MATH 264 and MAST 218, Assignment 1, Solutions

Problem 8/ p. 662. (a) Sketch the curve by using the parametric equations to plot points:

x = 1 + 3t, y = 2 − t2 .

Indicate with an arrow the direction in which the curve is traced as t increases.
(b) Eliminate the parameter to find a Cartesian equation of the curve.
Solution. (a) First we tabulate (compute) xi , yi for arbitrary chosen values t0 < t1 < t2 <
t4 < · · · of the parameter t:

i 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
ti -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3
xi -8 -6.5 -5 -3.5 -2 -0.5 1 2.5 4 5.5 7 8.5 10
yi -7 -4.25 -2 -0.25 1 1.75 2 1.75 1 -0.25 -2 -4.25 -7

Next we plot the points (xi , yi ). This will outline the shape of the curve:

In order to better see the shape of the curve we can connect the consecutive points (xi , yi )
in an increasing order of the corresponding ti :

Obviously, the arrow on the graph of this simple curve should start from the left and should
point to the right, this is the direction in which the curve is traced when the parameter

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increases.
(b) We have t = (x − 1)/3 hence,
2
x−1 x2 2x 17

y =2− =− + + .
3 9 9 9

Problem 14/ page 662. (a) Eliminate the parameter to find Cartesian equation of the
curve.
(b) Sketch the curve and indicate with an arrow the direction in which the curve is traced
as the parameter increases.

x(t) = et − 1, y(t) = e2t .

Solution. (a) First, et > 0 and from here x > −1 hence, the parametric equations represent
the curve for x > −1. Next, (x + 1)2 = e2t ⇒

y = (x + 1)2

is a Cartesian equation of the curve.

(b) Here is the graph of the curve. Because x > −1, the point (−1, 0) is excluded. The
direction is from (−1, 0) toward (1, 0):

Problem 24/ p.663. Match the graphs of the parametric equations x = f (t), y = g(t) in
(a)–(d) with the parametric curves labeled I–IV. Give reasons for your choices.
Remark. Different observations are possible in order to match the given graphs of x =
f (t), y = g(t) with the given parametric curves. Different observations will lead to different
solutions.
Solution. Consider (a). For t = 0 we have x = 1 and y = 0 hence, the point (1, 0) is a
point from the corresponding curve. Only III has (1, 0) as its point so, (a) corresponds
to III.

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 Consider now (b). For t = 0 we have x = 0 and y = 0 hence, the point (0, 0) is a point
from the corresponding curve. Only the curve I has (0, 0) as its point so, the parametric
equations (b) correspond to the curve I.

Consider now (c). For t = 0 we have x = 0 and y = 2 hence, the point (0, 2) is a point
from the corresponding curve. From the 2 left choices II and IV only 2 has (0, 2) as its
point and from here (c) corresponds to IV.

Finally, (d) corresponds to II. For example, for all t in [δ, 2 − δ], δ > 0 appropriately
chosen we have x = 2 and y vary from positive to negative. Only the curve II has such a
point-property.

Problem 28/p.663. Match the parametric equations with the graphs labeled I–VI. Give
reasons for your choices. Do not use a graphing device.
Remark. Different observations are possible in order to match the given parametric equa-
tions with the given graphs. Different observations will lead to different solutions.
Solution based on elementary properties of (trigonometric) functions. First, we
observe that in (a) and (b) we have y ≥ 0 for all values of the parameter t but for all others
(c), (d), (e) and (f) parametric representation of curves we have y < 0 for at least one t.
With t = 3π/2 we have y = −1 < 0 in (c). With t = 3π/4 we have y = −1 < 0 in (d). With
t = 0.8 we have y = −0.0974 < 0 in (e). With t = π/2 we have y = −1/(4 + (π/2)2 ) < 0 in
(f). Hence, (a) and (b) correspond to I and V. In (a) and (b) we have y = 0 only when
t = 0. From here there is only one point that is (1, 0) from the curve described by (a) such
that it is on the x-axis. Analogously, there is only one point that is (0, 0) from the curve
describe by (b) that is on the x-axis. From here, (a) is a parametric representation of
the curve V and (b) is a parametric representation of the curve I.
Next, we observe that |x| ≤ 1 and |y| ≤ 1 in (c), (d) and (e). On the other hand x → ∞
and y → ∞ when t → ∞ in (e). In view of this (e) is a parametric representation of
the curve IV.
Now consider (f). We have
sin2 (2t) + cos2 (2t) 1
x2 + y 2 = 2 2
≤
(4 + t ) 16
and from here the curve with a parametric equations (e) is inside the circle centered at
(0, 0) of radius 1/4. Obviously, for t = 0 we obtain that (1, 0) is a point from the curve with
parametric equations (d) and for t = π/2 we obtain that (0, 1) is a point from the curve
with parametric equations (c). Hence, (f ) corresponds to III.
Now, consider what is left: (c) and (d); and II and VI. In (c) x = 0 if and only if 2t = kπ or
t = kπ/2. Then, the corresponding y = sin(kπ/2+sin(kπ)) = sin(kπ/2) hence, y = −1, 0, 1.
In other words, the curve with parametric representation (c) has only three points on

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the y-axis: (0, −1), (0, 0), (0, 1). On the other hand, in (d) we have x = 0 if and only
if 5t = (2k + 1)π/2 or t = (2k + 1)π/10 and the corresponding x = sin((2k + 1)π/5)
⇒ x = − sin(3π/5), − sin(π/5), sin(π/5), sin(3π/5), sin(5π/5) = 0 hence, 5 distinct points
on the y-axis belong to the curve with parametric equations (d).
Taking the above into account and looking on the graphs of II and VI we conclude: the
parametric equations (c) correspond to the curve II; the parametric equations
(d) correspond to the curve VI.

Problem 40/ page 664. Let P be a point at a distance d from the center of a circle
of radius r. the curve traced out by P as the circle rolls along a straight line is called a
trochoid. Using the same angle-parameter θ as for the cycloid and assuming the line is the
x-axis and θ = 0 when P is at one of its lowest points (positions), show that parametric
equations of the trochoid are:

x(θ) = rθ − d sin(θ), y(θ) = r − d cos(θ).

Solution. Without any restriction we consider the point P to be outside the circle of
radius r. From the figure it is obvious the position P is determined by the angle θ, the
length d from the moving point P to the center of the circle, and from the radius r of the
circle.
Now to obtain the y coordinate of P we have to subtract from the radius r the length of
adjacent to the angle θ leg (cathetus) in the right triangle with a hypothenuse d. Hence,

y = r − d cos(θ).

Analogously, taking into account |OT | = rθ we obtain that the x coordinate of P is equal to
rθ minus the length of the opposite to the angle θ leg (cathetus) in the same right triangle
with a hypothenuse d. Hence,
x = rθ − d sin(θ).

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Here are the graphs of the trochoid for r = 2, d = 0.5 (the pint P inside the circle),
r = 2, d = 2 (the pint P inside the circle, cycloid), and r = 2, d = 3 (the point P outside
the circle):

Problem 4/ page 672. Find an equation of the tangent line to the curve x(t) = t − t−1 ,
y(t) = 1 + t2 at the point corresponding to the value of the parameter t = 1.
Solution. The point (0, 2) from the curve corresponds to the value t = 1 of the parameter.
We compute the slope of the tangent (line) to the curve at (0, 2):
0
dy y (t) 2t
= 0 = |t=1 = 1
dx x (t) 1 + t−2

and from here

y − 2 = 1(x − 0) ⇒ y =x+2
is an equation of the tangent line to the curve at (0, 2) that is the point from the curve
corresponding to the value of the parameter t = 1.
Verifying the answer by using CAS Maple. In order to check the result we draw the
curve and the tangent line by using CAS Maple:

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Note, that the verification is in fact a graphical solution of the given problem by using CAS
Maple.
Problem 14/ page 672. Find dy/dx and d2 y/dx2 as functions of the parameter for the
curve C : x(t) = t + ln(t), y(t) = t − ln(t). For which values of t is the curve C concave
upward?
Solution 1. Note first that the curve is well defined with the given parametric equations
only for t > 0. Next, we compute
0
dy y (t) 1 − 1/t t−1
= 0 = =
dx x (t) 1 + 1/t t+1

d2 y d d
2
= [dy/dx] = [(dy/dt)/(dx/dt)]
dx dx dx
d t−1
2 2t
 
dt t+1
= = 2
/(1 + 1/t) = >0
dx/dt (t + 1) (t + 1)3
for all t > 0. Hence, the given curve is concave upward (convex) for all t > 0.
Solution 2 by using the formula given in class.
0 00 0 00
y (t) = 1 − 1/t = 1 − t−1 ; y (t) = t−2 ; x (t) = 1 + t−1 ; x (t) = −t−2

and
00 0 0 00
d2 y y (t)x (t) − y (t)x (t) t−2 (1 + t−1 ) − (1 − t−1 )(−t−2 ) 2t−2
= = =
dx2 [x0 (t)]3 (1 + t−1 )3 (1 + t−1 )3
2t
= >0
(t + 1)3
for all t > 0. Hence, the given curve is concave upward (convex) for all t > 0.
Verifying the answer by using CAS Maple:

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Problem 20/ page 672. Find the points on the curve

x(θ) = cos(3θ), y(θ) = 2 sin(θ),

where the tangent is horizontal or vertical.

Graph the curve to check your answer.
Solution. Horizontal tangents:
0 0
y (θ) = 2 cos(θ) = 0 and x (θ) = −3 sin(3θ) 6= 0(af initenumber)
0 0
or y (θ)/x (θ) = 0 and from here

θ = π/2 ⇒ (0, 2); θ = 3π/2 ⇒ (0, −2).

At the points (0, 2) and (0, −2) the curve has horizontal tangents.
Vertical tangents:
0 0
x (θ) = −3 sin(3θ) = 0 and y (θ) = 2 cos(θ) 6= 0(af initenumber)
0 0
or x (θ)/y (θ) = 0 and from here
√ √
θ = 0 ⇒ (1, 0); θ = π/3 ⇒ (−1, 3); θ = 2π/3 ⇒ (1, 3)
√ √
θ = π ⇒ (−1, 0); θ = 4π/3 ⇒ (1, − 3); θ = 5π/3 ⇒ (−1, − 3)
By using CAS Maple we plot the curve to check the answers:

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Not in the assignment. Find all tangents (tangent lines) to the curve at the point (0, 1).
We have y = 2 sin(θ) = 1, x = cos(3θ) = 0 if θ = π/6, 5π/6. Also,
dy dy/dθ 2 cos(θ)
= =
dx dx/dθ −3 sin(3θ)
and from here the slope of the tangent at (0, 1) corresponding to t = π/6 is

dy 2 cos(θ)  1
= = −√
dx −3 sin(3θ) θ=π/6

3

dy 2 cos(θ)  1
= =√
dx −3 sin(3θ) θ=5π/6

3
and from here the curve has two tangents at the point (0, 1) with equations:
1 1
y = −√ x + 1 and y = √ x + 1.
3 3
We verify the answer by drawing the graphs of the curve and the tangents to the curve at
the point (0, 1):

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Problem 42/ page 673. Find the exact length of the curve

x(t) = et + e−t , y(t) = 5 − 2t, 0 ≤ t ≤ 3.

Solution.
Z 3q Z 3p Z 3q
L= (et − e−t )2 + (−2)2 dt = e2t − 2 + e−2t + 4 dt = (et + e−t )2 dt
0 0 0
Z 3  3
= (et + e−t )dt = et − e−t  = [e3 − e−3 ] − [e0 − e0 ] = e3 − e−3

0 0

e6 − 1
= .
e3
Here is the graph of the curve:

Problem 54/page 673. Find the total length of the astroid

x(θ) = a cos3 (θ), y(θ) = a sin3 (θ).

Solution. Z 2π q
L= 9a2 cos4 (θ) sin2 (θ) + 9a2 sin4 (θ) cos2 (θ) dθ
0
Z 2π q Z 2π Z 2π
3a
= 3a cos2 (θ) sin2 (θ) dθ = 3a |cos(θ) sin(θ)| = |sin(2θ)| dθ
0 0 2 0
Z π/2 π/2
cos(2θ) cos(π) cos(0)
  
6a sin(2θ) dθ = 6a − = 6a − + = 6a.
0 2 0 2 2
Here is the graph of the astroid for a = 2.

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