2013 1st exam

1. Let r(t) = x(t)i + y(t)j be a twice di↵erentiable curve in the plane. Show
that the curvature at (x(t), y(t)) is given by the formula
|x0 (t)y 00 (t) x00 (t)y 0 (t)|
=
(x0 (t)2 + y 0 (t)2 )3/2

solution. Recall
dT T0 (t)
= = 0
ds r (t)
where T(t) = r0 (t)/|r0 (t)|. Using this facts, compute directly or use
|r0 (t) ⇥ r00 (t)|
=
|r0 (t)|3/2
The rest is omitted.
2012 1st exam
6. Show that the ellipse
x = 2 cos(t) + 2, y = sin(t) + 1
has its largest curvature on its major axis and its smallest curvature on
its minor axis.
solution. Using the formula for ,
|v ⇥ a|
=
|v|3
where v = 2 sin(t)i + cos(t)j and a = 2 cos(t)i sin(t)j. We have
|v| = (4 sin2 (t) + cos2 (t))1/2 and |v ⇥ a| = |2k| = 2, so
2 2
= =
(4 sin2 (t) + cos2 (t))3/2 (3 sin2 (t) + 1)3/2
which is largest when t = ⇡/2, 3⇡/2 and smallest when t = 0, ⇡.

2011 1st exam

1. Let u(t),v(t) and w(t) be di↵erentiable vector functions whose derivatives
are continuous. Show that if u and u are parallel for all t, then
Z b Z b
0
u (t)·v(t)⇥w(t)dt+ u(t)·v0 (t)⇥w(t)dt = u(b)·v(b)⇥w(b) u(a)·v(a)⇥w(a)
a a

solution. Since u and u are parallel for all t, we have u(t)·v(t)⇥w(t) = 0

for all t (because the absolute value of triple product is the volume of
parallelepiped by three vectors). Di↵erentiate both sides by t, we have
d
(u(t) · v(t) ⇥ w(t))
dt
= u0 (t) · v(t) ⇥ w(t) + u(t) · v0 (t) ⇥ w(t) + u(t) · v(t) ⇥ w0 (t)
= u0 (t) · v(t) ⇥ w(t) + u(t) · v0 (t) ⇥ w(t)

1
 since u(t) · v(t) ⇥ w0 (t) = 0 (because u k v). Applying Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus for vector function we have desired result.

2. Let r(t) = x(t)i + y(t)j + z(t)k be a twice di↵erentiable position vector

function
p of a particle moving along a smooth curve whose speed at time
t is 1 + t2 . if a(t) and d(t) represent its acceleration and direction of
R1
motion, respectively, evaluate the definite integral 0 a(t) · d(t)dt.
p
solution. Let v(t) = r0 (t) and we have |v(t)| = 1 + t2 and a(t) = v0 (t)
and d(t) = v(t)/|v(t)|, so a(t) · d(t) = v0 (t) · v(t)/|v(t)|. Check |v(t)|0 =
v0 (t) · v(t)/|v(t)|, then
Z 1 Z 1 p
1
a(t) · d(t)dt = |v(t)|0 dt = [|v(t)|]0 = |v(1)| |v(0)| = 2 1
0 0

2014 Calculus I 3rd exam

5. Find the curvature and the principal unit normal vector N of the helix

r(t) = cos ti + sin tj + tk.

solution. Recall
dT T0 (t) |r0 (t) ⇥ r00 (t)|
= = 0 =
ds r (t) |r0 (t)|2/3

where T(t) = r0 (t)/r0 (t) and

✓ ◆
T0 (t) 1 dT
N= 0 = ·
|T (t)| k ds
p
By direct computation r0 (t) = sin ti + cos tj + k, |r0 (t)| = 2, T(t) =
p1 ( sin ti + cos tj + k) and T0 (t) = p1 ( cos ti sin tj). We have  = 1/2
2 2
and N = cos ti sin tj.

Calculus II 1st exam

2015b-1 Let C be the curve of intersection of the two surfaces

z = x2 y2 and x2 + y 2 = 1.

Find the largest curvature and the smallest curvature of C.

solution. Let r(t) be the parametrization of C. From the equations of

2
 surfaces, we can set r(t) = cos ti + sin tj + (cos2 t sin2 t)k. Compute the
curvature of C:
dT T0 (t)
(t) = = 0
ds r (t)
0 00
|r (t) ⇥ r (t)|
=
|r0 (t)|3
s
11 + 6 cos 4t
=
(3 2 cos 4t)3

Note (311+6x
2x)3 is increasing in x 2 [ 1, 1]. Thus (t) has the maximum
when cos 4t = p1; on the other hand, it has the minimum when cos 4t = 1.
Hence max = 17, min = 15 .
2016b-3 Let h and a be positive numbers. Then find the length of the curve

r(t) = ((h t) cos(at), (h t) sin(at), t) (0  t  h).

solution. Since

r0 (t) = ( cos(at) + (h t)( a sin(at)), sin(at) + (h t)a cos(at), 1)

and
p
|r0 (t)| = ( cos(at) + (h t)( a sin(at)))2 + ( sin(at) + (h t)a cos(at))2 + 1
p
= 2 + a2 (h t)2

we have the length of the curve

Z h
Length = |r0 (t)|dt
0
Z h p
= 2 + a2 (h t)2 dt
0

substitute h t = s with dt = ds,

Z 0 p Z h p
Length = 2 + a2 s2 ds = 2 + a2 s2 ds
h 0
p p
substitute again as = 2 tan ✓ with ads = 2 sec2 ✓d✓
Z h p Z tan 1 p
ah
2 2
Length = 2+ a2 s2 ds = sec3 ✓ d✓.
0 0 a
Use the formula
Z
1
sec3 ✓d✓ = (tan ✓ sec ✓ + ln | tan ✓ + sec ✓|) + C.
2

2016b-4 Let C be the curve of intersection of the two surfaces

x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1 and y = x3 x.

3
 Then find the curvature of C at the point P = (0, 0, 1).
solution. Let r(t) be a parametrization of C with r(0) = P , we have
p
r(t) = ti + (t3 t)j + 1 t2 (t3 t)2 k
hence
3t5 + 4t3 2t
r0 (t) = i + (3t2 1)j + p k
1 t2 (t3 t)2
and
!
12t(t3 t) 2(3t2 1)2 2 ( 2(3t2 1)(t3 t) 2t)2
r00 (t) = 0i+6tj+ p k.
2 1 t2 (t3 t)2 4(1 t2 (t3 t)2 )3/2

The curvature of r(t) at t = 0,

p
|r0 (0) ⇥ r00 (0)| |(i j) ⇥ ( k)| |i + j| 2
= = = = p
|r0 (0)|3 |i j|3/2 |i j|3/2 ( 2)3/2

2017b-5 Consider the helix r(t) =< 2t, cos t, sin t >.
(a) Find the curvature of the helix r(t) =< 2t, cos t, sin t > at the point
(0, 1, 0).
(b) Find the equation for the osculating plane of the helix r(t) =<
2t, cos t, sin t > at the point (0, 1, 0).
solution.
(a) By di↵erentiation, we have
r0 (t) = < 2, sin t, cos t >,
r0 (t) 1
T(t) = 0
= p < 2, sin t, cos t >
|r (t)| 5
And the curvature
p1 < 0, cos t, sin t >
dT |T0 (t)| 5 1
(t) = = 0 = p =
ds |r (t)| 5 5
|r0 (t)⇥r00 (t)|
for all t. Hence (0) = 15 . Alternately use the formula  = |r0 (t)|3 .
(b) By (a)
1
T0 (t) = p < 0, cos t, sin t >,
5
T0 (t)
N(t) = =< 0, cos t, sin t >,
|T(t)|
i j k
B(t) = T(t) ⇥ N(t) = p25 p1 sin t
5
p1 cos t
5
0 cos t sin t
1
= p < 1, 2 sin t, 2 cos t >
5
1 1
B(0) = p < 1, 2 sin 0, 2 cos 0 >= p < 1, 0, 2 > .
5 5

4
 The osculating plane is the plane containing (0, 1, 0) with normal
vector B(0), that is
1 2
p x p z = 0.
5 5
2018b-5 Let C be the curve of intersection of two surfaces

f (x, y, z) = x2 + y 2 2=0

and
g(x, y, z) = x + z 4=0
(a) Find parametric equations for the line tangent to C at (1, 1, 3).
(b) Find the curvature of C at the point (1, 1, 3).
(c) Find the center of the osculating circle of the curve C at (1, 1, 3).
solution.
p p
(a) From x2 + y 2 = 2, we have x = 2 p cos t, y = 2 sin t and from
x + z 4 = 0 we have z = 4 x = 4 2 cos t.
p p p
C : r(t) = 2 cos ti + 2 sin tj + (4 2 cos t)k.

and check r(⇡/4) = (1, 1, 3) and

p p p
r0 (t) = 2 sin ti + 2 cos tj + 2 sin tk

hence the tangent line is

r1 (s) = (1, 1, 3) + s( 1, 1, 1)

(b) Use the formula

p
|r0 (t) ⇥ r00 (t)| 2 2
= =
|r0 (t)|3 |2 + 2 sin2 (t)|3/2

Hence p r
2 2 2 2
(⇡/4) = p =
3 3 3 3
(c) The center of circle of curvature is (1, 1, 3) + 1 N. Hence we need to
compute N. By (b), we have
1 p p p
T(t) = p ( 2 sin ti + 2 cos tj + 2 sin tk)
2
2 + 2 sin t
and
1
T0 (t) = ( cos ti 2 sin tj + cos tk)
(1 + sin2 t)3/2
Hence
T0 (t) 1
N(t) = =p ( cos ti 2 sin tj + cos tk)
|T0 (t)| 2 + 2 sin2 t

5
 and ⇣⇡⌘ ✓ ◆
1 1 1 1
N =p p i 2p j + p k
4 3 2 2 2
Hence the center of curvature at t = ⇡/4 is
✓ ◆
1 ⇣⇡⌘ 1 1 15
(1, 1, 3) + N = , ,
 4 4 2 4

2020b-3 Which curve has a constant curvature at all points on it? Find them all.
(a) The circle of radius r.
(b) The helix r(t) = a cos ti + a sin tj + btk.
(c) The intersection of the cylinder x2 + y 2 = 1 and the surface z =
x2 y 2 .
(d) Any smooth curve on the sphere of radius r.
solution.

(a) The curvature of circle is 1/r; constant.

a
(b) The curvature of helix is a2 +b2 ; constant
(c) The curve can be parametrized by

r(t) = cos ti + sin tj + cos(2t)k

and the curvature is

s
6 cos(4t) + 11
(t) =
(3 2 cos(4t))3

which not constant.

(d) Check the curve C parametrized by
r
cos(1/t) sin(1/t) 1
r(t) = r i+r j+r 1 k
t t t2
for t 1, which is the spiral on the sphere. The curvature of C
become larger as t grows; not constant.