ENGR233 QA TERM TEST 1. OCTOBER 21, 2019, 10:45am–11:45am.

Closed book exam. Faculty approved calculators (SHARP EL-531 or CASIO FX-300MS).

1. Find r®(t) such that r® 0(t) = h1, 2ti and r®(0) = h0, 0i. [2 marks]

This is a question from Quiz 1. You’re welcome.

Solution. We have
Zt Zt t
r®(t) = r® (u) du + r®(0) =
0
h1, 2ui du = hu, u2 i = ht, t 2 i.
0 0 0

2. Compute the curvature of the circular helix given by r®(t) = h3 cos t, 3 sin t, 4ti.

[5 marks]

This is similar to WeBWork Assignment 2, question 10.

Solution. First solution. We have r®0(t) = h−3 sin t, 3 cos t, 4i, and so
p p
k®r (t)k = (−3 sin t) + (3 cos t) + 4 = 32 + 42 = 5.
0 2 2 2

(We have used the Pythagorean identity sin2 t + cos2 t = 1.) Thus,

® = 1 h−3 sin t, 3 cos t, 4i,

T(t)
1
T®0(t) = h−3 cos t, −3 sin t, 0i, kT®0(t)k =
3
5 5 5
(again by the Pythagorean identity). Finally, the curvature at the point corresponding
to t is
kT®0(t)k 3/5 3
κ(t) = 0 = = .
k®
r (t)k 5 25
That is, the circular helix has constant curvature equal to 3/25.

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The decimal representation of this number is 0.12, and this is acceptable as a final answer.

Second solution. We have r®0(t) = h−3 sin t, 3 cos t, 4i, and so

p p
r 0(t)k = (−3 sin t)2 + (3 cos t)2 + 42 = 32 + 42 = 5, k®
k® r 0(t)k 3 = 53 = 125.
Also, r®00(t) = h−3 cos t, −3 sin t, 0i, and so
®ı ® k®
r® (t) × r® (t) = −3 sin t 3 cos t
0 00
4
−3 cos t −3 sin t 0
= h12 sin t, 12 cos t, 9 sin2 t + 9 cos2 ti
= h12 sin t, 12 cos t, 9i
= 3h4 sin t, 4 cos t, 3i,
by the Pythagorean identity sin2 t + cos2 t = 1. Thus (using the Pythagorean identity
again), p
k®r (t) × r® (t)k = 3 42 + 32 = 15.
0 00

Finally,
r 0(t) × r®00(t)k
k® 15 3
κ(t) = 0 3
= = .
k®r (t)k 125 25
That is, the circular helix has constant curvature equal to 3/25.
Both 3/25 and 15/125 are acceptable as a final answer, as are equivalent expressions, within
reason. The decimal representation of this number is 0.12. This is also acceptable.

3. Let f (x, y) = x 2 − y 2 . Find a unit vector u® for which Du® f (3, 4) = 0, where
Du® f (3, 4) is the directional derivative of f , in the direction of u®, at the point (3, 4).

[5 marks]

This is similar to textbook Section 9.5, problem 33(a), which is a recommended problem in
the course outline.

Solution. We have fx (x, y) = 2x, fy (x, y) = −2y, and so

∇ f (3, 4) = h fx (3, 4), fy (3, 4)i = h6, −8i.

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Let u® = hu1, u2 i be a unit vector. Then
Du® f (3, 4) = ∇ f (3, 4) · u® = h6, −8i · hu1, u2 i = 6u1 − 8u2 .
We want Du® f (3, 4) = 0, i.e. u2 = (6/8)u1 = (3/4)u1 . Since u® is a unit vector, we also
have  2    
3 2 9 2 25
1 = k u®k = u1 + u2 = u1 +
2 2 2 2
u = u1 1 +
2
= u1 ,
4 1 16 16
giving u12 = 16/25, i.e. u1 = ±4/5. We choose u1 = 4/5, so that u2 = (3/4)u1 = 3/5.
Thus,  
4 3
u® = , .
5 5
We could also have chosen u1 = −4/5, giving u2 = −3/5 and
 
4 3
u® = − , − .
5 5

This is also perfectly correct and acceptable as an answer. However, these are the only two
possible correct answers. There are no other unit vectors for which Du® f (3, 4) = 0.

While not necessary, we can check out solution. First of all,

 2  2
4 3 42 + 32
k u®k =
2
+ = = 1,
5 5 52

so u® is indeed a unit vector. Secondly,

     
4 3 4 3 24 24
Du® f (3, 4) = ∇ f (3, 4) · u® = h6, −8i · , =6 −8 = − = 0,
5 5 5 5 5 5

as required. Similarly with h−4/5, −3/5i.

4. Consider the circular helix given by r®(t) = h3 cos t, 3 sin t, 4ti. Give an equation for
the osculating plane at t = π/2. Write your equation in the form ax + by + cz + d = 0.

® as a normal vector,
(Recall that the osculating plane at t is the plane having B(t)
® is the unit binormal vector at t.)
where B(t)

[6 marks]

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This is similar to WeBWork Assignment 2, problem 10, and examples from class, question
13.

Solution. We have r®0(t) = h−3 sin t, 3 cos t, 4i, and so

p p
r 0(t)k = (−3 sin t)2 + (3 cos t)2 + 42 = 32 + 42 = 5.
k®
(We have used the Pythagorean identity sin2 t + cos2 t = 1.) Thus,

® = 1 h−3 sin t, 3 cos t, 4i,

T(t)
5
and so
1 3
T®0(t) = h−3 cos t, −3 sin t, 0i = h− cos t, − sin t, 0i.
5 5
Notice that kh− cos t, − sin t, 0ik = 1. Therefore, N(t)
® = h− cos t, − sin t, 0i, and

1 ®ı ® k® 1
B(t) = T(t) × N(t) = −3 sin t 3 cos t
® ® ® 4 = h4 sin t, −4 cos t, 3i.
5 5
− cos t − sin t 0
(We have again used the Pythagorean identity in the third component.)

Now, when t = π/2 we have

1
r®(t) = r®(π/2) = h0, 3, 2πi and ® = B(π/2)
B(t) ® = h4, 0, 3i.
5
We seek the plane containing the point (0, 3, 2π) with normal vector h4, 0, 3i. (Any
®
vector parallel to B(π/2) will serve as a normal vector.) The point-normal equation
of our plane is
h4, 0, 3i · hx − 0, y − 3, z − 2πi,
i.e.
4x + 3(z − 2π) = 0,
i.e.
4x + 3z − 6π = 0.
®
We could take any vector parallel to B(π/2) as a normal vector, i.e. any vector of the form
h4α, 0, 3αi, where α is a nonzero scalar. Any equation of the form

4αx + 3αz − 6απ = 0,

where α is a nonzero scalar, is equivalent to the above, and is acceptable as a final answer.

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Note that the question asks for an answer in the form ax + by + cz + d = 0, which is not the
same form as, e.g., 4x + 3(z − 2π) = 0,

® y, z) = hx(z2 − y 2 ), y(x 2 − z2 ), z(y 2 − x 2 )i incompressible?

5. Is the vector field F(x,
Justify your answer.

[2 marks]

This is similar to WeBWork Assignment 4, questions 6,7,8.

Solution. Yes, F® is incompressible because its divergence is equal to 0 throughout

its domain:

∇ · F® = h∂/∂ x, ∂/∂ y, ∂/∂zi · hx(z 2 − y 2 ), y(x 2 − z 2 ), z(y 2 − x 2 )i

∂ ∂ ∂
= x(z2 − y 2 ) + y(x 2 − z2 ) + z(y 2 − x 2 )
∂x ∂y ∂x
= (z2 − y 2 ) + (x 2 − z2 ) + y 2 − x 2 )
= 0.

The question asks for justification, so a correct response without justification will earn at
most one mark.

***END OF EXAM***

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