Math 236 - Multivariable Calculus - Reading Assignments September 1998 Be sure to check back, because this may change during the semester. (Last modified: Monday, September 14, 1998, 8:21 AM ) I'll use Maple syntax for mathematical notation on this page. All numbers indicate sections from Multivariable Calculus by Ostebee/Zorn. For September 4 Section 1.1 Three-dimensional space To read : All Be sure to understand : The section "Equations and their graphs" Appendix A Polar coordinates and polar curves To read : All Be sure to understand : The section "Trading polar and rectangular coordinates" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/4 Your Name Reading Questions : Give an example of an equation whose graph in 3-space is a cylinder that is unrestricted in the y-direction. Let P be the point in the plane with polar coordinates (1, /2). Give two other pairs of polar coordinates for P. For September 7 Section 1.2 Curves and parametric equations To read : All Be sure to understand : Examples 1, 4, and 7. The section "Tricks of the trade" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/7 Your Name Reading Questions : Is every parametric curve the graph of a function y=f(x)? Why or why not? Give a parametrization of the line connecting the points P=(-1,2) and Q=(3,0). For September 9 Section 1.3 Vectors To read : All Be sure to understand : The section "What is a vector?" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/9 Your Name Reading Questions : What are the two quantities associated with a vector? Find the unit vector in the direction of the vector v=(12,-5). For September 11 Section 1.4 Vector-valued functions, derivatives, and integrals To read : Through Example 3 Be sure to understand : The section "Derivatives of vector-valued functions" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/11 Your Name Reading Questions : Consider the line in 3-space that contains the point (1,2,3) and has direction (2,1,3). Give a vector valued equation for this line. Explain why the velocity of an object moving in 2-space or 3-space is a vector rather than a scalar. For September 14 Section 1.4 Vector-valued functions, derivatives, and integrals To read : Finish the section Be sure to understand : The section "Interpreting the difference quotient" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/14 Your Name Reading Question : Use vector derivatives to find a vector equation for the line tangent to the unit circle at (1/2, sqrt(3)/2). For September 16 Section 1.5 Derivatives, antiderivatives, and motion To read : All Be sure to understand : The section "Speed and arclength" and Example 9 Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/16 Your Name Reading Questions Let p(t) = (3t2, 7t + t2) give the position of a particle at time t. What is the velocity of the particle at time t=5? What is its speed at time t=5? Approximately how far has it traveled from time t=1 to t=5? For September 18 Work on Group Project 1. No Reading Assignment. For September 21 Section 1.6 The dot product To read : All Be sure to understand : The sections "Geometry of the dot product" and "Projecting one vector onto another" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/21 Your Name Reading Questions : If u and v are unit vectors, give a geometric interpretation of the dot product of u and v. Let v=(3,4) and w=(5,2). Find the component of v in the w direction. For September 23 Section 1.7 Lines and planes in three dimensions To read : All Be sure to understand : The section "Planes" Email Subject Line : Math 236 9/23 Your Name Reading Questions : What information about a line L do you need to determine an equation for the line? What information about a plane P do you need to determine an equation for the plane? For September 25 The Big Picture today. No Reading Assignment. For September 28 No Reading Assignment. For September 30 Exam 1 today. No Reading Assignment. Math 236 Home | T. Ratliff's Home