MATH120 2023-1 Recitation Problems - Week 09

Note that some questions given below may NOT be solved during recitation.

1. Let g(x, y) = f (x2 + f (x, y), f (f (x, y), y)) for a differentiable function f with
f (1, 1) = 1, f1 (1, 1) = −1, f2 (1, 1) = 3, f1 (2, 1) = 2, f2 (2, 1) = −2. Find g1 (1, 1).

2. Given that f is a differentiable function with continuous partials, find all first and second derivatives
of the composition functions:

(a) u = f (x2 + y 2 + z 2 )
(b) u = f (x, x/y)
(c) u = f (x + y, xy)

3. Use suitable linearizations to calculate approximately the following expressions:

(a) 1, 002 · 2, 00032 · 3, 00043 ;

p
(b) 1, 022 + 1, 973 .

4. Let f (x, y) = x2 y + x3 + y 2 .

(a) Find the directions along which the directional derivative of f at the point (1, 2) is maxi-
mum/minimum.
(b) Find the directional derivative of f at (1, 2) in the direction of the vector (3, 1).
(c) Find the directions along which the directional derivative of f at the point (1, 2) is 9.
(d) Find the directions along which the directional derivative of f at the point (1, 2) is −6.
(e) Find the directions along which the directional derivative of f at the point (1, 2) is 0.

5. Write down the equations of the tangent lines to the curve x2 + 3xy + 5y 2 = 11 which are parallel
to the line x + 2y = 3.

6. Write down a vector parametric equation of the tangent line to the curve of intersection of the two
surfaces 2z 2 = 3x2 + 5y 2 and xy 2 z = 12 at the point (3, 1, 4).

7. (a) For a differentiable function f the equation of the tangent plane to the graph of f (x, y, z) = 1
at (x, y, z) = (1, 3, 5) is x + 3y − 2z = 0. If D⃗u f (1, 3, 5) = 1 where ⃗u is parallel to ⃗v = (1, 2, 1),
calculate f3 (1, 3, 5).
(b) If f (x, y, z) = 1 defines z as a differentiable function of x and y nearby the point (1, 3, 5), find
zx and zy at (1, 3)

8. If sin(xyz) + xy 2 z 3 = 3 implicitly defines z as a differentiable function of x and y in a neighborhood

of a point (a, b, c), express the partial derivatives zx , zy and zxy in terms of x, y and z.