonian method to compute a: [4]
 
1 a
x n +1 = xn + .
2 xn
√
Use the above recursive formula to compute 12345 correct to 7 decimal places.
√
[Hint: Pick x0 close to 12345 to deduce the number of steps. The approxima-
tion is corrected to k decimal places if | xn+1 − xn | < 10−k .]
√
(b) Use Newton-Raphson’s method to find 3 54321 to 7 decimal places. [4]
√
[Hint: 3 54321 is a zero to a cubic function.]

∗
The final mark for late submission by 4th April (Thursday) will be capped at 50. No late submission
is acceptable thereafter.
1
 MA1521 CALCULUS FOR COMPUTING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT 2 2

2–4. Use the optimization for one variable functions. It is necessary to check the maxi-
mality or the minimality; however, the second derivative test for one variable func-
tion should not be used.

2. Suppose a right-circular cylinder is inscribed in a sphere of radius 1. [9]

(a) Find the dimensions of the cylinder so that it has the largest volume.
(b) Find the dimensions of the cylinder so that it has the largest surface area (ex-
cluding the bases).
(c) Find the dimensions of the cylinder so that it has the largest surface area (in-
cluding the bases).

3. A boat leaves a dock at 2:00 P. M . and travels due south at a speed of 20 km/h.
Another boat has been heading due east at 15 km/h and reaches the same dock at
3:00 P. M. At what time were the two boats closest together? [4]

4. A painting in an art gallery has height h and is hung so that its lower edge is a
distance d above the eye of an observer. How far from the wall should the observer
stand to get the best view? [4]
[Hint: Maximize θ, or equivalently, maximize tan θ.]

θ d

5. Determine whether each of the following series is convergent or divergent. Justify

your answer and write down all the tests that you use. (You do not need to evaluate
the series if it is convergent.) [18]
∞
√ ∞ 2 ∞
n2 − 1 n ln n 1 + 3k
(a) ∑ 3 ; (b) ∑ (−1) √ ; (c) ∑ ;
n =1
n + 2n2 + 5 n =1 n k
n =1 2 + 4
k

∞   n2 ∞ ∞
n tan−1 n 1
(d) ∑ ; (e) ∑ √ ; (f) ∑ ln n
.
n =1
n+1 n =1 n n n =2 (ln n)

6. For each of the following function, find its Maclaurin series, and determine its de-
rivative of given order at 0. [8]
1
(a) f ( x ) = ; find f (1521) (0).
( x − 1)( x − 2)( x − 3)
 MA1521 CALCULUS FOR COMPUTING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT 2 3

(b) f ( x ) = sin4 x; find f (2000) .

A B C
[Hint: For (a), write f ( x ) = + + for some constants A, B, C; for
x−1 x−2 x−3
(b), recall that sin2 θ = 12 (1 − cos 2x ) and cos2 θ = 12 (1 + cos 2θ ), then

sin4 x = (sin2 x )2 = · · · = A + B cos 2x + C cos 4x.

Then use the Maclaurin series for cos x.]

7. Find the directional derivative of the function at the given point in the direction of
the vector v. [4]
(a) f ( x, y) = x2 y3 z4 , (1, 1, 1), v = i + j + j.
p
(b) f ( x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2 , (1, 2, −2), v = −6i + 6j − 3k.

8. Show that the product of the x-, y- and z-intercepts of any tangent plane to the
surface xyz = c3 (c 6= 0) is a constant. [3]
[Hint: First find the tangent plane of a point ( x0 , y0 , z0 ) on the surface.]

9. The quadratic approximation of a two variable function at ( x0 , y0 ) is [3]

f ( x, y) ≈ f ( x0 , y0 ) + f x ( x0 , y0 )( x − x0 ) + f y ( x0 , y0 )(y − y0 )
1
+ ( f xx ( x0 , y0 )( x − x0 )2 + f yy ( x0 , y0 )(y − y0 ) + 2 f xy ( x0 , y0 )( x − x0 )(y − y0 )).
2
2
Find the quadratic approximation of f ( x, y) = e x+y at (0, 0). Hence, find an ap-
proximation of e0.11 without calculator.

10. Suppose that the equation F( x, y, z) = 0 implicitly defines each of the three variables
x, y and z as functions of the other two: [4]

z = f ( x, y), y = g( x, z), x = h(y, z).

If F is differentiable and Fx , Fy and Fz are all nonzero, show that

∂z ∂x ∂y
= −1.
∂x ∂y ∂z