Chapter 4: Problem 109
Find the line orthogonal to the graph of \(\mathrm{f}(\mathrm{x}, \mathrm{y})=\mathrm{xy}\) at the point \(\left(\mathrm{x}_{0}, \mathrm{y}_{0}, \mathrm{z}_{0}\right)=(-2,3,-6)\).
Short Answer
Expert verified
The line orthogonal to the graph of \(f(x, y) = xy\) at the point \((-2, 3, -6)\) is described by the parametric equations: \(x(t) = -2 + 3t\), \(y(t) = 3 - 2t\), and \(z(t) = -6 - t\).
Step by step solution
01
Find the gradient of the function f(x, y)
To find the gradient of the function \(f(x, y) = xy\), calculate the partial derivatives with respect to x and y:
\[f_x = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}(xy) = y\]
\[f_y = \frac{\partial}{\partial y}(xy) = x\]
02
Calculate the normal vector to the surface
Since we have the gradient of the function, we can now calculate the normal vector, denoted as \(\vec{n}\), to the surface at the point \((-2, 3, -6)\). The gradient vector at the point is given by the components \([\,f_x(x_0, y_0),\, f_y(x_0, y_0), \, -1\,]\):
\[\vec{n} = \begin{bmatrix} y_0 \\ x_0 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 \\ -2 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix}\]
03
Find the equation of the orthogonal line
To find the equation of the orthogonal line in parametric form, use the coordinates of the point \((-2, 3, -6)\) and normal vector \(\vec{n}\). The parametric equation of a line is given by:
\[r(t) = \vec{p_0} + t \cdot \vec{n}\]
where \(r(t)\) is the position vector of a point on the line, \(\vec{p_0}\) is the position vector of the given point (in our case, \((-2,3,-6)\)), and \(t\) is the parameter representing how far along the line the point is. Plugging in the values, we get:
\[r(t) = \begin{bmatrix} -2 \\ 3 \\ -6 \end{bmatrix} + t \cdot \begin{bmatrix} 3 \\ -2 \\ -1 \end{bmatrix}\]
Now, we can write the orthogonal line in parametric form:
\[(x(t), y(t), z(t)) = (-2 + 3t, 3 - 2t, -6 - t)\]
So, the line orthogonal to the graph of \(f(x, y) = xy\) at the point \((-2, 3, -6)\) is described by the parametric equations:
\[x(t) = -2 + 3t\]
\[y(t) = 3 - 2t\]
\[z(t) = -6 - t\]
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Gradient
The gradient of a function is an essential concept in multivariable calculus. It represents the direction of the steepest ascent for a scalar field. To find the gradient of a function, we compute its partial derivatives with respect to all variables involved.
For a given function, such as \( f(x, y) = xy \), the gradient vector \( abla f \) comprises the partial derivative of \( f \) with respect to each variable. Here, we calculate:
For a given function, such as \( f(x, y) = xy \), the gradient vector \( abla f \) comprises the partial derivative of \( f \) with respect to each variable. Here, we calculate:
- \( f_x = \frac{\partial}{\partial x}(xy) = y \)
- \( f_y = \frac{\partial}{\partial y}(xy) = x \)
Partial Derivatives
Partial derivatives are like the building blocks of gradients. They measure how a function changes as we tweak one variable while keeping others fixed. In the context of the function \( f(x, y) = xy \), finding the partial derivatives involves taking the derivative first with respect to \( x \) and then with respect to \( y \).The partial derivative with respect to \( x \) is:
- \( f_x = y \)
- \( f_y = x \)
Normal Vector
A normal vector is a vector that is perpendicular to a surface at a given point. For a function \( f(x, y) \), its gradient at any point provides a normal vector to the level curve through that point.
In our exercise, we derive the normal vector \( \vec{n} \) from the gradient of the function. Calculating it involves:
In our exercise, we derive the normal vector \( \vec{n} \) from the gradient of the function. Calculating it involves:
- The gradient vector at point \( (-2, 3) \).
- Here, \( f_x = y = 3 \) and \( f_y = x = -2 \).
- \( \vec{n} = \begin{bmatrix} 3 \ -2 \ -1 \end{bmatrix} \)
Orthogonal Line
An orthogonal line is one that intersects a surface at a right angle, closely related to the concept of normal vectors. To define an orthogonal line to a surface at a given point, we utilize the normal vector from the gradient of the function.
The equation for the orthogonal line is given in its parametric form:
The equation for the orthogonal line is given in its parametric form:
- \( r(t) = \vec{p_0} + t \cdot \vec{n} \)
- \( x(t) = -2 + 3t \)
- \( y(t) = 3 - 2t \)
- \( z(t) = -6 - t \)