Mathematics 317 Solutions to Ass.

#2

1. (a) The equation f ( x, y ) = 0 defines y as an implicit function of x. From the

equation, one has df
dx = f x + f y y′ = 0 ⇒ d2 f
dx 2
= f xx + 2 f xy y ′ + f yy y ′ 2 + f y y ′′ = 0. Hence
f xx + 2 f xy y ′+ f yy y ′ 2 2 f xy f x f y − f xx f y 2 − f yy f x 2
y′ = − fx
fy , y ′′ = − fy = f y3
. As shown in class, the radius of
(1+ y ′2 ) 3 / 2 f x2 + f y2 ( f x 2 + f y 2 )3 / 2
curvature R = y ′′
. Since 1 + y ′ 2 = fy 2 , one obtains R = 2 f x f y f xy − f y 2 f xx − f x 2 f yy
.

y2
(b) For the given ellipse, f ( x, y ) = x2
a2
+ b2
− 1. Hence f x = 2x
a2
, fy = 2y
b2
, f xx = 2
a2
,
f yy = 2
b2
, f xy = 0. At (a,0): f x = a2 , f y = 0, f xx = 2
a2
, f yy = 2
b2
, f xy = 0. Hence the radius
2 3/ 2
of curvature at this point is given by R = (2(/4b/2a)(4) / a 2 ) = b2
a .

2. (a) Here a curve is parametrized in terms of the polar angle θ (playing the role of t).
In particular, r = xi + yj = r cos θ i + r sin θ j = f (θ ) cos θ i + f (θ ) sin θ j = f (θ )u r
where u r = cos θ i + sin θ j. Then dduθr = u θ = − sin θ i + cos θ j. Note that u r × u θ = k.
= f ′ u r + f u θ . Now also note that = −u r . Consequently,
dr duθ
Thus dθ dθ
d 2r
dθ 2
= [ f ′′ − f ] u r + 2 f ′ u θ . As shown in class, the radius of curvature is given by
( ddθr )3 ( f 2 + f ′ 2 )3 / 2
R(θ ) = dr d 2 r
. Now dr
dθ ×
d 2r
dθ 2
= ( f 2 + 2 f ′ 2 − ff ′′). Thus R (θ ) = f 2 + 2 f ′ 2 − ff ′′
.
×
dθ dθ 2

(b) For the given cardioid, f (θ ) = a (1 + cos θ ). Hence f ′ = −a sin θ , f ′′ = − a cos θ .

Thus f 2 + f ′ 2 = a 2 (2 + 2 cos θ ) = 4a 2 cos 2 (θ / 2); f 2 + 2 f ′ 2 − ff ′′
= a 2 (1 + cos θ ) 2 + 2a 2 sin 2 θ + a 2 (1 + cos θ ) cos θ = 3a 2 (1 + cos θ ) = 6a 2 cos 2 (θ / 2).
[ 4 a 2 cos 2 (θ / 2 )]3 / 2
Thus the radius of curvature is given by R (θ ) = 6 a 2 cos 2 (θ / 2 )
= 4a
3 cos(θ / 2) .

= T, dds 2r = = κ ( s)N ⇒ = κ ′( s )N + κ ( s ) ddsN . But = −κ ( s )T + τ ( s )B.

2
dr dT d 3r dN
3. (a) ds ds ds 3 ds

Hence d 3r
ds 3
= κ ′( s )N − κ 2 ( s )T + κ ( s )τ ( s )B. Since T × N = B, N × B = T, it follows that
d 2r
× dds 3r = κ 3 ( s )B + κ 2 ( s )τ ( s )T. Thus ⋅ dds 2r × dds r3 = T ⋅ (κ 3 ( s )B + κ 2 ( s )τ ( s )T) = κ 2τ .
3 2 3
dr
ds 2 ds
dr d 2 r d 3 r
⋅ ×
d 2r
⋅ d 2r
= κ . Hence the torsion τ ( s ) =
2 ds ds 2 ds 3
But ds 2 ds 2 d 2r d 2r
.
⋅
ds 2 ds 2

(b) For the given circular helix r ( s ) = a cos( s / c) i + a sin( s / c) j + b( s / c) k where

c = a 2 + b 2 . Consequently, dr
ds = − ac sin( s / c) i + ac cos( s / c) j + bc k ,
d 2r
= − ca2 [cos(s / c) iz + sin( s / c) j], dds 3r = [sin( s / c) iz − cos( s / c) j]. Hence
3
a
ds 2 c3
d 2r
× dds 3r = ⋅ dds 2r × dds 3r = ; dds 2r ⋅ dds 2r = . Hence the torsion τ = =
3
a2 dr 2 3
a 2b 2 2
a2 b b
ds 2 c5
k⇒ ds c6 c4 c2 a 2 +b 2
.