Assignment 2 (4 Questions – Total: 40 marks)

MA2104

To be handed in by 2pm Friday 21 Feb 2020 (Week 6) to the mailboxes outside LT34
on Level 3 of S17. Please drop it into the right box according to your tutorial
group.
Remember to write your name and tutorial group number on your solution. Late submis-
sion WILL NOT be accepted.

1. Find the following limit if it exists; otherwise, explain why the limit does not exist.
2xy 3
(a) lim .
(x,y)→(0,0) x2 + 8y 6

x3 + 4x2 + 2y 2
(b) lim .
(x,y)→(0,0) 2x2 + y 2
Hint: (a) Limit does not exist. (b) The limit is 2. Prove it by Squeeze.

2. Suppose z = f (u, v), where f (u, v), fu (u, v) and fv (u, v) are differentiable functions of u and
v. Suppose u = x2 y and v = y 2 . Using Chain Rule, compute the following partial derivatives.
Express your answers in terms of x, y and the partial derivatives (including those of higher
order) of f with respect to u and v.

∂z
(i)
∂x
 
∂ ∂z
(ii)
∂y ∂x

3. An insect is moving on the ellipse 2x2 + y 2 = 3 on the xy-plane in the clockwise direction
at a constant speed of 3 centimeter per second. The temperature function T (x, y) (experienced
by the insect) is given by
T (x, y) = 3x2 − 2yx,
where T is measured in degree Celsius and x, y are measured in centimeters. What is the rate
of change of the temperature (in degree Celsius per second) when the insect is at the point
(1, 1)?
Hint: Let f (x, y) = 2x2 + y 2 . The gradient vector Of (1, 1) = h4, 2i is normal to the ellipse
f (x, y) = 3 at the point (1, 1). Using this information, how can we easily find a vector which is
tangential to the ellipse f (x, y) = 3 and is pointing in the clockwise direction? Take note the
directional derivative has unit degree Celsius per centimeter NOT degree Celsius per second.
4. If r(t) 6= 0, show that d
dt
|r(t)| = 1
|r(t)|
r(t) · r0 (t). (Hint: |r(t)|2 = r(t) · r(t).)