PC2 (2023/2024)

Geometry 2
Exercise Set 01

1. Let E be an oriented Euclidean vector space of dimension 3 and B = {e1 , e2 , e3 } an ortho-

normal bases of E. Let v = (v1 , v2 , v3 ), w = (w1 , w2 , w3 ) and u = (u1 , u2 , u3 ) three vectors of
E. Prove that:

(a) v ∧ w = (v2 w3 − v3 w2 , v3 w1 − v1 w3 , v1 w2 − v2 w1 ),
(b) (u ∧ v) ∧ w = hu, wi v − hv, wi u,
(c) Suppose that u, v and w are linearly independent. Show that the volume V of a paral-
lelepiped generated by u, v, w is given by V = | hu ∧ v, wi |, and introduce an oriented
volume in E = R3 .

2. Given the vectors v 6= 0 and w E of an oriented Euclidean vector space of dimension 3, show
that there exists a vector u such that u ∧ v = w if and only if v is perpendicular to w. Is this
vector u uniquely determined? If not, what is the most general solution?.

3. Find all unit vectors which are perpendicular to the vector (2, 2, 1) and parallel to the plane
determined by the points (0, 0, 0), (1, −2, 1) and (−1, 1, 1).

4. Verify that if f : U ⊂ Rn −→ Rm is a vector function defined on an open set U , then the

components of f are fi (M ) = hf (M ), ei i , where M = (x1 , . . . , xn ).

5. Let U be a subset of Rn and f1 , f2 , f3 : U −→ Rm three vectors functions defined on

U . Let g : U −→ R be a scalar function and M0 ∈ U such that: limM −→M0 fi (M ) =
li , limM −→M0 g(M ) = λ. Prove that

(a) limM −→M0 f1 (M ) ± f2 (M ) = l1 ± l2 ,

(b) limM −→M0 g(M )f1 (M ) = Λl1 ,
(c) limM −→M0 hf1 (M ), f2 (M )i = hl1 , l2 i,
(d) limM −→M0 f1 (M ) ∧ f2 (M ) = l1 ∧ l2 , (m = 3),
(e) limM −→M0 [f1 (M ), f2 (M ), f3 (M )] = [l1 , l2 , l3 ], (m = n = 3).

6. Let I be an open interval of R. Show that for functions f1 ; f2 ; f3 : I −→ R3 and g : I −→ R

of class C 1 we have

(a) (f1 ± f2 )0 = f10 ± f20 , (gf1 )0 = g 0 f1 + gf10 ,

(b) hf1 , f2 i0 = hf10 , f2 i + hf1 , f20 i , (f1 ∧ f2 )0 = f10 ∧ f2 + f1 ∧ f20 .
(c) [f1 , f2 , f3 ]0 = [f10 , f2 , f3 ] + [f1 , f20 , f3 ] + [f1 , f2 , f30 ].

7. A function f : R2 −→ R is independent of the second variable if each x ∈ R we have

f (x, y1 ) = f (x, y2 ) for all y1 , y2 ∈ R. Show that f is independent of the second variable if
and only if there exists a function g : R −→ R such that f (x, y) = g(x). Give (Df )(a, b) as a
function of g 0 .

8. Let f : I −→ R3 a C 1 function on an interval I ⊂ R, with f 0 (t) 6= 0 for all t ∈ I.

(a) Show that ||f (t)|| is a nonzero constant if and only if f (t) is orthogonal to f 0 (t) for all
t ∈ I.
 (b) Show that a necessary and sufficient condition for the vector f (t) to be of constant
direction is that f (t) and f 0 (t) are collinear on I.

9. Let f : U −→ R3 a C 1 function on a connected open set of R2 . Show that a necessary and

sufficient condition for f to have zero partial derivatives or zero differential in U is for f (u, v)
to be a constant vector.

10. Let f : U −→ R3 a C 1 function on an open set of R2 .

∂f
(a) A N.S.C so that f (u, v) is orthogonal to fu = ∂u and fv is that ||f (u, v)|| is constant.
(b) A N.S.C for f (u, v) to have a constant direction is for it to be collinear to the fu and
fv vectors.
(c) If fu and fv are not parallel, a N.S.C so that the image of f is plane is that fu and fv
are parallel to this same plane.

11. Show the following property of the tangent to an ellipse: the tangent to an ellipse at a point
M coincides with the exterior bisector of the angle of the ray vectors of M .

12. Show that the image defined by the vector function r(t) = r0 + tr1 + t2 r2 , t ∈ R, where
r0 , r1 and r2 are constant vectors, is a parabola if r1 and r2 are not collinear. What happens
otherwise?.

13. A Cassini oval is a set of points, such that for any point M of the set, the product of the
distances to two fixed points F1 and F2 (||F1~F2 || = 2b) is a constant, usually written as a2
where a > 0. Determine the equation of the locus geometric of M .

14. A segment AB of constant length 2a moves while keeping its emitted ends on the axes of
a rectangular system xOy. From the origin O = (0, 0) on lowering a perpendicular OM on
AB. The geometric locus of these points M is a four-branched rose whose equation we ask
for.

15. We give a circle of radius a and a variable chord passing through a point O of this circle.
On either side of the point of intersection A of this chord with the circle we carry segments
AM1 = AM2 = 2b. What is the equation of the locus of points M1 and M2 ? It’s Pascal’s
Snail or Lemacon of Pascal. If a = b we obtain the cardioid.

16. What is the nature of curves written in polar coordinates, by the equations:
a b 16 2
r = 4, r = 2a cos θ, r = ,r = ,r = ,r = .
cos θ sin θ 5 − 3 cos θ 1 − cos θ

17. Find a parametrized curve α(t) whose trace is the circle x2 + y 2 = 1 such that α(t) runs
clockwise around the circle with α(0) = (0, 1).

18. Let α(t) be a parametrized curve which does not pass through the origin. If α(t0 ) is a point
of the trace of α closest to the origin and α0 (t0 ) 6= 0, show that the position vector α(t0 ) is
orthogonal to α0 (t0 ).

19. A parametrized curve α(t) has the property that its second derivative α00 (t) is identically
zero. What can be said about α?.

20. Let α : I −→ R3 be a parametrized curve and let v ∈ R3 be a fixed vector. Assume that
α0 (t) is orthogonal to v for all t ∈ I and that α(0) is also orthogonal to v. Prove that α(t) is
orthogonal to v for all t ∈ I.