Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

http://www.math.columbia.edu/~dpt/F10/CalcIII/

September 23, 2010

Announcements

I Midterm on Thursday, September 30.

I Review on Tuesday.
I You are allowed one handwritten page of notes, both sides. No other aids.
I Professor Lipshitz will administer.
I If you have a disability requiring accommodation, contact ODS. Do that now.
I Office hours change:
I Monday 10–11AM, 2–4PM, Mathematics 614.
I No office hours on Wednesday.
I New TA: Sherin George <sg2559@barnard.edu>.
Office hours: F 2–4PM in Barnard Math Help Room (Milbank 333).
I Check your e-mail.
I Today’s lecture is interactive. Screenshots will be posted afterwards.
Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

I Introduction

Conic sections review

Quadratic surfaces

Uses

Last word on lines and planes

Quadratic surfaces
A quadratic surface is a surface in space defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1} Cylinder
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + y + z = 1} Sphere
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + 2xy + y + z − 2z = 5} ??
We study them for several reasons.
I Build 3-dimensional intuition.

I Techniques useful for contour plots, which you will see more.

I These surfaces are useful.

I Will see some of them later in the course.

Basic technique: traces. Fix (say) z-coordinate to (say) 0. Consider resulting curve.
Result is a quadratic curve, a conic section.
Quadratic surfaces
A quadratic surface is a surface in space defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1} Cylinder
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + y + z = 1} Sphere
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + 2xy + y + z − 2z = 5} ??
We study them for several reasons.
I Build 3-dimensional intuition.

I Techniques useful for contour plots, which you will see more.

I These surfaces are useful.

I Will see some of them later in the course.

Basic technique: traces. Fix (say) z-coordinate to (say) 0. Consider resulting curve.
Result is a quadratic curve, a conic section.
Quadratic surfaces
A quadratic surface is a surface in space defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1} Cylinder
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + y + z = 1} Sphere
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + 2xy + y + z − 2z = 5} ??
We study them for several reasons.
I Build 3-dimensional intuition.

I Techniques useful for contour plots, which you will see more.

I These surfaces are useful.

I Will see some of them later in the course.

Basic technique: traces. Fix (say) z-coordinate to (say) 0. Consider resulting curve.
Result is a quadratic curve, a conic section.
Quadratic surfaces
A quadratic surface is a surface in space defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1} Cylinder
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + y + z = 1} Sphere
2 2 2
{(x , y , z ) | x + 2xy + y + z − 2z = 5} ??
We study them for several reasons.
I Build 3-dimensional intuition.

I Techniques useful for contour plots, which you will see more.

I These surfaces are useful.

I Will see some of them later in the course.

Basic technique: traces. Fix (say) z-coordinate to (say) 0. Consider resulting curve.
Result is a quadratic curve, a conic section.
Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

Introduction

I Conic sections review

Quadratic surfaces

Uses

Last word on lines and planes

Conic sections
A conic section (or quadratic curve) is defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}

Three basic types:

I Ellipse (including circle)
I Hyperbola
I Parabola

y2
{(x , y ) | x 2 + = 1}
2
Conic sections
A conic section (or quadratic curve) is defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}

Three basic types:

I Ellipse (including circle)
I Hyperbola
I Parabola

y2
{(x , y ) | −x 2 + = 1}
2
Conic sections
A conic section (or quadratic curve) is defined by a quadratic equation:
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}

Three basic types:

I Ellipse (including circle)
I Hyperbola
I Parabola

{(x , y ) | y = x 2 }
Classification of conic sections
Theorem
The type of a conic section
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}
depends on B 2 − 4AC :
I B 2 − 4AC < 0: An ellipse (or circle, empty, or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC = 0: A parabola (or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC > 0: A hyperbola (or degenerate)

Examples
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = −4: Circle
I {(x , y ) | −x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = 4: Hyperbola
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + 2xy + y 2 + x − y = 0} = {(x , y ) | (x + y )2 + (x − y ) = 0}:
B 2 − 4AC = 0: Parabola
Classification of conic sections
Theorem
The type of a conic section
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}
depends on B 2 − 4AC :
I B 2 − 4AC < 0: An ellipse (or circle, empty, or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC = 0: A parabola (or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC > 0: A hyperbola (or degenerate)

Examples
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = −4: Circle
I {(x , y ) | −x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = 4: Hyperbola
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + 2xy + y 2 + x − y = 0} = {(x , y ) | (x + y )2 + (x − y ) = 0}:
B 2 − 4AC = 0: Parabola
Classification of conic sections
Theorem
The type of a conic section
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}
depends on B 2 − 4AC :
I B 2 − 4AC < 0: An ellipse (or circle, empty, or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC = 0: A parabola (or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC > 0: A hyperbola (or degenerate)

Examples
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = −4: Circle
I {(x , y ) | −x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = 4: Hyperbola
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + 2xy + y 2 + x − y = 0} = {(x , y ) | (x + y )2 + (x − y ) = 0}:
B 2 − 4AC = 0: Parabola
Classification of conic sections
Theorem
The type of a conic section
{(x , y ) | Ax 2 + Bxy + Cy 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0}
depends on B 2 − 4AC :
I B 2 − 4AC < 0: An ellipse (or circle, empty, or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC = 0: A parabola (or degenerate)

I B 2 − 4AC > 0: A hyperbola (or degenerate)

Examples
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = −4: Circle
I {(x , y ) | −x 2 + y 2 = 1}: B 2 − 4AC = 4: Hyperbola
I {(x , y ) | x 2 + 2xy + y 2 + x − y = 0} = {(x , y ) | (x + y )2 + (x − y ) = 0}:
B 2 − 4AC = 0: Parabola
Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

Introduction

Conic sections review

I Quadratic surfaces

Uses

Last word on lines and planes

Trace method

Suppose you didn’t know what {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1} represented.

How could you figure it out?
Fix z-coordinate to fixed value. Consider resulting curve.
What happens to the curve as z varies?

Interactive graphics courtesy of Sage (http://sagemath.org),

a free, open-source, and excellent mathematics software system.
Available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows, or use it online.
3D graphics by K3DSurf (http://k3dsurf.sourceforge.net).
Available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Basic types of quadratic surfaces

Let’s try some more surfaces.

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 /2 + z 2 /3 = 1}: An ellipsoid
I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 1}: A hyperboloid of one sheet

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = −1}: A hyperboloid of two sheets

I {(x , y , z ) | x 2 + y 2 − z 2 = 0}: A cone

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 + y 2 }: An (elliptic) paraboloid

I {(x , y , z ) | z = x 2 − y 2 }: A hyperbolic paraboloid

You can take traces by setting x or y to be a constant as well; that gives different
information.
Let’s get some examples from you!
Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

Introduction

Conic sections review

Quadratic surfaces

I Uses

Last word on lines and planes

Parabolic reflectors

Photo by Steve Jurvetson.

A paraboloid turns out to be the ideal shape for a satellite dish. . .
Parabolic reflectors, cont.

. . . a reflector for photography (or in a flashlight). . .

Parabolic reflectors, cont.2

. . . or solar cooking.
Hyperboloid

A hyperboloid can be made out of

straight lines.

By Flickr user Mélisande.

Hyperboloid gears

Taiwan’s Antique Mechanism Teaching Models Digital Museum.

Model NTUT-F02 Hyperboloid Gear Mechanism
This makes hyperboloids the right shape for certain gears, when you want to change
the angle of rotation.
Hyperboloid gears in practice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Differentialgetriebe2.jpg
A cut-away view of the differential in a Porsche Cayennne.
Lecture 6: Quadratic surfaces

Introduction

Conic sections review

Quadratic surfaces

Uses

I Last word on lines and planes

Intersections of planes

The intersection of two planes is a line.

With lines, main problem is to find direction vector, parallel to line.
The direction vector lies in both planes, so is perpendicular to both normal vectors.
Find it using cross product.
If you’re given two equations, can think of each as a plane:
x +y +z =1 ~n1 = (1, 1, 1)
x −y =3 ~n2 = (1, −1, 0)
~n1 × ~n2 = (1, 1, −2)
Also need to find one point ~r0 on the line. Any one solution will do.
Alternative approach: Find any two points on the line and take the difference.
Intersections of planes

The intersection of two planes is a line.

With lines, main problem is to find direction vector, parallel to line.
The direction vector lies in both planes, so is perpendicular to both normal vectors.
Find it using cross product.
If you’re given two equations, can think of each as a plane:
x +y +z =1 ~n1 = (1, 1, 1)
x −y =3 ~n2 = (1, −1, 0)
~n1 × ~n2 = (1, 1, −2)
Also need to find one point ~r0 on the line. Any one solution will do.
Alternative approach: Find any two points on the line and take the difference.
Intersections of planes

The intersection of two planes is a line.

With lines, main problem is to find direction vector, parallel to line.
The direction vector lies in both planes, so is perpendicular to both normal vectors.
Find it using cross product.
If you’re given two equations, can think of each as a plane:
x +y +z =1 ~n1 = (1, 1, 1)
x −y =3 ~n2 = (1, −1, 0)
~n1 × ~n2 = (1, 1, −2)
Also need to find one point ~r0 on the line. Any one solution will do.
Alternative approach: Find any two points on the line and take the difference.
Intersections of planes

The intersection of two planes is a line.

With lines, main problem is to find direction vector, parallel to line.
The direction vector lies in both planes, so is perpendicular to both normal vectors.
Find it using cross product.
If you’re given two equations, can think of each as a plane:
x +y +z =1 ~n1 = (1, 1, 1)
x −y =3 ~n2 = (1, −1, 0)
~n1 × ~n2 = (1, 1, −2)
Also need to find one point ~r0 on the line. Any one solution will do.
Alternative approach: Find any two points on the line and take the difference.
Distance to lines and planes
For a line in R2 , distance is given by For a plane in R3 , distance is given by
dot product with normal: dot product with normal:
L = {~r ∈ R2 | ~n · ~r = ~n · ~r0 } P = {~r | ~n · ~r = ~n · ~r0 }
dist(~p , L) = comp~n (~p − ~r0 ) dist(~p , P ) = comp~n (~p − ~r0 )
~n · (~p − ~r0 ) ~n · (~p − ~r0 )
= =
k~nk k~nk
~n
In both cases, sometimes easier to look at unit normal vector .
k~nk
Question
What’s the distance from (5, 6, 7) to the plane through (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), and (0, 0, 1)?

Answer
We computed the normal vector earlier: ~n = (1, 1, 1).
(1, 1, 1) · (4, 6, 7) 17
Distance = comp~n ((5, 6, 7) − (1, 0, 0)) = =√ .
k(1, 1, 1)k 3
Distance to lines and planes
For a line in R2 , distance is given by For a plane in R3 , distance is given by
dot product with normal: dot product with normal:
L = {~r ∈ R2 | ~n · ~r = ~n · ~r0 } P = {~r | ~n · ~r = ~n · ~r0 }
dist(~p , L) = comp~n (~p − ~r0 ) dist(~p , P ) = comp~n (~p − ~r0 )
~n · (~p − ~r0 ) ~n · (~p − ~r0 )
= =
k~nk k~nk
~n
In both cases, sometimes easier to look at unit normal vector .
k~nk
Question
What’s the distance from (5, 6, 7) to the plane through (1, 0, 0), (0, 1, 0), and (0, 0, 1)?

Answer
We computed the normal vector earlier: ~n = (1, 1, 1).
(1, 1, 1) · (4, 6, 7) 17
Distance = comp~n ((5, 6, 7) − (1, 0, 0)) = =√ .
k(1, 1, 1)k 3