
APPM 2350 EXAM 2 FALL 2006
INSTRUCTIONS: Computers, calculators, books, and crib sheets are not permitted. Write your (1)
name, (2) instructor’s name, and (3) recitation number on the front of your bluebook. Work all problems.
Show your work clearly. Note that a correct answer with incorrect or no supporting work may receive no
credit, while an incorrect answer with relevant work may receive partial credit.
1. (20 points) Consider the multivariable function f(x, y ) = 6x2−2x3+ 3y2+ 6xy. Find the (x, y)
coordinates of all the local maxima, local minima, and saddle points for f(x, y). For each point you
find, be sure to clearly state which of these three types the point is.
2. (20 points) Determine the extreme values of the multivariable function f(x, y) = x2
4+y2
9on the
curve defined by (x−6)2
9+y2
4= 1. For each point you find, be sure to state whether the function
has a local maxima or minima at that location, and the value of f(x, y).
3. (20 points) Cynthia is paddling in her new canoe along the path r(t) in Suluclac swamp. The
temperature distribution that morning in the swamp is T(x, y, z). At some time t∗(and only at this
particular time), you know that r(t∗) = 1 i+ 2 j+3 k,v(t∗) = 2 i+ 1 j+ 2 k, and a(t∗) = 3 i+ 2 j+ 3 k.
Furthermore, you know that ∇T|(1,2,3) = 2 i+ 2 j+ 5 k, and T(1,2,3) = 10.
(a) As Cynthia paddles past location r(t∗), at what rate is the temperature Tchanging with respect
to time?
(b) As she paddles past location r(t∗) at what rate is the temperature Tchanging with respect to
distance?
(c) If the Cynthia continues on her original path r(t) for a short interval of time ∆t= 0.1, by
approximately how much does the temperature change.
(d) On the other hand, suppose at time t∗Cynthia suddenly sees her friend Cecile, and starts
to paddle towards her in a direction that happens to be the direction of the greatest rate of
increase of T. Assuming Cynthia maintains her same speed, by approximately how much does
the temperature change after she paddles for ∆t= 0.1.
4. (20 points) It’s your first day at your new job and your supervisor comes in with a few questions—just
to check out the new employee and see what she is getting in exchange for that huge paycheck.
(a) She asks you to calculate the second order Taylor approximation to the function f(x, y ) =
sin(x+y) + (x+y) near the origin. What is the second order approximation?
(b) Then, in keeping with the tradition of supervisors everywhere, she changes her mind and states
that now she wants the first order approximation to f(x, y)near the point Plocated at π
4,π
4,
and an estimate of the associated error. She casually adds that she will only use the approxima-
tion for values of xand ysuch that
x−π
4
≤0.1 and
y−π
4
≤0.1. You confidently scribble
away on a piece of scratch paper for a few moments. What linearization and error bound do
you give her?
5. (20 points) Jeremy, an Applied Math undergraduate and mountain biking contestant in the last Sum-
mer Olympics, spent countless hours working with Kim Kurry, the famed mountain bike mechanic.
Kim has developed a monitor that can be mounted on Jeremy’s bike to give him information on the
maximum possible speed around a corner, Vmax. He has also developed three different sensors that
can measure either the tire pressure, p, the spoke tension, t, or the inner tube radius, r. Unfortu-
nately, due to size and weight restrictions, the monitor can only hold two of the three sensors. But,