Math 53 Quiz 2

Name:

Problem 1 [3 pts]. Let a and b be vectors. Show that |a b|2 + (a b)2 = |a|2 |b|2

Problem 2 [4 pts]. Find a non-zero vector a that is perpendicular to the vectors b = h3, 1, 2i and c = h3, 2, 4i.
Verify the perpendicularity of a by explicitly calculating a b and a c.

Problem 3 [3 pts]. Consider the parallelogram determined by vectors a and b. Show that the two diagonals of
the parallelogram are perpendicular only when |a| = |b|, i.e. the parallelogram is a rhombus. Hint: Find vector
representations for the two diagonals.

Problem 4. You are walking along the Berkeley Marina one day after Math 53 lecture, when you come across a
spiral seashell on the beach. You take it home and discover that its cross-section can be described by the polar
equation r = aeb for some positive constants a and b.
(a) [4 pts.] Sketch a graph for the polar equation from 0 2 and find the total cross-sectional area of the
shell.
(b) [1 pt.] You measure the seashell and find r(0) = 10cm and r(2) = 1.25cm. Determine the constants a (in
cm) and b.

Note: Many spirals found in nature can be modelled using this logarithmic spiral. For instance, the arms of the
Milky Way galaxy have a b value of around 0.212.

Solutions
Problem 1
|a b|2 + (a b)2 = |a|2 |b|2 sin2 + |a|2 |b|2 cos2 = |a|2 |b|2 (sin2 + cos2 ) = |a|2 |b|2
Problem 2
To find a vector
to both b and c we compute the cross product.
 a perpendicular

 x


y
z


a = b c =  3 1 2  = h0, 18, 9i . Any scalar multiple also works.
 3 2 4 
To test perpendicularity we compute dot products.
a b = (0)(3) + (18)(1) + (9)(2) = 0 + 18 18 = 0
a c = (0)(3) + (18)(2) + (9)(4) = 0 + 36 36 = 0
Thus a is perpendicular to both b and c.
Problem 3
Draw a parallelogram with sides a and b. The diagonals are then a + b and a b. To check perpendicularity we
compute the dot product.
(a + b) (a b) = a a a b + b a b b = |a|2 |b|2 = 0 which is true iff |a| = |b|
Problem 4
(a) We are computing the curve enclosed by the polar equation r = aeb from 0 to 2.
Z
A=
0

1 2
r d =
2

Z
0

1 b 2
a2
(ae ) d =
2
2

Z
0

e2b d =


a2 
a2 2b 2
e  =
1 e4b
4b
4b
0


(b) r(0) = aeb 0 = a = 10cm

3 ln 2
r(2) = aeb 2 = 10cm e2b = 1.25cm e2b = 0.125 = f rac18 2b = ln 1/8 = 3 ln 2 b =
2