Parametrics

Lauren Henry
Noah Stephens-Davidowitz
In Wan Ahn

Parametrics are functions given with equations for both x and y in terms of a
third value (often time)
y=Y(t)
x=X(t)

To graph a parametric equation, convert to (x,y) coordinates:

ex: y=3t
x=t + 1

y=3t
y=3(x-1)
y=3x 3

To take the derivative of a parametric, the form is as follows:

dy

dx

ex:
dy
dt
dx
dt

ex 1:

y 3t 2
x sin t
dy
dt

6t

dx
dt

cos t

dy
6t

dx cos t

ex 2:

y lim t
x e2t
dy
dt

1t

dx
dt

2e 2 t

dy
dx

To take the second derivative, the form is as follows:

d y

2
dx

d
dx

( dy
dx )
dx
dt

1
2 e2 t

ex 1:

f ' (t ) 6t

ex:

f '' (t ) 6
g ' (t ) cos t
g '' (t ) sin t
d2y
dx 2

6cos t 6 t sin t
cos 2 t

cos t

ex 2:
dy
dx

1
2 te 2 t

1
2

t 1e 2 t

Product Rule:
f ( x ) 12 t 1
f '( x ) 12 t 2
g ( x) e 2t
g '( x) 2e 2t
t 1e 2t 12 t 2 e 2t
dx
dt

2e 2t

d2y
dx 2
d2y
dx 2

t 1e 2t 12 t 2 e 2t
2e 2t
1

(t 12 t 2 )2e 4t

6sec 2 t 6t tan t sec 2 t

Arc Length: The arc length of a parametric equation can be expressed as:
b

2
( dydt )2 ( dx
)
dt

Ex: Find the arc length from 1,2 of

x=3t
y=t2 + 2t 3
x

2x

y=( 3 )2 + 3 -3

dx
=3t
dt
dy
=2t
dt

32 (2t )2

arc length = 4.263