Math 232 - Calculus IV

Homework due April 15

Green’s Theorem relates the line integral of a vector field F on a closed

curve C (oriented counterclockwise) with the double integral on R (the region
enclosed by C) of the k-component of curl F:
I I ZZ
∂N ∂M
F(x, y) · ds = M dx + N dy = − dA.
C C R ∂x ∂y

Question 1. Compute the following line integrals by using Green’s Theorem.

I
(a) y 2 dx + x2 dy where C is the triangle bounded by x = 0, x + y = 1,
C
and y = 0 oriented counterclockwise.
I
(b) (6y + x) dx + (y + 2x) dy where C is the circle (x − 2)2 + (y − 3)2 = 4
C
oriented clockwise.

As an application of Green’s Theorem, we can compute the the area of a

region R by computing a certain line integral on its boundary C oriented
counterclockwise: I
1
Area = x dy − y dx.
2 C

Question 2. Compute the following area using Green’s Theorem, as stated

above.

(a) Compute the area of the region R that is bounded by the curve C
parameterized by
3 √ √
 
2 t
r(t) = t , − t , − 3 ≤ t ≤ 3.
3

1
Question 3. In the previous homework, we saw that combining the gradient,
curl, and divergence of vector fields and functions in certain ways produced
impressive results:
curl(gradf ) = ∇ × (∇f ) = 0
div (curl F) = ∇ · (∇ × F) = 0.
In this question, we will investigate what happens if we take a scalar function
f and then take its gradient and then its divergence. This combination is
called the Laplacian of a function and is denoted by ∆f :

∆f = div(gradf ) = ∇ · (∇f ).

(a) If we are given a scalar function f (x, y), then write out explicitly the
Laplacian ∆f = ∇ · (∇f ) in terms of the partial derivatives of f .

(b) A function f (x, y) is said to be harmonic if ∆f = 0. Show that the

function f (x, y) = ln(x2 + y 2 ) is harmonic.

(c) Show that f (x, y) = ex sin y is harmonic.

(d) Use Green’s Theorem to show that if f is a harmonic function, then

I
∂f ∂f
dx − dy = 0
C ∂y ∂x
over any closed curve C.

Harmonic functions are of critical importance in the fields of Ordinary Dif-

ferential Equations, Partial Differential Equations, Complex Analysis, Ge-
ometry, Analysis, ... to name a few.

Question 4. Parameterize the following surfaces. Be sure to give both the

parameterization function T as well as the domain R that gives the bounds
on your parameters.
2 2 2
(a) The spherical band coming from
√ the portion√of the sphere x +y +z =
3 between the planes z = − 3/2 and z = 3/2.

(b) The upper portion of the sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 8 cut by the plane

z = −2.

(c) The portion of the cylinder y 2 + z 2 = 9 in between the planes x = 0

and x = 3.

(d) The portion of the cylinder (x − 2)2 + y 2 = 4 between the planes z = 0

and z = 3.

2
Question 5. Consider the sphere of radius a given x2 + y 2 + z 2 = a2 .

(a) Use spherical coordinates to find a parameterization T (φ, θ) for the

sphere.

(b) What is the domain R for your parameterization?

(c) Compute the partial derivatives Tφ and Tθ .

(d) Compute the cross product Tφ × Tθ .

(e) Compute the magnitude of the cross product |Tφ × Tθ |. Simplify as

much as possible.