Problem Set 4

MH2100

∂z ∂z
∂x ∂y
EXERCISE 1. Use implicit differentiation to find and , given that

3exyz − 4xz2 + x cos y = 2.

EXERCISE 2. Suppose u = f(x, y) is a differentiable function on R2 and all its second-order

partial derivatives are continuous, and x = r cos θ, y = r sin θ. Show that

urr = fxx cos2 θ + 2fxy cos θ sin θ + fyy sin2 θ.

EXERCISE 3. Show that any differentiable function of the form

z = f(x + at) + g(x − at)

where a is a constant, is a solution of the wave equation

∂2 z 2∂ z
2
= a .
∂t 2 ∂x 2
Hint: Let u = x + at, v = x − at.

EXERCISE 4. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the surface

z2 − 2x 2 − 2y 2 = 12

at the point (1, −1, 4).

EXERCISE 5. Find the directional derivative of f(x, y, z) = x 3 + y 3 z at (−1, 2, 1) in the

direction toward (0, 3, 3).

1
EXERCISE 6. The temperature T of a metal ball is inversely proportional to the distance
from the center of the ball, which we take to be the origin (0, 0, 0). The temperature at
the point (1, 2, 2) is 120◦ Celcius.

(a) Find the rate of change of T at (1, 2, 2) in the direction toward the point (2, 1, 3).

(b) Show that at any point in the ball the direction of greatest increase in temperature
is given by a vector that points toward the origin.

EXERCISE 7. Find the indicated partial derivatives.

(a) f(x, y) = 4x 3 − 3x 2 y 2 + 2x + 3y; fx , fy , fxy , fyx , fxx , fyy .

x 2 yv 2 +(sin xy)v
(b) f(x, y, u, v) = u+x 3 +y 3 u
; fuvxyvuv .

EXERCISE 8. Find all critical points of the following functions. Determine the nature of
the critical points.

(a) f(x, y) = (x − y + 1)2 .

(b) f(x, y) = xy + 50
x
+ 20
y
, where x, y > 0.

(c) f(x, y) = xy ln(x 2 + y 2 ), where x 2 + y 2 > 0.

EXERCISE 9. A function f(x, y) is called Morse if all its critical points (a, b) satisfy
fxx (a, b)fyy (a, b) − fxy (a, b)2 6= 0. A function f(x, y) is called harmonic if the equation
fxx + fyy = 0 holds for all x, y. Prove that a harmonic Morse function does not have local
maxima or minima, so its critical points are all saddle points.

EXERCISE 10. Let (

xy xx 2 +y
−y
2 2
2, x 2 + y 2 > 0;
f(x, y) =
0, x = y = 0.

(a) Find fxy (0, 0) and fyx (0, 0).

(b) Explain why the fact that fxy (0, 0) 6= fyx (0, 0) does not contradict Clairaut’s Theorem.