SCHOOL OF BASIC SCIENCES

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BHUBANESWAR

Mathematics-I (MA1L001)
Tutorial Sheet-5

1. Vector algebra and gradients

p
Unless otherwise specified, r refers to the position vector r = (x, y, z), and r = |r| = x2 + y 2 + z 2 .
Exercise 1. Consider the vectors p = 2i − j, q = 4i − 2j and r = 2i + 4j. Which of them are parallel
to each other, and which of them are perpendicular to each other?
Solution: Recall that vectors are perpendicular when their dot product is zero, and parallel (or
antiparallel) when their cross product is zero. We have
p.q = 2 × 4 + (−1) × (−2) = 10
p.r = 2 × 2 + (−1) × 4 = 0
q.r = 4 × 2 + (−2) × 4 = 0
so p and q are perpendicular to r but not to each other. For the cross products, we have
h i j ki
p × q = det 2 −1 0 = (2 × (−2) − (−1) × 4)k = 0
4 −2 0
h i j ki
p × r = det 2 −1 0 = (2 × 4 − (−1) × 2)k = 10k
h 2i 4j k0 i
q × r = det 4 −2 0 = (4 × 4 − (−2) × 2)k = 20k,
2 4 0
so p and q are parallel to each other, but not to r. More obviously, we can just observe that q = 2p,
so p and q are parallel.
Exercise 2. If a = (2, −1, 2), b = (−1, 2, 1) and c = (1, −2, 1), find the following quantities:
(a) |a|, |b| and |c|.
(b) a.b, a.c and b.c.
(c) a × b, a × c and b × c.
(d) The unit vector a b.
(e) The angle between b and c.
(f) The area of the parallelogram spanned by a and c.
(g) The component of a parallel to b.
(h) The component of a perpendicular to b.
Be sure to type-check your answers: do not give a vector where a scalar is required, or vice-versa.
Solution:
√ √ √ √ √
(a) |a| = 4 + 1 + 4 = 3; |b| = 1 + 4 + 1 = 6; |c| = 1 + 4 + 1 = 6.
(b) a.b = 2 × (−1) + (−1) × 2 + 2 × 1 = −2; a.c = 2 × 1 + (−1) × (−2) + 2 × 1 = 6;
b.c = (−1) × 1 + 2 × (−2) + 1 × 1 = −4.
(c)
h i j ki
a × b = det 2 −1 2 = (−5, −4, 3)
−1 2 1
h i j ki
a × c = det 2 −1 2 = (3, 0, −3)
1 −2 1
h i j ki
b × c = det −1 2 1 = (4, 2, 0).
1 −2 1

b = a/|a| = a/3 = (2/3, −1/3, 2/3).

(d) a
1
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(e) We have
b.c −4
= √ √ = − 32 ,
cos(θ) =
|b||c| 6 6
so θ = arccos(−2/3), which
p is 2.3 radians or
√ 132 degrees.
√
(f) The area is |a × c| = 32 + 02 + (−3)2 = 18 = 3 2 ' 4.24.
(g) The parallel component is
a.b −2
b=
a|| = (−1, 2, 1) = ( 31 , − 23 , − 13 ).
b.b 6
(h) The perpendicular component is
a⊥ = a − a|| = (2, −1, 2) − ( 13 , − 23 , − 13 ) = ( 53 , − 13 , 73 ).
Exercise 3. Consider vectors a = (u, v, w) and b = (x, y, z). Give formulae for a.b and a × b and
|a × b|2 . Verify by direct expansion that
(a.b)2 + |a × b|2 = |a|2 |b|2 .
Solution:
a.b = ux + vy + wz
(a.b)2 = u2 x2 + v 2 y 2 + w2 z 2 + 2uvxy + 2uwxz + 2vwyz
a × b = (vz − wy, wx − uz, uy − vx)
|a × b|2 = (vz − wy)2 + (wx − uz)2 + (uy − vx)2
= v 2 z 2 − 2vwyz + w2 y 2 + w2 x2 − 2uwxz + u2 z 2 + u2 y 2 − 2uvxy + v 2 x2 .
(a.b)2 + |a × b|2 = u2 x2 + v 2 y 2 + w2 z 2 + v 2 z 2 + w2 y 2 + w2 x2 + u2 z 2 + u2 y 2 + v 2 x2
= (u2 + v 2 + w2 )(x2 + y 2 + z 2 )
= |a|2 |b|2 .
Note that if we believe the formulae a.b = |a||b| cos(θ) and |a × b| = |a||b| sin(θ) then we have a
simpler argument:
(a.b)2 + |a × b|2 = |a|2 |b|2 cos2 (θ) + |a|2 |b|2 sin2 (θ) = |a|2 |b|2 .
However, this is not really a satisfactory argument, because the more complicated calculation given
above is required in order to prove the formula |a × b| = |a||b| sin(θ) in the first place.
Exercise 4. Find grad(f ) for the following functions
(a) f = x2 y + y 2 z + z 2 x
(b) f = sin(r)/r
2 2
(c) f = e−x −y + z.
Solution:
(a) grad(f ) = (fx , fy , fz ) = (2xy + z 2 , 2yz + x2 , 2zx + y 2 ).
(b) Recall that
∂r ∂ 2 1 1
rx = = (x + y 2 + z 2 ) 2 = 21 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )− 2 .2x = x/r,
∂x ∂x
and similarly ry = y/r and rz = z/r. We also have
df cos(r)r − sin(r)
= ,
dr r2
and
∂f df ∂r cos(r)r − sin(r) x cos(r)r − sin(r)
fx = = = = x.
∂x dr ∂x r2 r r3
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We can find fy and fz in the same way, giving

cos(r)r − sin(r)
grad(f ) = (fx , fy , fz ) = (x, y, z).
r3
2
−y 2 2
−y 2
(c) In this case we have grad(f ) = (−2xe−x , −2ye−x , 1).
2 3
Exercise 5. If f = x yz and n = ( 31 , 23 , 23 ), find the directional derivative n.∇(f ).
3 2 3 2 2
Solution: ∇(f ) = (2xyz , x z , 3x yz ), so
2 2
n.∇(f ) = xyz 3 + x2 z 3 + 2x2 yz 2 .
3 3

Exercise 6. The scalar field f is given by f = x sin(xy) + z cos(xy). Find the component of grad(f )
in parallel to (−1, 1, −1) at the point (π/2, 2, 0).
Solution: Here
∇(f ) = (sin(xy) + xy cos(xy) − yz sin(xy), x2 cos(xy) − xz sin(xy), cos(xy)).
At the point (x, y, z) = (π/2, 2, 0) we have xy = π so sin(xy) = 0 and cos(xy) = −1 so
∇(f ) = (−π, −π 2 /4, −1).
Now put m = (−1, 1, −1), so ∇(f ).m = π −π 2 /4+1 = 41 (4+4π −π 2 ) and m.m = 3. The component
of ∇(f ) parallel to the m is given by
∇(f ).m 4 + 4π − π 2
∇(f )|| = m= (−1, 1, −1).
m.m 12

Exercise 7. Put f = x2 − z 2 and g = 2xz + y 2 . Show that ∇(f ) is always perpendicular to ∇(g).
Solution:
∇(f ) = (2x, 0, −2z)
∇(g) = (2z, 2y, 2x)
∇(f ).∇(g) = (2x) × (2z) + 0 × 2y + (−2z) × (2x) = 4xz − 4xz = 0.
As ∇(f ).∇(g) = 0 for all x, y and z, we see that ∇(f ) and ∇(g) are perpendicular at all points.
Exercise 8. You are skiing on a mountain which happens to be the graph of the function f (x, y) =
10 − x2 − y 4 . You are at the point (1, 1, 8). If you want to ski down the steepest path, what direction
should you head?
Solution: See the solution of the question 3 of the attached pdf file.
Exercise 9. A fly is flying around a room in which the temperature is given by T (x, y, z) =
x2 + y 4 + 2z 2 . The fly is at the point (1, 1, 1) and realizes that he’s cold. In what direction should
he fly to warm up most quickly?
Solution: See the solution of the question 4 of the attached pdf file.
Exercise 10. Find a unit normal vector to the surface xy 2 + 2yz = 8 at the point (3, −2, 1).
Solution: See page 15.12, exercise 15.13 in Jain, Iyenger book.
Exercise
p 11. Find the normal vector and the equation of the tangent plane to the surface z =
x2 + y 2 at the point (3, 4, 5).
Solution: See page 15.13, exercise 15.14 in Jain, Iyenger book.
Exercise 12. Find the angle between the surfaces x ln z = y 2 − 1 and x2 y = 2 − z at the point
(1, 1, 1).
Solution: See page 15.13, exercise 15.15 in Jain, Iyenger book.
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2. Curvature
Exercise 13. Show that the curvature of a circle of radius a is 1/a.
Solution: Example 3 on page 720 of Stewart’s Calculus book.
Exercise 14. Find the curvature of the twisted cubic r(t) = (t, t2 , t3 ) at a general point and at
(0, 0, 0).
Solution: Example 4 on page 721 of Stewart’s Calculus book.
Exercise 15. Find the curvature of the parabola y = x2 at the points (0, 0), (1, 1), and (2, 4).
Solution: Example 5 on page 721 of Stewart’s Calculus book.

3. Div and curl

Exercise 16. Find ∇.u and ∇ × u for the following vector fields:
(a): u = (xy, yz, 0) (b): u = (z, x, y).
Solution:
∂ ∂ ∂
(a) ∇.u = ∂x (xy) + ∂y (yz) + ∂z (0) = y + z and
 i j k   
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∇ × u = det ∂x ∂y ∂z =
∂ ∂ ∂
(0) − (yz), (xy) − (yz), (yz) − (xy) = (−y, 0, −x).
xy yz 0 ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y
∂ ∂ ∂
(b) ∇.u = ∂x (z) + ∂y (x) + ∂z (y) = 0 + 0 + 0 = 0 and
 i j k
  
∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂ ∂
∇ × u = det ∂
∂x
∂
∂y
∂
∂z = (y) − (x), (z) − (y), (x) − (z) = (1, 1, 1).
z x y ∂y ∂z ∂z ∂x ∂x ∂y
Exercise 17. Consider a vector field of the form u = f (r)r, where f is a function of r only. Show
that ∇.u = 3 f (r) + r f 0 (r). Show that if ∇.u = 0, then f (r) = c/r3 for some constant c.
[Hint: remember the chain rule ∂x ∂
f (r) = f 0 (r) ∂x
∂r
.]
Solution: We have u = (f (r)x, f (r)y, f (r)z), so
∂ ∂ ∂
∇.u = (f (r)x) + (f (r)y) + (f (r)z).
∂x ∂y ∂z
Using the product rule, the chain rule, and the the standard fact that ∂r/∂x = x/r, we get
∂ ∂ ∂r
(f (r)x) = f (r) + x f (r) = f (r) + x f 0 (r) = f (r) + x2 f 0 (r)/r.
∂x ∂x ∂x
We can treat the other two terms in the same way to get
∂ ∂ ∂
∇.u = (f (r)x) + (f (r)y) + (f (r)z)
∂x ∂y ∂z
x2 y2 z2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 0 r2 0
= f (r) + f 0 (r) + f (r) + f 0 (r) + f (r) + f 0 (r) = 3 f (r) + f (r) = 3 f (r) + f (r)
r r r r r
0
= 3 f (r) + r f (r).
Now suppose that ∇.u = 0, so 3f (r) + r f 0 (r) = 0. Put g(r) = r3 f (r), so
g 0 (r) = 3r2 f (r) + r3 f 0 (r) = r2 (3f (r) + r f 0 (r)) = 0.
This means that g(r) is a constant, say c. As c = g(r) = r3 f (r), it follows that f (r) = c/r3 .
Exercise 18. Find constants a, b and c such that the vector field
v = (x + 2y + az, bx − 3y − z, 4x + cy + 2z)
satisfies curl(v) = 0. For these values of a, b and c, find a potential function f with grad(f ) = v.
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Solution: We have
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂  = (c − (−1), a − 4, b − 2).
curl(v) = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z
x + 2y + az bx − 3y − z 4x + cy + 2z
For this to be zero we must have a = 4 and b = 2 and c = −1, so
v = (x + 2y + 4z, 2x − 3y − z, 4x − y + 2z).
We want this to be equal to grad(f ), which means that
(A) fx = x + 2y + 4z
(B) fy = 2x − 3y − z
(C) fz = 4x − y + 2z
By integrating (A), we see that
Z
(D) f = x + 2y + 4z dx = 21 x2 + 2xy + 4xz + p,

where p is constant with respect to x, so p depends only on y and z. We now differentiate (D) with
respect to y to get
(E) fy = 2x + py .
On the other hand, equation (B) says that fy = 2x − 3y − z. By comparing (B) and (E) we see that
py = −3y − z. We can now integrate with respect to y to get
(F) p = − 23 y 2 − yz + q,
where q is constant with respect to both x and y, so it depends only on z. We can substitute (F)
in (D) to get
(G) f = 21 x2 + 2xy + 4xz − 23 y 2 − yz + q.
We can differentiate (G) with respect to z to get
(H) fz = 4x − y + qz .
On the other hand, equation (C) says that fz = 4x − y + 2z. By comparing (C) and (H) we see that
qz = 2z, so q = z 2 (plus a constant, which we can take to be zero). We can substitute this in (G) to
get
f = 21 x2 + 2xy + 4xz − 32 y 2 − yz + z 2 .
As a final check, we can calculate directly that
fx = x + 2y + 4z
fy = 2x − 3y − z
fz = 4x − y + 2z
as required.
p
Exercise 19. If r = x2 + y 2 + z 2 , show that ∇2 (rn ) = n(n + 1)rn−2 .
Solution: We have seen before that rx = x/r, which implies that
(A) (rn )x = n rn−1 rx = n rn−1 x/r = n rn−2 x.
In the same way, we have
(rn−2 )x = (n − 2)rn−4 x.
We can differentiate (A) once more using the product rule to get
(rn )xx = (n rn−2 x)x = n (rn−2 )x x + n rn−2
= n((n − 2)rn−4 x) x + nrn−2 = (n2 − 2n)rn−4 x2 + nrn−2 .
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In the same way, we have

(rn )yy = (n2 − 2n)rn−4 y 2 + nrn−2
(rn )zz = (n2 − 2n)rn−4 z 2 + nrn−2 .
Adding these together, we get
∇2 (rn ) = (rn )xx + (rn )yy + (rn )zz
= (n2 − 2n)rn−4 x2 + nrn−2 + (n2 − 2n)rn−4 y 2 + nrn−2 + (n2 − 2n)rn−4 z 2 + nrn−2
= (n2 − 2n)rn−4 (x2 + y 2 + z 2 ) + 3nrn−2 = (n2 − 2n)rn−4 r2 + 3nrn−2
= (n2 + n)rn−2 = n(n + 1)rn−2
as claimed.
Exercise 20. Let Ω be a scalar field, and let F be a vector field. Show that
(a) curl(ΩF) = Ω curl(F) − F × grad(Ω)
(b) curl(grad(Ω)) = 0.
Rewrite these identities in ∇ notation.
Solution: Write F = (P, Q, R), so ΩF = (ΩP, ΩQ, ΩR). We have
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl(ΩF) = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z = ((ΩR)y − (ΩQ)z , (ΩP )z − (ΩR)x , (ΩQ)x − (ΩP )y )
ΩP ΩQ ΩR
= (Ωy R + ΩRy − Ωz Q − ΩQz , Ωz P + ΩPz − Ωx R − ΩRx , Ωx Q + ΩQx − Ωy P − ΩPy )
(A) = Ω(Ry − Qz , Pz − Rx , Qx − Py ) + (Ωy R − Ωz Q, Ωz P − Ωx R, Ωx Q − Ωy P )
(B)
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂ 
Ω curl(F) = Ω det  ∂x ∂y ∂z = Ω(Ry − Qz , Pz − Rx , Qx − Py )
P Q R
(C)
 
i j k
F × grad(Ω) = det  P Q R  = (Ωz Q − Ωy R, Ωx R − Ωz P, Ωy P − Ωx Q)
Ωx Ωy Ωz
Combining (A), (B) and (C) makes it clear that curl(ΩF) = Ω curl(F) − F × grad(Ω). In ∇ notation,
this becomes ∇ × (ΩF) = Ω ∇ × F − F × ∇(Ω).
Next, we have
grad(Ω) = (Ωx , Ωy , Ωz )
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl(grad(Ω)) = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z = (Ωzy − Ωyz , Ωxz − Ωzx , Ωyx − Ωxy ) = (0, 0, 0).
Ωx Ωy Ωz
In ∇ notation, this says that ∇ × (∇(Ω)) = 0.
Exercise 21. Let H be a vector field that can be expressed as H = f grad(g) for some scalar fields
f and g. Show that H is perpendicular to curl(H) at every point.
[Hint: use the previous question.]
Now consider the vector field H = x2 y r (where r = (x, y, z) as usual). Find scalar fields f and g
such that H = f grad(g). Calculate curl(H) and check directly that it is perpendicular to H.
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Solution: Using the previous question (with Ω = f and F = grad(g)) we see that
curl(H) = curl(f grad(g)) = f curl(grad(g)) − grad(g) × grad(f ).
As curl(grad(g)) = 0, this simplifies to curl(H) = − grad(g) × grad(f ) = grad(f ) × grad(g). It is a
general rule that a × b is always perpendicular to a and to b, so curl(H) is perpendicular to grad(g).
Moreover, H is just the scalar f times the vector grad(g), so it has the same direction as grad(g),
so it is also perpendicular to H.
Now consider the case
H = x2 yr = (x3 y, x2 y 2 , x2 yz).
We know that grad(r) = (x/r, y/r, z/r) = r/r, so
H = x2 yr r/r = x2 yr grad(r).
Thus, if we take f = x2 yr and g = r then H = f grad(g). A different, but equally valid, solution is
to take f = x2 y and g = r2 /2 = (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )/2.
The first part of the question now tells us that curl(H) should be perpendicular to H. We can
check this directly as follows. We have
 
i j k
∂ ∂ ∂ 
curl(H) = det  ∂x ∂y ∂z = (x2 z − 0, 0 − 2xyz, 2xy 2 − x3 ) = (x2 z, −2xyz, 2xy 2 − x3 ),
3 2 2 2
x y x y x yz
so
H. curl(H) = (x3 y, x2 y 2 , x2 yz).(x2 z, −2xyz, 2xy 2 − x3 ) = x5 yz − 2x3 y 3 z + 2x3 y 3 z − x5 yz = 0,
which means that H and curl(H) are perpendicular.
Exercise 22. For the vector field A = (x2 y, y 2 z, z 2 x), calculate
(a) ∇.A
(b) ∇(∇.A)
(c) ∇ × A
(d) ∇ × (∇ × A)
(e) ∇2 (A).
Verify the identity ∇2 (A) = ∇(∇.A) − ∇ × (∇ × A) in this case.
Solution:
∂ ∂ ∂
(a) ∇.A = ∂x (x2 y) + ∂y (y 2 z) + ∂z (z 2 x) = 2xy + 2yz + 2zx.
(b) ∇(∇.A) = ∇(2xy + 2yz + 2zx) = (2y + 2z, 2z + 2x, 2x + 2y).
 i j k 
(c) ∇ × A = det ∂x ∂ ∂
∂y
∂
∂z = (0 − y 2 , 0 − z 2 , 0 − x2 ) = (−y 2 , −z 2 , −x2 ).
x2 y y 2 z z 2 x
 i j k 
∂ ∂ ∂
(d) ∇ × (∇ × A) = det ∂x ∂y ∂z = (0 − (−2z), 0 − (−2x), 0 − (−2y)) = (2z, 2x, 2y).
−y 2 −z 2 −x2
2 2
(e) Note that ∇(x y) = (2xy, x , 0), so
∂ ∂ 2 ∂
∇2 (x2 y) = ∇.(2xy, x2 , 0) = (2xy) + (x ) + (0) = 2y.
∂x ∂y ∂z
In the same way, we have ∇2 (y 2 z) = 2z and ∇2 (z 2 x) = 2x, so
∇2 (A) = (∇2 (x2 y), ∇2 (y 2 z), ∇2 (z 2 x))) = (2y, 2z, 2x).
We now see that
∇(∇.A) − ∇ × (∇ × (A)) = (2y + 2z, 2z + 2x, 2x + 2y) − (2z, 2x, 2y) = (2y, 2z, 2x) = ∇2 (A)
as claimed.
Exercise 23. Show that for any vector fields u = (p, q, r) and v = (f, g, h) we have
∇.(u × v) = (∇ × u).v − (∇ × v).u.
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Solution:
∇ × u = (ry − qz , pz − rx , qx − py )
∇ × v = (hy − gz , fz − hx , gx − fy )
u × v = (qh − rg, rf − ph, pg − qf )
∇.(u × v) = (qh − rg)x + (rf − ph)y + (pg − qf )z

= qx h+qhx −rx g−rgx +

ry f +rfy −py h−phy +
pz g+pgz −qz f −qfz
= (ry − qz )f + (pz − rx )g + (qx − py )h+
p(gz − hy ) + q(hx − fz ) + r(fy − gx )
= (ry − qz , pz − rx , qx − py ).(f, g, h)−
(p, q, r).(hy − gz , fz − hx , gx − fy )
= (∇ × u).v − (∇ × v).u.