Created by T.

Madas

PARTIAL
DIFFERENTIATION
APPLICATIONS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

STATIONARY
POINTS

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)
A surface has Cartesian equation z = f ( x, y ) , given by

2 2
f ( x, y ) = ( x − 2 ) + ( y − 1) .

Investigate the critical points of f .

local minimum at ( 2,1, 0 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)

z = 5 xy − 6 x 2 − y 2 + 7 x − 2 y .

Investigate the critical points of z .

saddle point at ( −4, −11, −3 )

Question 3 (**)
A profit function P depends on two variables E and W , as follows.

P ( E ,W ) = 9 E − 2 E 2 − 5 EW + 7W − W 2 , E > 0 , W > 0 .

Investigate the critical points of P .

saddle "point" at ( E ,W , P ) = (1,1,8 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (**)

f ( x, y ) = 9 − y 2 − 2 x 2 + 4 x + y − xy .

Investigate the critical points of f .

maximum point at (1, 0,11)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**+)

z = x3 − 6 xy + y 3 .

Investigate the critical points of z .

saddle point at ( 0,0, 0 ) , local minimum at ( 2, 2, −8 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (**+)

z ( x, y ) = x 4 + y 4 − 4 xy .

Investigate the critical points of z .

MM1C , saddle point at ( 0,0,0 ) , local minimum at ( −1, −1, −2 ) ,

local minimum at (1,1, −2 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***)

( )
z = 2 xy ( xy + 2 y ) − 4 y y 2 − 4 .

Investigate the critical points of z .

(
saddle point at ( −1,1,10 ) , local minimum at −1, − 4 , − 416
3 27 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)
The function of two variables f is defined as

f ( x, y ) ≡ xy ( x + 2 ) − y ( y + 3) , x ∈ » , y ∈ » .

Find the coordinates of each of the stationary points of f , where z = f ( x, y ) , and

MM1A , saddle point at (1,0,0 ) , saddle point at ( −3,0,0 ) ,

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***)
The function of two variables f is defined as

f ( x, y ) ≡ 2 x3 + 6 xy 2 − 3 y 3 − 150 x , x ∈ » , y ∈ » .

Find the coordinates of each of the stationary points of f , where z = f ( x, y ) , and

MM1E , saddle point at ( 3, 4, −300 ) , saddle point at ( −3, −4,300 ) ,

local minimum at ( 5,0, −500 ) , local maximum at ( −5,0,500 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)
The function of three variables f is defined as

f ( x, y, z ) ≡ x 2 + y 2 + z 2 + xy − x + y , x ∈ » , y ∈ » , z ∈ » .

Find the stationary value of f , including the triple ( x, y, z ) which produces this value,
further determining the nature of this stationary value.

MM1D , local minimum of − 1 at (1, −1,0 )

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***+)
The function of three variables f is defined as

f ( x, y, z ) ≡ x 2 + xy + y 2 + 2 z 2 + 3 x − 2 y + z , x ∈ » , y ∈ » , z ∈ » .

Find the stationary value of f , including the triple ( x, y, z ) which produces this value,
further determining the nature of this stationary value.

155 7 8 1
MM1F , local minimum of − at  , − , − 
24 3 3 4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

APPLIED
OPTIMIZATION

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (****)
A set of points Pi with Cartesian coordinates ( xi , yi ) , 1 < i ≤ n , is given.

It is required to find a straight line with equation y = mx + c , so that the sum of the
squares of the vertical distances between Pi and the straight line is least.

Find simplified expressions for each of the constants m and c , in terms of xi and yi .

n n n
n
( xi yi ) −
( )( xi yi ) n n
m= i =1
n
i =1
n
i =1
n
, c=
1
n ( yi ) −
m
n ( xi )
n

i =1
( xi )2 −
( )(
i =1
xi
i =1
xi ) i =1 i =1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (****)
A set of points Pi with Cartesian coordinates ( xi , yi ) , 1 < i ≤ n , is given.

a
It is required to find a hyperbola with equation y = , so that the sum of the squares
x
of the vertical distances between Pi and the hyperbola is least.

Find a simplified expression for the constant a , in terms of xi and yi .


i =1
 yi 
 
 xi 
a= n

(
i =1
1
xi )
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (****)
A set of points Pi with Cartesian coordinates ( xi , yi ) , 1 < i ≤ n , is given.

It is required to find a curve with equation y = a ln x , so that the sum of the squares of
the vertical distances between Pi and the curve is least.

Find a simplified expression for the constant a , in terms of xi and yi .

i =1
 yi ln ( xi ) 
a= n

i =1
ln ( xi ) 
2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (****)
A set of points Pi with Cartesian coordinates ( xi , yi ) , 1 < i ≤ n , is given.

It is required to find a curve with equation y = ax 2 + b , so that the sum of the squares
of the vertical distances between Pi and the curve is least.

Find simplified expressions for each of the constants a and b , in terms of xi and yi .

n n n
n
 i =1
 xi2 yi  −
  [ ] 
i =1
yi
i =1
 xi2 
 
a= n n n
,
n
 i =1
 xi4  −
   
i =1
 xi2 
 
i =1
 xi2 
 

n n n n

[ ] 
i =1
yi
i =1
 xi4  −
   
i =1
 xi2 
 
i =1
 xi2 yi 
 
b= n n n
n

i =1
 xi4  −
   
i =1
 xi2 
 
i =1
 xi2 
 

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (****)
The table below shows experimental data connecting two variables x and y .

t 5 10 15 30 70
P 181 158 145 127 107

It is assumed that t and P are related by an equation of the form

P = A× tk ,

where A and k are non zero constants.

By linearizing the above equation, and using partial differentiation to obtain a line of
least squares, determine the value of A and the value of k .

A ≈ 250 , k ≈ −0.2

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

CONSTRAINED
OPTIMIZATION

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (***)

f ( x, y ) = x 2 + y 2 , x ∈ » , y ∈ » .

The region R in the x-y plane is a circle centred at ( −1,1) and of radius 1.

Use partial differentiation to determine the maximum and the minimum value of f ,
whose projection onto the x-y plane is the region R .

MM1A , f max = 3 + 2 2 , f min = 3 − 2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (***)

f ( x, y ) = ( x + 1) y , x ∈ » , y ∈ » , y > 0 .

Find the value of x and the value of y which maximizes value of f , subject to the
constraint x + 2 y = 11 .

( 7, 2 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
The region R in the x-y plane is the ellipse with equation

2 x 2 + xy = 2 y 2 = 15 .

The surface with equation z = f ( x, y ) is given by

f ( x, y ) = xy , x ∈ » , y ∈ » .

Determine the maximum value of f and the minimum value of f , whose projection
onto the x-y plane is the region R .

Give the corresponding x and y coordinates in each case

f max = 3 at ( 3, 3 ) or (− )
3, − 3 , f max = −5 at ( 5, − 5 ) or (− 5, 5 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
A scalar field F exists on the surface of the sphere with Cartesian equation

x2 + y2 + z 2 = 1 .
8

Given further that F = x 2 + y + z , determine the maximum value of F and the

Fmax = 1 , Fmin = − 1
2 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***)

f ( x, y ) = x 2 + y 2 + x 2 + y 2 , x ∈ » , y ∈ » .

Find the value of x and the value of y which minimizes value of f , subject to the
constraint x + y = 1 .

( 12 , 12 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 6 (***+)
Determine in exact form the shortest distance of the point (1, 2,3) from the sphere
with equation

x2 + y2 + z 2 = 1 .

d min = 14 − 1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (***+)
A water tank, in the shape of a cuboid, is to have a capacity of 1 m3 .

Sheet metal is used for the construction of the tank. The sheets are of uniform
thickness but the density of the metal used for the lid is half the density of the metal
used for the rest of the tank.

Use Lagrange’s constrained optimization method to show that the minimum total
sheet metal to be used is exactly 3 3 6 m 2 .

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***+)

f ( x, y , z ) = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 .

Determine the minimum value of F , subject to the constraints

x+ y+ z =3 and x − 2 y + z = 1 .

f min = 19
6

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***+)

2
F ( x, y , z ) = x 2 + y 2 + ( z − 2 ) .

Determine the minimum value of F , subject to the constraint z = xy .

Fmin = 3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***+)
The points P and Q lie on the intersection of the sphere and cylinder with respective
Cartesian equations

x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 9 and x2 + y2 = 8

The position of P is such so that the distance of P from the point ( 5,5,5 ) is least.
The position of Q is such so that the distance of Q from the point ( 5,5,5 ) is greatest.

Determine the coordinates of P and the coordinates of Q .

Give the corresponding distance from ( 5,5,5 ) in each case.

d min = 34, P ( 2, 2,1) , d max = 134, P ( −2, −2,1)

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (****)
The function F is defined in cylindrical polar coordinates ( r ,θ , z ) as

F ( r ,θ , z ) = r 2 + sin 2 θ − z , r ≥ 0 , 0 ≤ θ < 2π

Determine the minimum value and the maximum value of F , subject to the constraint

z = 2r 2 sin θ − 1 .

Fmin = −1 , Fmax = 1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (****+)
A brick is made so that

• the sum of the lengths of all of its edges is 40

• the sum of the area of all of its faces is 24

Use differentiation to find the maximum volume of the brick.

1000
27

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 Created by T. Madas

APPLICATIONS
TO O.D.E.s

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (***)
Find the solution of the following differential equation

dy 1 − 3x 2 y
= ,
dx x3 + 2 y

subject to the boundary condition y = 1 at x = 1 .

x3 y + y 2 − x = 1

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (***)
Solve the differential equation

dy 2 xy + 6 x
= ,
dx 4 y 3 − x 2

subject to the boundary condition y = 1 at x = 1 .

x 2 y + 3x 2 − y 4 = 3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (***)
Find a general solution of the following differential equation

=
(
2 2
dy y y − 3 x + 1 ).
(
dx x x 2 − 3 y 2 − 1)

( )
xy x 2 − y 2 − 1 = constant

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (***)
Solve the differential equation

2x
(
dy 4e − y 2e + 1
=
2x
)
,
dx e2 x + x

subject to the boundary condition y = 2 at x = 0 .

2e2 x
y=
e2 x + x

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (***+)
Find a general solution of the following differential equation

dy cos x cos y + sin 2 x

sin x cos y − 1 ( sin 2 x + sin 2 y ) + 1 ( x − y ) = constant

Created by T. Madas