Slope of surface, total differential

3 2
Question : The surface with equation z=x + xy intersects the plane with equation

1
2 x 2 y =1 in a curve. What is the slope of that curve when x=1 and y= ?
2

Solution :

2 x 2 y =1 e 1+e =2 x=1+ 2t and

Since the line travels in the direction 2 , we can say

1
y= + 2 t
2

We then substitute this into the equation and differentiate with respect to t . Finally we find

the limit of this function as t 0 .

So writing the function in terms of t we get :

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

17 t 5
2t 3 +5 t 2 + +
4 4
2

Differentiating this wrt t we get :

17
6 t 2+10 t+
4
2
 17
t=0 ,
4 is the answer.
2