MATH 2263

Practice Midterm 1
Time Limit: 50 minutes

This exam contains 7 pages (including this cover page) and 6 problems. Check to see if any pages are missing.
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√
Do not give numerical approximations
√ to quantities such as sin(5), π, or 2. However, you should simplify
quantities such as cos(π/4) = 2/2, sin(π) = 0, e0 = 1, and so on.

The following rules apply:

• Show your work, in a neat and coherent way, in the space provided. All answers must be justified by
mathematical reasoning, including the evaluation of derivatives. To receive full credit on a problem,
you must show enough work so that your solution can be followed by someone without a calculator.
• Mysterious or unsupported answers will not receive full credit. Your work should be mathematically
correct and carefully and legibly written.

• A correct answer, unsupported by calculations or explanation will receive no credit; an incorrect answer
supported by substantially correct calculations and explanations will receive partial credit.

Question Points Score

1 10
2 20
3 20
4 15
5 15
6 20
Total: 100
1. Consider points A(1, 0, −1), B(2, 3, 1), C(4, 2, −2).
(a) (5 points) Find a parametric equation of the line L that passes through A, C.
−→ −→
Solution: A directio vector of L can be given by AC = ⟨3, 2, −1⟩. Using coordinates of A and AC,
a parametric equation of L is

L : x = 1 + 3t, y = 2t, z = −1 − t.
−→
(b) (5 points) Use the equation in part (a) to find the point D on the line L such that AC is orthogonal
−−→
to BD. (Hint: use dot product.)
−−→
Solution: Assume coordinates of D is given by (1+3t, 2t, −1−t). Then BD = ⟨3t−1, 2t−3, −2−t⟩.
−−→ −→
Vectors BD and AC are orthogonal if and only if their dot product vanish:
−−→ −→
BD · AC = ⟨3t − 1, 2t − 3, −2 − t⟩ · ⟨3, 2, −1⟩ = 14t − 7 = 0.

Thus t = 21 , D = ( 52 , 1, − 32 ).
2. Consider the following three points in R3 :

P (3, 2, 1), Q(1, 2, 3), R(5, 6, 4).

(a) (15 points) Find a scalar equation of the plane Σ passing through P, Q, R.
Solution: We first find vectors
−−→ −→
P Q = ⟨−2, 0, 2⟩, P R = ⟨2, 4, 3⟩.

Their cross product gives a normal vector of Σ:

−−→ −→
n = P Q × P R = ⟨−2, 0, 2⟩ × ⟨2, 4, 3⟩ = ⟨−8, 10, −8⟩.

Thus a scalar equation of Σ is

−8(x − 3) + 10(y − 2) − 8(z − 1) = −8x + 10y − 8z + 12 = 0,

which can be simplified to Σ : −4x + 5y − 4z + 6 = 0.

(b) (5 points) Let L be the line with symmetric equation x−1 z+1
2 = y = 3 . Find the intersection point
of the plane Σ in part (a) with L.
Solution: We can use y as a parameter of L, then L : x = 2y + 1, z = 3z − 1. The coordinates
(x, y, z) of the intersection point satisfies

−4x + 5y − 4z + 6 = −4(2y + 1) + 5y − 4(3z − 1) + 6 = −15y + 6 = 0.

Thus y = 25 . The intersection point is ( 95 , 52 , 15 ).

3. Consider the following function:
xy(y − x + 1)
f (x, y) = .
3x2 − y 2
(a) (5 points) Evaluate the following limit, or explain why it does not exist:

lim f (x, y).

(x,y)→(2,3)

Solution: Since f (x, y) is a quotient of polynomials, it is continuous in its domain. As (2, 3) is

in the domain of f , we know f (x, y) is continuous at this point, and the limit is just the function
value:
12
lim f (x, y) = f (2, 3) = = 4.
(x,y)→(2,3) 3
(b) (15 points) Evaluate the following limit, or explain why it does not exist:

lim f (x, y).

(x,y)→(0,0)

Justify how you obtained your answer.

Solution: First note that (0, 0) is not in the domain of f (x, y).
Along x = 0, f (0, y) = 0. Thus
lim f (x, y) = 0.
x=0,y→0
2
x
Along x = y, f (x, x) = 2x2 = 12 . Thus

1
lim f (x, y) = .
x=y→0 2
4. (15 points) Consider the function
f (x, y) = sin(xey ).
Find the second partial derivatives fxx , fxy , fyx , fyy .

Solution:

fx = cos(xey ) ey ,
fy = cos(xey ) xey ,
fxx = − sin(xey ) ey ey = − sin(xey ) e2y ,
fxy = − sin(xey ) xey ey + cos(xey ) ey = − sin(xey ) xe2y + cos(xey ) ey ,
fyx = fxy ,
fyy = − sin(xey ) xey xey + cos(xey ) xey = − sin(xey ) x2 e2y + cos(xey ) xey .

In the above we write for example cos(xey ) ey instead of the more pedantic but less convenient (cos(xey )) ey
or ey cos(xey ). Hopefully, the formulae are still clear.
5. (15 points) Suppose that z = f (x, y) is a differentiable function of x, y satisfying fx (0, 0) = A and
fy (0, 0) = B, where A, B are known real numbers. If x and y are functions of s and t given by

x(s, t) = sin(2s + t), y(s, t) = sin(s + 2t),

∂z
find ∂s at (s, t) = (0, 0).

Solution: At (s, t) = (0, 0) and (x, y) = (x(0, 0), y(0, 0)) = (0, 0) we have

∂z ∂f ∂x ∂f ∂y ∂x ∂y
= + =A +B = A 2 cos(0) + B cos(0) = 2A + B .
∂s ∂x ∂s ∂y ∂s ∂s ∂s
6. For the following questions, consider the function

f (x, y, z) = xy + yz + xz.

(a) (16 points) Let P = (1, 1, 1) , Q = (2, 2, 3). Find the rate of change of f at the point P = (1, 1, 1)
−−→ −−→
in the direction of the vector P Q. (Caution: is P Q a unit vector?)

Solution: We have fx = y + z , fy = x + z fz = x + y . At P we have ∇f = ⟨2, 2, 2⟩. The unit

−−→
vector u in the P Q direction is
−−→
PQ ⟨1, 1, 2⟩ ⟨1, 1, 2⟩
u = −−→ = = √ .
|P Q| |⟨1, 1, 2⟩| 6

The desired rate of change Du f (P ) is given by u · ∇f evaluated at P . Hence

√
1·2+1·2+2·2 8 4 6
Du f (P ) = u · ⟨2, 2, 2⟩ = √ =√ = .
6 6 3

−→
(b) (4 points) Find a point R on the z−axis such that the rate of change of f in the direction P R is
zero.

−→
Solution: Let R = (0, 0, z) and v = P R = ⟨−1, −1, z − 1⟩. The rate of change of f at P in the
−→
direction of P R will be zero if and only if v · ∇f = 0 at P . Using the evaluation of ∇f (P ) above,
we see that the condition v · ∇f = 0 at P can be expressed as

0 = v · ⟨2, 2, 2⟩ = −2 − 2 + 2(z − 1) = 2z − 6 .

The equation has a unique solution z = 3, and therefore R = ⟨0, 0, 3⟩.