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A message from Sister Orme for Math Ed Composite majors.

  • Please sign up for Math 214E this semester. You do not have to, but we recommend that you take Math 214E with Math 214.

Day 2 - Prep

Task 2.1

Start by looking up the terms vector-valued function and vector parameterization of a curve.

  1. Write definitions in your own words for the terms above.
  2. For each vector parameterization below, construct a graph of the curve. [Hint: make a table of points if needed, including $t$, $x$, and $y$, and then just plot the $(x,y)$ coordinates).
    1. $\vec r(t) = \left< 2t+1, 4-3t\right>$ for $0\leq t\leq 2$.
    2. $(x,y) = (\cos t, \sin t)$ for $0\leq t\leq 3\pi/2$.
    3. $(x,y)(t) = (\sin t, \cos t)$ for $0\leq t\leq \pi$.
    4. $\langle x,y,z\rangle = (2\cos t, 2\sin t, t)$ for $0\leq t\leq 4\pi$.

Task 2.2

Start by locating a definition of the dot product of two vectors and what it means for two vectors to be orthogonal, as well as the dot product form of the law of cosines.

  1. Compute the dot product of the two vectors $\vec a = 3\vec i-4\vec j+2\vec k$ and $\vec b = (-1,3,6)$.
  2. Find the angle between $\vec a$ and $\vec b$.
  3. Give a value $k$ so that the vectors $\vec a = 3\vec i-4\vec j+2\vec k$ and $\vec c = \langle 2, -1, k\rangle$ are orthogonal.
  4. A car is moving in the direction $\vec v = (-5,7)$. The car makes a 90 degree turn to the left. Give a vector that is parallel to this new direction of motion.

Task 2.3

Start by looking up the definition of a unit vector. Consider the two points $P = (1, 2, 3)$ and $Q = (2, −1, 0)$.

  1. Write the vector $\vec {PQ} $ in component form $(a, b, c)$.
  2. Find the length of vector $\vec {PQ} $.
  3. Find a unit vector in the same direction as $\vec {PQ} $.
  4. Find a vector of length 7 units that points in the same direction as $\vec {PQ} $.

Task 2.4

The last problem for prep each day will point to relevant problems from OpenStax. Spend 30 minutes working on problems from the sections below.

  1. In section 1.1, complete checkpoints 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. Use the corresponding examples, if needed, to help you.
  2. In section 2.3, complete an exercise for each group in 123-144, and then try a few problems in 149-154.

Day 2 - In class

Brain Gains (Rapid Recall, Jivin' Generation)

We start each class with a few brain pushups. Both recall and generation serve the same purpose, namely helping your brain form and grow pathways to connect information.

  • True/False: It is OK if I don't get everything right the first time I attempt it.

Answer:

  • Give the component form of a vector that points from $(0,3)$ to $(4,0)$.

Answer:

There are lots of ways to write the answer. Note that the vector points 4 right, and 3 down (obtained visually, or subtracting). Two answers are $(4,-3)$ and $\langle 4, -3\rangle$.

  • Find the distance between $(1,2,0)$ and $(0,0,2)$.

Answer:

A vector between the two is $\vec v = (-1,-2,2)$. The length, magnitude, or norm, of this vector is $|\vec v| = ||\vec v|| = \sqrt{(-1)^2+(-2)^2+2^2} = 3$. Note that either single or double bars may be used to signify the magnitude of a vector.

  • Construct a rough sketch of the points $(1,0,3)$ and $(0,2,3)$.

Answer:

We'll discuss this one.

  • Using the vectors on the screen, draw $\vec u+\vec v$ and $\vec u-\vec v$.

Answer:

We'll discuss this one.

  • Give the component form of a vector of length 2 that is parallel to $\left<3,4\right>$.

Answer:

A unit vector is $\frac{1}{5}(3,4)$, so the desired vector is twice this, namely $$\frac{2}{5}(3,4) = \left(\frac{6}{5},\frac{8}{5}\right).$$

Group Problems

Remember to pass the chalk after each problem.

  1. In 3D, plot the points $(1,2,3)$ and $(-2,4,-3)$.
  2. Find the distance between the two points $(3,5,-2)$ and $(-1,6,4)$. Then find the distance between the point $(3,5,-2)$ and an arbitrary point $(x,y,z)$.
  3. Find the component form of the vector that starts at $(4,-3)$ and ends at $(2,-2)$.
  4. Give a unit vector that points in the same direction as the previous. Then give a vector of length 3 that points in the same direction.
  5. Plot the vector valued function $\vec r(t) = (-2,1)t+(4,-3)$ for $0\leq t\leq 3$.
  6. Give the component form of a vector that points from $(1,2,3)$ to $(-2,4,9)$.
  7. Give a vector equation of the line that passes through the point $(1,2,3)$ and $(-2,4,9)$.
  8. Use the law of cosines ($c^2=a^2+b^2-2ab\cos\theta$ or $\vec u\cdot \vec v = |\vec u||\vec v|\cos\theta$) to find the angle between each pair of vectors below.
    • $(-2,1)$ and $(1,3)$.
    • $(2,3)$ and $(-1,4)$
    • $(\pi,e)$ and $(\sqrt{17},c)$
    • $(1,2,3)$ and $(-7,2,1)$
    • $(1,2,3)$ and $(x,y,z)$.
  9. Draw the parametric curve $x=2+3\cos t$, $y=5+2\sin t$. Make a $t,x,y$ table of points, and then graph the $(x,y)$ coordinates.
  10. Draw $x=3-2\cos t$, $y=4+5\sin t$ in the $xy$-plane.
  11. Draw $x=2t^2-5$, $y=3t-4$ in the $xy$-plane.

Presentations

Day 3 - Prep

Task 3.1

Suppose for a short time that a rover follows a path given by $(x, y) = (1t + 3, −2t + 4)$. This is the same as writing $(x, y) = (1, −2)t + (3, 4)$.

  1. Construct a plot that shows the location of the rover at time $t = 0, 1, 2$, and add some arrows as well as a line to illustrate the rover’s path.
  2. What is the speed of the rover? (you may assume that distances are in meters, and time is in minutes).
  3. What is the rover's velocity (hint, this should be a vector)?
  4. When we write the path in the form $(x, y) = (1, −2)t + (3, 4)$, what do the quantities (1, −2) and (3, 4) have to do with the path?
  5. The rover is no longer on flat ground, rather is sitting at point $P = (0, 2, 3)$. It starts to climb in the direction $\vec v = \langle 1, −1, 2\rangle$.
    • Write a vector equation $(x, y, z) = (?, ?, ?)$ for the line that passes through the point $P$ and is parallel to $\vec v$.
    • Generalize your work to give an equation of the line that passes through the point $P = (x_1 , y_1 , z_1)$ and is parallel to the vector $\vec v = (v_1 , v_2 , v_3 )$.

Task 3.2

Suppose the Curiosity rover travels in a circular path given by the parametric curve $\vec r(t) = (3 \cos t, 3 \sin t)$.

  1. Graph the curve $\vec r$ (you should obtain a circle) and make sure you designate the direction in which the rover is traveling.
  2. Compute both $\ds \frac{d \vec r}{dt}$ and $\ds\frac{d^2\vec r}{dt^2}$.
  3. Locate the point on your graph that the rover is at when $t = \pi/2$. How would you describe the velocity and acceleration of the rover at this point? Compute both $\frac{d\vec r}{dt}(\frac{\pi}{2})$ and $\frac{d^2\vec r}{dt^2}(\frac{\pi}{2})$, and confirm that these vectors do indeed provide the acceleration and velocity of the rover at $t = \pi/2$.
  4. Let's swap to the time $t = \pi/4$. On your graph, draw the vectors $\frac{d\vec r}{dt}(\frac{\pi}{4})$ and $\frac{d^2\vec r}{dt^2}(\frac{\pi}{4})$ with their tail placed on the curve at $\vec r(\frac{\pi}{4})$. These vectors are the velocity and acceleration.
  5. Give a vector equation of the tangent line to this curve at $t = \pi/4$.

Task 3.3

Suppose a heavy box needs to be lowered down a ramp. The box exerts a downward force of say 200 Newtons (gravity), which we could write in vector notation as $\vec F=\left<0,-200\right>$. If the ramp was placed so that the box needed to be moved right 6 m, and down 3 m, then we'd need to get from the origin $(0,0)$ to the point $(6,-3)$. This displacement can be written as $\vec d=\left<6,-3\right>$. The force $\vec F$ acts straight down, rather than parallel to the displacement. Let's find out how much of the force $\vec F$ acts in the direction of the displacement. We are going to break the force $\vec F$ into two components, one component in the direction of $\vec d$, and another component orthogonal to $\vec d$. The component of the force that is parallel to $\vec d$ is useful in understanding energy computations. The component of the force that is orthogonal to $\vec d$ is useful in understanding surface friction.

We want to write $\vec F$ as the sum of two vectors $\vec F = \vec w+\vec n$, where $\vec w$ is parallel to $\vec d$ and $\vec n$ is orthogonal to $\vec d$. Since $\vec w$ is parallel to $\vec d$, we can write $\vec w=c\vec d$ for some unknown scalar $c$. This means that $\vec F=c\vec d+\vec n$.

  1. Start by drawing a picture that shows how $\vec F$, $\vec d$, $\vec w$, and $\vec n$ are related.
  2. Use the fact that $\vec n$ is orthogonal to $\vec d$ to show that $\ds c = \frac{\vec F\cdot \vec d}{\vec d\cdot \vec d}$. [Hint: Dot each side of $\vec F=c\vec d+\vec n$ with $\vec d$ and distribute. You'll need to use the fact that $\vec n$ and $\vec d$ are orthogonal to remove $\vec n\cdot \vec d$ from the problem.]
  3. Now that we have a formula for $c$, use that formula to show that $\vec w = c\vec d = (80,-40)$. We call this the projection of $\vec F$ onto $\vec d$ (or the component of $\vec F$ that is parallel to $\vec d$), and write $$\text{proj}_{\vec d}\vec F = \vec F_{\parallel \vec d}= \left(\frac{\vec F\cdot \vec d}{\vec d\cdot \vec d}\right)\vec d.$$
  4. Obtain a formula for $\vec n$, the component of the force that is orthogonal to $\vec d$. This is sometimes written as $\vec F_{\perp \vec d}$.

Task 3.4

The last problem for prep each day will point to relevant problems from OpenStax. Spend 30 minutes working on problems from the sections below. Remember that you don't have to do all of the problems listed below, rather do a few from sections that you feel you need more practice with.

  • Equations of lines: Section 2.5, checkpoint 2.43 and exercises 243 - 250.
  • Derivatives of Vector Valued functions: Section 3.2, checkpoint 3.5 and exercises 41-54.
  • Projection practice: section 2.3, checkpoint 2.27 and exercises 167-172


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