Calculus for Engineers
(SAQs)
RT
1. Use the ideal gas law P = with volume V in cubic inches (in3), temperature T in
V
Kelvins (K) and R = 10 ( in. lb / K ) to find the rate at which the temperature of a gas is
changing when the volume is 200in3 and increasing at the rate of 4 in3 / s , while the
pressure is 5 lb / in2 and decreasing at the rate of 1lb / in2 / s .
2. When the air resistance is ignored, the horizontal range R of a projectile is given by
v02
R ( ) = sin 2 where v0 is the constant initial velocity, g is the acceleration due to
g
gravity, and is the angle of elevation or departure. Find the maximum range of
projectile.
3. Suppose that f ( x, y ) = x3 − 3xy 2 represents velocity potential function of certain fluid
flow. Find the linear approximation of the function at the point (1, 2 ) .
4. Suppose that a current I branches into currents I1 , I 2 and I3 through resistors R1 , R2
and R3 in such a way that the total energy to the three resistors is a minimum. Find the
ratios I1 : I 2 : I3 if the energy delivered to Ri is Ii2 Ri ( i = 1, 2,3) and I = I1 + I 2 + I3 .
5. The temperature at a point (x, y ) on a metal plate is T ( x, y ) = 4 x 2 − 2 y 2 . An ant, walking
on the plate traverses a circle of radius 2 centered at the origin. What are the highest and
lowest temperatures encountered by the ant?
6. Let T ( x, y ) be the temperature function (in degrees Fahrenheit) of a metal plate. Suppose
that T ( 4, 2 ) = 930 F , Tx ( 4, 2 ) = −30 F / ft and Ty ( 4, 2 ) = 20 F / ft . Use this information to
approximate the temperature T ( x, y ) at the point ( 4.1,1.7 ) .
7. A flat metal plate is located on a coordinate plane. The temperature of the plate, in degrees
Fahrenheit, at the point ( x, y ) is given by T ( x, y ) = x 2 + 2 y 2 − 8 x + 4 y . Find the
minimum temperature and where it occurs. Is there a maximum temperature?
8. The voltage V in a circuit that satisfies the law V = IR is slowly dropping as the battery
wears out. Find how the current is changing at the instant when R = 600 ohms, I = 0.04
dR dV
amp, = 0.5 ohm/sec and = −0.01 volt/sec.
dt dt
9. The total sales S of a product firm are given by S ( x, y ) = xy − y 2 , where x is the cost
of the material and y is the cost of labour. Find the maximum value of total sales subject
to the budget constraint x + y = 70 .
10. The temperature at a point (x, y ) on a metal plate is T (x, y ) = 3x 2 y degrees Celsius. Find
the rate of change of temperature at (1, 2 ) in the direction of the vector u = 3iˆ + 4 ˆj .
11. You are designing a rectangular to contain 50 𝑖𝑛2 of printing with a 4-inch margin at
the top and bottom and a 2-inch margin at each side. What overall dimensions will
minimize the amount of paper used?
12. Find the rate at which the area of a rectangle is increasing at a given instant when the
sides of the rectangle are 4 ft and 3 ft and are increasing at the rate of 1.5 ft/sec and 0.5
ft//sec.
13. Suppose a closed rectangular box has length twice its breadth and has constant volume
V. Determine the dimensions of the box requiring least surface area.
14. The temperature distribution of a metal plate plane is given by T ( x, y ) = e
(
− x2 + y 2 ).
i) Find the linearization of temperature distribution at the point ( 2,1) .
Compare this value with the exact value.
ii) Approximate the temperature distribution at the point ( 2.1,1.1) .
