Course Description
This course extends the theory of differential and integral calculus to functions of many variables. Topics include the study of vectors, quadric surfaces, vector functions, cylindrical and spherical coordinates, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, vector fields and line integrals; all with applications.
Learning Activities
Lecture, problems sessions, written and computer exercises.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the course a student will be expected to:
- Use and apply vector notation and the properties of vectors to describe various physical quantities
- Compute dot and cross-products and use the results to determine angle/orientation between two vectors or one vector and standard basis vectors
- Find scalar and vector projection of one vector onto another
- Find area and volume defined by sets of vectors
- Find vector, parametric or symmetric representations for equations of lines and planes in R3
- Determine whether two lines intersect, are parallel, perpendicular or skew
- Determine and describe the orientation of two planes using the angle between their normal vectors
- Determine the distance between a point and a line or plane, between two lines or between two planes.
- Identify and sketch quadric surfaces
- Use cylindrical or spherical coordinate systems to describe points, curves and surfaces in R3
- Evaluate limits involving vector functions
- Find the domain of a vector function and subsets of the domain where a vector function is continuous
- Sketch graphs of vector functions
- Differentiate and integrate vector functions, use differentiation rules for vector functions
- Find unit tangent, principal normal vectors and tangent lines to space curves
- Find the length of a space curve over an interval and its curvature at a point
- Apply the ideas of tangent and normal vectors and curvature to motion in space
- Sketch level curves for functions of two variables and level surfaces for functions of three variables
- Calculate limits (or prove the non-existence) for functions of two or three variables
- Find subsets of a function’s domain for which the function is continuous
- Calculate partial derivatives of a function, establish and apply chain rules, find and interpret implicit partial derivatives
- Find the equation of the tangent plane to a surface at a point
- Use differentials to approximate values and errors for a function of two or three variables
- Find directional derivatives and gradients of functions
- Find and classify critical points of a function of two variables; solve associated optimization problems
- Use the Method of Lagrange Multipliers to solve constrained optimization problems
- Set up and evaluate double and triple Riemann sums over rectangular regions and convert notation to multiple integrals
- Identify different classes of domains of integration to set up and evaluate general multiple integrals
- Change the order of integration variables
- Set up and evaluate Riemann sums in polar coordinates and convert to multiple integrals
- Change the representation of an integral from one set of coordinates to another
- Calculate the Jacobian of a transformation of coordinates to re-express integrals
- Solve geometric and applied problems involving integration
(Time permitting)
- Sketch vector fields on R2
- Find the gradient vector field of a multi-variable function
- Evaluate line integrals for vector fields
- Determine whether or not a vector field is conservative
- Find conditions for and use the fundamental theorem of line integrals, apply the results
Textbook Materials
Textbook varies by semester, please see College Bookstore for current version.
Typical texts include:
Stewart, James. Multivariable Calculus 7e, Brooks/Cole, 2012.
Briggs and Cochran. Multivariable Calculus, Pearson, 2011.