VECTOR FUNCTION WITH RESPECT TO SCALAR VARIABLE

If f1 , f 2 and f 3 are real-valued functions defined on some interval I , then for each x  I we can

form the vector-valued function

f ( x)  f1 ( x)i  f 2 ( x) j  f 3 ( x)k .

The real-valued functions f1 , f 2 and f 3 are called the components of f .

DIFFERENTIABILITY OF VECTOR FUNCTIONS

A vector function f ( x) is differentiable at x if

f ( x  h)  f ( x )
Lim
h 0 h

exists. If this limit exists, it is called the derivative of f ( x) at x and denoted by f ( x ) . Note that

d f ( x)
f ( x ) is same as .
dx

Differentiation can be carried out component by component. That is, if

f ( x)  f1 ( x)i  f 2 ( x) j  f 3 ( x)k is differentiable at x , then

f ( x)  f1 ( x)i  f 2( x) j  f 3( x)k

EXAMPLE

Given that f ( x)  2 x 3 i  sin x j  e x k , find f ( x ) .

Solution
 f ( x)  6 x 2 i  cos x j  e x k

EXAMPLE

Given that f ( x)  xi  x  1 j  e x k , find f ( x ) .

Solution

1
f ( x)  i  j  ex k
2 x2

EXAMPLE

Find f ( x ) given that f ( x)  ( x Sin x)i  e  x j  xk

Solution

f ( x)  ( x Cos x  Sin x)i  e  x j  k

f ( x)  (2 Cos x  x Sin x)i  e  x j

CLASS ACTIVITY

1. Find the domain of the following vector functions:

a.) f ( x)  (1  2 x 4 )i  (3  x) j  (2  3 x) k

b.) f ( x)  1  xi  x  1 j  (1  x) 1 k

2. Investigate the continuity at x  0 of the following functions:

a.) f ( x)  3xi  ( x 2  1) j  e 2 x k

x
b.) f ( x)  i  2 x j  Sin x 3 k
x x
2
 3. Find the derivative of the following functions:

a.) f ( x)  (1  2 x)i  (3  x) j  (2  3 x)k

b.) f ( x)  1  xi  1  x j  (1  x) 1 k

INTEGRATION OF VECTOR FUNCTION

Vector functions can be integrated component by component. For a vector function

f ( x)  f1 ( x)i  f 2 ( x) j  f 3 ( x)k

that is continuous on the interval [a, b] , we set

b b b b
a
f ( x) dx   f1 ( x) dx i   f 2 ( x) dx j   f 3 ( x) dx k .
a a a

EXAMPLE

1
Evaluate 0
f ( x) dx for f ( x)  xi  x  1 j  e x k

Solution

0
1
f ( x) dx    x dx  i   
0
1

0
1
   e dx  k
x  1 dx j 
0
1
x

Integrating component by component, then evaluating, we have

1 2
 
1
  f ( x) dx  i  2 2  1 j  (1  e)k
0 2 3

EXAMPLE


Evaluate 0
f ( x)dx given that f ( x)  Sin x i  Cos x j  x k
 Solution

 Sin x i  Cos x j  x k  
   

0 0
Sin x dx  i  0  Cos x dx  j  0  x dx  k

 2

0
f ( x) dx  2i  j 
2
k

CLASS ACTIVITY

1. Evaluate the following:

2
a.) 
1
(i  2 x j ) dx

1
 (e i  e
t t
b.) k ) dt
0

2. Help from Technology

Evaluate then use CAS to evaluate the following:

a.) f ( x)  (1  2 x) i  (3  x) j  (2  3 x) k , find f ( x ) at x  0

b.) f ( x)  x 2 e  x i  xe  x j  x k , find f ( x ) at x  0

  xe i  xe 
1
x x2
c.) j dx
0