← 2023 Paper 1

UPSC 2023 Maths Optional Paper 1 Q5e — Step-by-Step Solution

10 marks · Section B

Differentiation of a vector function of a scalar variable · Vector Analysis · asked 4× in 13 yrs · Read the full method →

Question

If a=sinθi^+cosθj^+θk^\vec a=\sin\theta\,\hat i+\cos\theta\,\hat j+\theta\,\hat k, b=cosθi^sinθj^3k^\vec b=\cos\theta\,\hat i-\sin\theta\,\hat j-3\hat k, c=2i^+3j^3k^\vec c=2\hat i+3\hat j-3\hat k, then find the values of the derivative of the vector function a×(b×c)\vec a\times(\vec b\times\vec c) w.r.t. θ\theta at θ=π2\theta=\dfrac{\pi}{2} and θ=π\theta=\pi.

Technique

Compute b×c\vec b\times\vec c, then a×(b×c)\vec a\times(\vec b\times\vec c) as a 3-component vector function of θ\theta, then differentiate component-by-component.

Solution

Step 1 — Compute b×c\vec b\times\vec c.

b×c=deti^j^k^cosθsinθ3233.\vec b\times\vec c=\det\begin{vmatrix}\hat i & \hat j & \hat k\\ \cos\theta & -\sin\theta & -3\\ 2 & 3 & -3\end{vmatrix}.

b×c=(3sinθ+9,3cosθ6,3cosθ+2sinθ).\vec b\times\vec c=(3\sin\theta+9,\,3\cos\theta-6,\,3\cos\theta+2\sin\theta).

Step 2 — Compute a×(b×c)\vec a\times(\vec b\times\vec c).

With a=(sinθ,cosθ,θ)\vec a=(\sin\theta,\cos\theta,\theta) and the above as d=(3sinθ+9,3cosθ6,3cosθ+2sinθ)\vec d=(3\sin\theta+9,\,3\cos\theta-6,\,3\cos\theta+2\sin\theta):

So F(θ)=a×(b×c)\vec F(\theta)=\vec a\times(\vec b\times\vec c) has components:

Step 3 — Differentiate w.r.t. θ\theta.

dF1dθ=3sin2θ+2cos2θ3cosθ+3θsinθ+6.\dfrac{dF_1}{d\theta}=-3\sin 2\theta+2\cos 2\theta-3\cos\theta+3\theta\sin\theta+6. dF2dθ=3cos2θ2sin2θ+3sinθ+3θcosθ+9.\dfrac{dF_2}{d\theta}=-3\cos 2\theta-2\sin 2\theta+3\sin\theta+3\theta\cos\theta+9. dF3dθ=6cosθ+9sinθ.\dfrac{dF_3}{d\theta}=-6\cos\theta+9\sin\theta.

(Where I used d(3θcosθ)/dθ=3cosθ3θsinθd(3\theta\cos\theta)/d\theta=3\cos\theta-3\theta\sin\theta etc.)

Wait let me re-examine F1F_1: 3θcosθ+6θ-3\theta\cos\theta+6\theta. Derivative: 3cosθ+3θsinθ+6-3\cos\theta+3\theta\sin\theta+6. ✓.

Hmm, my F1F_1 above had 32(1+cos2θ)\tfrac{3}{2}(1+\cos 2\theta) which is 3cos2θ3\cos^2\theta ✓; derivative is 3sin2θ-3\sin 2\theta ✓. And sin2θ\sin 2\theta has derivative 2cos2θ2\cos 2\theta. ✓

Step 4 — Evaluate at θ=π/2\theta=\pi/2.

sin(π/2)=1,cos(π/2)=0,sinπ=0,cosπ=1.\sin(\pi/2)=1,\,\cos(\pi/2)=0,\,\sin\pi=0,\,\cos\pi=-1.

dF1/dθ=3(0)+2(1)3(0)+3(π/2)(1)+6=2+3π/2+6=4+3π/2.dF_1/d\theta=-3(0)+2(-1)-3(0)+3(\pi/2)(1)+6=-2+3\pi/2+6=4+3\pi/2. dF2/dθ=3(1)2(0)+3(1)+3(π/2)(0)+9=3+3+9=15.dF_2/d\theta=-3(-1)-2(0)+3(1)+3(\pi/2)(0)+9=3+3+9=15. dF3/dθ=6(0)+9(1)=9.dF_3/d\theta=-6(0)+9(1)=9.

  dFdθθ=π/2=(4+3π2)i^+15j^+9k^.  \boxed{\;\frac{d\vec F}{d\theta}\bigg|_{\theta=\pi/2}=(4+\tfrac{3\pi}{2})\hat i+15\hat j+9\hat k.\;}

Step 5 — Evaluate at θ=π\theta=\pi.

sinπ=0,cosπ=1,sin2π=0,cos2π=1.\sin\pi=0,\,\cos\pi=-1,\,\sin 2\pi=0,\,\cos 2\pi=1.

dF1/dθ=3(0)+2(1)3(1)+3π(0)+6=2+3+6=11.dF_1/d\theta=-3(0)+2(1)-3(-1)+3\pi(0)+6=2+3+6=11. dF2/dθ=3(1)2(0)+3(0)+3π(1)+9=33π+9=63π.dF_2/d\theta=-3(1)-2(0)+3(0)+3\pi(-1)+9=-3-3\pi+9=6-3\pi. dF3/dθ=6(1)+9(0)=6.dF_3/d\theta=-6(-1)+9(0)=6.

Answer

  dFdθθ=π=11i^+(63π)j^+6k^.  \boxed{\;\frac{d\vec F}{d\theta}\bigg|_{\theta=\pi}=11\hat i+(6-3\pi)\hat j+6\hat k.\;}
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