1. 10.2 – Calculus with Parametric Curves
Math 181
10.2 – Calculus with Parametric Curves

2. If we have a curve in parametric form, we can still calculate the slope of the tangent curve. Starting with the Chain Rule, we have 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 ⋅ 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 . Solving for 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑥 , we get: 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 = 𝒅𝒚/𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙/𝒅𝒕

3. For the second derivative, we compute: 𝑑 2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑥 2 = 𝑑 𝑑𝑥 𝑦 ′ = 𝑑 𝑦 ′ /𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥/𝑑𝑡 So, 𝒅 𝟐 𝒚 𝒅 𝒙 𝟐 = 𝒅 𝒚 ′ /𝒅𝒕 𝒅𝒙/𝒅𝒕 where 𝒚 ′ = 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒙

4. Ex 1. Find the tangent to the curve 𝑥= 𝑡 2 , 𝑦= 𝑡 3 −3𝑡 when 𝑡= 3 .

5. (Note that there are two tangent lines at the point 3,0 : one at 𝑡= 3 and one at 𝑡=− 3 .)

6. Ex 2. Find 𝑑 2 𝑦 𝑑 𝑥 2 for 𝑥= 𝑡 2 , 𝑦= 𝑡 3 −3𝑡.

7. To find the net area under the curve with parametric equations 𝑥=𝑓 𝑡 , 𝑦=𝑔(𝑡), we compute: Net area= 𝑦 𝑑𝑥= 𝒕=𝒂 𝒕=𝒃 𝒈 𝒕 𝒇 ′ 𝒕 𝒅𝒕 Notes: When a curve is below the 𝑥-axis, areas are signed negative, as expected. As you go from 𝑡=𝑎 to 𝑡=𝑏, the curve must be traversed exactly once.

8. Ex 3. Find the area under one arch of the following curve (called a cycloid): 𝑥=2 𝑡− sin 𝑡 , 𝑦=2(1− cos 𝑡 )

9. Note: If 𝑥 decreases as 𝑡 increases, then this will sign the area negative. So, if you want positive area, always make sure 𝑥 is increasing.

10. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

11. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

12. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

13. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

14. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

15. ex: Consider 𝑥= cos 𝑡 , 𝑦=1. If we set up the integral like 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡, then you’ll get a negative area: 𝑡=0 𝑡=𝜋 1⋅ − sin 𝑡 𝑑𝑡= cos 𝑡 0 𝜋 =−1−1=−2. This is because as 𝑡 goes from 0 to 𝜋, 𝑥 goes from 1 to −1 (i.e. it decreases). Instead, we’d want to set up the integral like this: 𝑡=𝜋 𝑡=0 1⋅(− sin 𝑡 ) 𝑑𝑡=…=2

16. The arc length for 𝑥=𝑓 𝑡 , 𝑦=𝑔(𝑡) from 𝑡=𝑎 to 𝑡=𝑏 is: Arc length= 𝒕=𝒂 𝒕=𝒃 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 + 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝒅𝒕 Note: As you go from 𝑡=𝑎 to 𝑡=𝑏, the curve must be traversed exactly once.

17. The surface area for the curve 𝑥=𝑓 𝑡 , 𝑦=𝑔(𝑡) from 𝑡=𝑎 to 𝑡=𝑏 revolved about the 𝑥-axis is: Surface area= 𝒕=𝒂 𝒕=𝒃 𝟐𝝅𝒚 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 + 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝒅𝒕 When revolving about the 𝑦-axis, it is: Surface area= 𝒕=𝒂 𝒕=𝒃 𝟐𝝅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 + 𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒕 𝟐 𝒅𝒕 Note: As you go from 𝑡=𝑎 to 𝑡=𝑏, the curve must be traversed exactly once.