MATH 2415 Midterm #1 Solution Fall 2011

Instructor: Dr. Eydelzon

(1) The equation x
2
+ y
2
+ z
2
2x 6y + 12z + 37 = 0 represents a sphere. Find its
center and radius.
Solution.
(x
2
2x + 1) 1 + (y
2
6y + 9) 9 + (z
2
+ 12z + 36) 36 + 37 = 0
(x 1)
2
+ (y 3)
2
+ (z + 6)
2
+ (1 9 36 + 37) = 0
(x 1)
2
+ (y 3)
2
+ (z + 6)
2
= 3
2
The center of the sphere is (1, 3, 6) and the radius of the sphere is 3.

(2) Given vectors u and v. Suppose that 2u +3v and 2u 3v are orthogonal. If
v = 4, nd u.
Solution. Since 2u +3v and 2u 3v are orthogonal, (2u +3v) (2u 3v) = 0.
Therefore, 4u u 9v v = 0, or 4u
2
9v
2
= 0, or 2u = 3v. Therefore,
u = (3/2)v = 6.

(3) Find the cosine of the angle between the plane x + 2y z + 4 = 0 and the line
L(t) = (2 2t, 1 + 3t, t).
Solution. All we need to do is to nd the angle between the directional vector of the
line and normal vector of the plane, that is the angle between vectors u = (2, 3, 1)
and v = (1, 2, 1).
cos =
(2)(1) + (3)(2) + (1)(1)

(2)
2
+ 3
2
+ (1)
2

(1)
2
+ 2
2
+ (1)
2
=
9
2

21
.
Since cos > 0, the required angle will be 90

cos
1

9
2

21

.
(4) Find the domain of the vector function
f (t) =

25 t
2
, ln(t
2
+ 2t + 1),
1
t
2
16

.
Solution. The following suppose to hold: 25 t
2
0 and t
2
+ 2t + 1 = (t + 1)
2
> 0
and t
2
16 = 0. Therefore, D
f
= [5, 4) (4, 1) (1, 4) (4, 5].
(5) Find the volume of the parallelepiped determined by the vectors a = (1, 1, 2),
b = (1, 2, 3) and c = (1, 1, 4).
Solution.

1 1 2
1 2 3
1 1 4

= 8. Therefore, the volume of the parallelepiped is 8.

(6) Find both unit vectors that make an angle of 60

with the vector (6, 8).

Solution. Let u = (x, y). Then (x, y) (6, 8) =

x
2
+ y
2

6
2
+ 8
2
cos 60

. Note, that
x
2
+y
2
= 1 and cos 60

= 1/2. Therefore, 6x+8y = 5. Eliminate y from this equation

and substitute it into x
2
+ y
2
= 1 to get a quadratic equation.
(7) Find the distance from the point A(2, 1, 3) to the plane x + 2y z + 4 = 0.
Solution. The distance is
| (2) + 2(1) 3 + 4|

(1)
2
+ 2
2
+ (1)
2
=
1

6
.

(8) The thrust of an airplanes engines produces a speed of 400 mph in still air. The
wind velocity is given by (30,-4). In what direction should the airplane head to y
due south?
Solution. Let velocity of the airplane be (x, y). Then the eective velocity will be
(x+30, y4). The airplane should y in the direction of the vector (0, 1). Therefore,
x = 30. To nd y use the equation for the speed x
2
+ y
2
= 400
2
. Finally, the
direction of the airplane should be (x, y) = (30,

159100).
(9) Find the following limit
lim
t0

e
2t
1
t
,

16 + 2t 16
t
,
sin(6t)
2t

.
Solution. The limit does not exist since lim
t0

16+2t16
t
does not exist. The other two
limits do not matter. Just for the record, lim
t0
e
2t
1
t
= 2 and lim
t0
sin(6t)
2t
= 3.
(10) Let r(t) be a vector function such that r(0) = (1, 0, 1) and r

(0) = (1, 0, 0).

Find
d
d t
[r(t) r

(t)] at t = 0.
Solution.
d
d t
[r(t) r

(t)] = r

(t) r

(t) +r(t) r

(t).
Since r

(t) r

(t) = 0,
d
d t
[r(t) r

(t)]
t=0
= r(0) r

(0) = (0, 1, 0).