FM-AA-CIA-15 Rev.

0 10-July-2020

Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 5

PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS, CURVE TRACING, CURVATURE,

& PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION
MODULE OVERVIEW

Hello Future Engineer!

After finishing module 4, you were able to understand and carry out calculations on derivatives. This Study
Guide for Module 5 will help you to apply differential calculations in solving parametric equations, curvature,
and partial derivatives.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module 5, you should be able to:

1. apply differential calculations in solving parametric equations, curvature, and partial derivatives.

5.1 PARAMETRIC EQUATIONS

In both pure & applied mathematics, a curve often arises most naturally as the locus of points whose
coordinates are determined by the two equations:

𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑡), 𝑦 = 𝑔(𝑡)

giving x and y in terms of a third variable t. The variable t is then called a parameter. The equations x=f(t) and
y=g(t) are parametric equations of the curve. To obtain the rectangular equation of the curve, we need to
eliminate the parameter.

Find the 1st and 2nd derivative of y with respect to x from the parametric equations given:

Example 1
𝑥 = 𝑡 3 + 2𝑡 − 4
𝑦 = 𝑡3 − 𝑡 + 2

Example 2
𝑥 = 1 + 𝑡2
𝑦 = 4𝑡 − 3

Example 3
𝑥 = 𝑡3 + 7
𝑦 = 6𝑡 2 − 1

Example 4
𝑥 = 3(𝑡 − 2)2
𝑦 = 9𝑡 2 + 4

Example 5
1
𝑥= 2
𝑡
𝑦 = 𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 1

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

For further discussion & solution of these examples, watch the video using this link:

Differential Calculus: Derivative of Parametric Equations

https://youtu.be/bTI-vEQsUsw

5.2 CURVE TRACING

Obtain all critical point/s, determine max/min by the test, & find inflection point/s from the
parametric equations given:

Example 1
𝑥 = 𝑡3 + 1
𝑦 = 4𝑡 2 − 4𝑡

Example 2
𝑥 = 𝑡 −2
𝑦 = 𝑡 2 − 4𝑡 + 1

For further discussion & solution of these examples, watch the video using this link:

Differential Calculus: Parametric Equations Curve Tracing

https://youtu.be/DwqpAxN43Ws

5.3 CURVATURE, RADIUS AND CIRCLE OF CURVATURE

Consider a curve AB & the tangent line PT at a point P on it. When P moves along the arc Δs to an
adjacent point Q, the tangent line turns through the angle Δ (delta alpha), that is, Δ is the change in
𝛥𝑎
inclination of the tangent lines. Thus, we define 𝛥𝑠 = average curvature of the arc PQ.

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

The curvature at P, denoted by K, is the limit of the average curvature P approaches Q, that is

𝛥𝑎 𝑑𝑎
𝐾 = lim = = 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑃
𝛥𝑠→0 𝛥𝑠 𝑑𝑠
The angle Δ is measured in radians and arc length Δs in units of length. Hence, the unit of curvature
at a point is one radian per unit of length.

A. CURVES IN RECTANGULAR COORDINATES

𝑦′′
𝐾=
[1 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]3/2

RADIUS OF CURVATURE, R

1
𝑅=
𝐾

𝑅 = [1 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]3/2

[1 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]3/2
𝑅=
𝑦′′

CIRCLE OF CURVATURE
- Is the circle which comes nearest (of all circles) to fit in the curve in the immediate vicinity of the
point under consideration.

(𝑥 − 𝑢)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑣)2 = 𝑅2

CENTER OF CURVATURE, (u, v)

𝑦 ′ [1 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]
𝑢=𝑥−
𝑦′′

1 + (𝑦 ′ )2
𝑣=𝑦+
𝑦′′

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

Find the radius of curvature, center of the circle of curvature, and equation of the circle of curvature
at the point indicated:

Example 1

𝑦 2 = 8𝑥 at (2, 4)

Example 2

𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 at (1, 0)

B. CURVES IN POLAR COORDINATES

𝑟 2 + 2(𝑟 ′ )2 − 𝑟(𝑟 ′′ )
𝐾=
[𝑟 2 + (𝑟 ′ )2 ]3/2

1
𝑅=
𝐾

[𝑟 2 + (𝑟 ′ )2 ]3/2
𝑅=
𝑟 2 + 2(𝑟 ′ )2 − 𝑟(𝑟 ′′ )

Find the radius of curvature for the following curves in polar coordinates:

Example 1

𝜋
The cardiod 𝑟 = 𝑎(1 + cos 𝜃) 𝑎𝑡 𝜃 =
3

Example 2

𝜃 4𝑎 𝜋
The parabola 𝑟 = 𝑎 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 2 𝑎𝑡 ( 3 , 3 )

C. CURVES IN PARAMETRIC FORM

𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′′ − 𝑦′𝑥′′
𝐾=
[(𝑥 ′ )2 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]3/2

1
𝑅=
𝐾

[(𝑥 ′ )2 + (𝑦 ′ )2 ]3/2
𝑅=
𝑥 ′ 𝑦 ′′ − 𝑦′𝑥′′

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

where:

𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑦
𝑥′ = 𝑦′ =
𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑡

𝑑2 𝑥 𝑑2 𝑦
𝑥 ′′ = 𝑦 ′′ =
𝑑𝑡 2 𝑑𝑡 2

Find the radius of curvature for the following curves in parametric form at the point indicated:

Example 1

𝑥 =𝑡+2 at t=0
𝑦 = 3𝑡 2

Example 2

𝑥 = 4 sin 𝑡 at t=π/2
𝑦 = 2 cos 𝑡

For further discussion & solution of these examples, watch the videos using these links:

Differential Calculus: Radius, Center, and Circle of Curvature in Rectangular Coordinates

https://youtu.be/7IQaHyxwI48

Differential Calculus: Radius of Curvature in Polar Coordinates

https://youtu.be/1Q2s0KYuJq4

Differential Calculus: Radius of Curvature in Parametric Form

https://youtu.be/toX0GGOlxM4

5.4 PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION

FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES

We have been concerned with functions of a single argument. A function may, however, depend upon
several independent variables.

Example:

The hypotenuse of a right triangle is a function of the perpendicular sides.

ℎ = √𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 → equation1

Geometrically a function of two variables x and y may be represented as the z-coordinate of a surface
in space. Thus, an equation of first degree represents a plane. Equation 1 represents one sheet of a circular
cone.

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

LIMITS; CONTINUITY

Consider a function:

𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)

representing a surface in space. When x and y approach the respective values x 1, y1, the function z is said to
approach a limit z,

lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑧1
𝑥→𝑥1
𝑦→𝑦1

A function f(x, y) is continuous at the point (x1, y1), if f(x1, y1) exists and

lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓(𝑥1, 𝑦1 )

𝑥→𝑥1
𝑦→𝑦1

PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

If y be kept fixed, the function

𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)

becomes a function of z alone, and its derivative may be found by the ordinary rules. This derivative is called
the “partial derivative of z with respect to x” and is denoted by:

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑓
, , 𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
The idea of partial differentiation may be extended at once to functions of any number of variables.
We have only to remember that in differentiating with respect to any one variable, all other variables are
treated as constants.

Example (a) If V=πr2h, then

𝜕𝑉
= 2𝜋𝑟ℎ
𝜕𝑟
𝜕𝑉
= 𝜋𝑟 2
𝜕ℎ

Thus, if the altitude of a circular cylinder is kept fixed, the volume changes at a rate equal to the lateral area,
etc.

Example (b) If z2 + 2zx = x2 – y2, then

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑥
2𝑧 + 2𝑧 + 2𝑥 = 2𝑥 −0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝑧 +𝑧+𝑥 =𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝑧 +𝑥 =𝑥−𝑧
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥

𝝏𝒛 𝒙 − 𝒛
=
𝝏𝒙 𝒛 + 𝒙

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑦
2𝑧 + 2𝑧(0) + 2𝑥 = 0 − 2𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
𝑧 +𝑥 = −𝑦
𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦

𝝏𝒛 −𝒚
=
𝝏𝒚 𝒛 + 𝒙

Find the first partial derivatives of the given functions:

Example 1

𝑧 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑥𝑦 2 + 3𝑦 2

Example 2

𝑧 = 3𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑦 3 + 4𝑥 − 7

Example 3

𝑢 = cos (𝑥𝑦)

Example 4

𝑡 − 2𝑣
𝑠=
𝑡2 + 4𝑣 2

For further discussion & solution of these examples, watch the videos using these links:

Differential Calculus: Partial Differentiation

https://youtu.be/MWQRubH0tuc

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Study Guide in MATH 102 – DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS Module No. 5

REFERENCE/S

Love, Clyde E. and Rainville, Earl D. (1962), Differential and Integral Calculus. 6th ed. The McMillan Co.,
New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Arreola, Matias A. (1995), Solutions to Problems in Differential Calculus. SI (Metric) ed. Ken Incorporated,
Quezon City.

Besavilla, Venancio I. Civil Engineering Board Reviewer, VIB Publisher

Prepared By:

DIANNE C. OLIVER, CE
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department

PANGASINAN STATE UNIVERSITY 8