Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences
National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal
MA110 - Calculus of Several Variables
Problem Sheet - 2
Directional Derivatives, Gradient Vectors, Tangent Planes, Normal Lines,
Extreme Values, Saddle Points and Lagrange Multipliers
1. What is the derivative of a function f ( x, y) at a point P0 in the direction of a unit vector u ?
What rate does it describe? What geometric interpretation does it have? Give examples.
2. What is the gradient vector of a differentiable function f ( x, y)? How is it related to the func-
tions directional derivatives? State the analogous results for functions of three independent
variables.
3. Find the derivative of the function at P0 in the direction of A.
(a) f ( x, y) = 2xy − 3y2 , P0 (5, 5), A = 4i + 3j
√
(b) h( x, y) = tan−1 (y/x ) + 3 sin−1 ( xy/2), P0 (1, 1), A = 3i − 2j
(c) g( x, y, z) = 3e x cos yz, P0 (0, 0, 0), A = 2i + j − 2k
(d) f ( x, y, z) = xy + yz + zx, P0 (1, −1, 2), A = 3i + 6j − 2k
4. Find the directions in which the functions increase and decrease most rapidly at P0 . Then find
the derivatives of the functions in these directions.
(a) f ( x, y) = x2 + xy + y2 , P0 (−1, 1)
(b) f ( x, y, z) = ln xy + ln yz + ln xz, P0 (1, 1, 1)
5. Find the directions in which the functions increase and decrease most rapidly at P0 . Then find
the derivatives of the functions in these directions. Also find the dertivative of f at P0 in the
direction of the vector v.
(a) f ( x, y) = x2 e−2y , P0 (1, 0), v = i + j
(b) f ( x, y, z) = ln(2x + 3y + 6z), P0 (−1, −1, 1), v = 2i + 3j + 6k
6. In what direction is the derivative of f ( x, y) = xy + y2 at P(3, 2) equal to zero?
7. Is there a direction u in which the rate of change of f ( x, y) = x2 − 3xy + 4y2 at P(1, 2) equals
14? Give reasons for your answer.
8. Is there a direction u in which the rate of change of the temperature function T ( x, y, z) = 2xy −
yz (temperature in degrees Celsius, distance in feet) at P(1, −1, 1) is −3 deg.Cel/ft ? Give
reasons for your answer.
9. The derivative of f ( x, y, z) at a point P√is greatest in the direction of v = i + j − k. In this
direction, the value of the derivative is 2 3.
(a) What is 5 f at P ? Give reasons for your answer.
(b) What is the derivative of f at P in the direction of i + j ?
1
10. What is the largest value that the directional derivative of f ( x, y, z) = xyz can have at the point
(1, 1, 1)?
11. Find an equation for the plane tangent to the level surface f ( x, y, z) = c at the point P0 . Also,
find parametric equations for the line that is normal to the surface at P0 .
(a) x2 − y − 5z = 0, P0 (2, −1, 1)
(b) x2 + y2 + z = 4, P0 (1, 1, 2)
12. Find an equation for the plane tangent to the surface z = f ( x, y) at the given point.
(a) z = ln( x2 + y2 ), (0, 1, 0)
(b) z = 1/( x2 + y2 ), (1, 1, 1/2)
13. Find parametric equations for the line that is tangent to the curve of intersection of the surfaces
at the given point.
(a) Surfaces: x2 + 2y + 2z = 4, y = 1, Point: (1, 1, 1/2)
(b) Surfaces: x + y2 + z = 2, y = 1, Point: (1/2, 1, 1/2)
14. Find all the local maxima, local minima, and saddle points of the following functions.
1
(a) f ( x, y) = x 2 + y2 −1
(c) f ( x, y) = y sin x
1 1
(b) f ( x, y) = x + xy + y (d) f ( x, y) = e2x cos y
15. Find the absolute maxima and minima of the following functions on the given domain.
(a) f ( x, y) = x2 + y2 on the closed triangular plate bounded by the lines x = 0, y = 0, y + 2x =
2 in the first quadrant.
(b) T ( x, y) = x2 + xy + y2 − 6x on the rectangular plate 0 ≤ x ≤ 5, −3 ≤ y ≤ 3.
16. If f x ( a, b) = f y ( a, b) = 0, must f have a local maximum or minimum value at ( a, b)? Give
reasons for your answer.
17. The temperature at a point ( x, y) on a metal plate is T ( x, y) = 4x2 − 4xy + y2 . An ant on the
plate walks around the circle of radius 5 centered at the origin. What are the highest and lowest
temperatures encountered by the ant.
18. Find three real numbers whose sum is 9 and the sum of whose squares is as small as possible.
19. Suppose a box with no top is to hold a certain volume V. Find the dimensions for the box that
results in the minimum surface area.
20. Determine the maxima and minima of f ( x, y, z) = x2 − y2 on the surface x2 + 2y2 + 3z2 = 1.
21. Find the isosceles triangle of maximum area with fixed perimeter length C.
22. Use the method of Lagrange Multipliers to find the maximum and minimum values of the
function f ( x, y) = 3x + 4y on the circle x2 + y2 = 1.
23. Find all the critical and saddle points of the function f ( x, y) = x2 + xy + 3x + 2y + 5.
