Domains, Ranges, & Function Graphs of Parametric Equations 1D  3D  Rectangular Coordinates  Contents

A parametric surface in three space (x(u,v),y(u,v),z(u,v)) is given by three coordinate functions x(u,v), y(u,v) and z(u,v) of the variables (u,v) defined over the same domain in the (u,v)-plane.  This common domain is called the domain of the parametric surface.

Figure8

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Exercises

  • Describe the parametric surface (cos(u)cos(v),sin(u)cos(v),sin(v)) where -π ≤ u π and -π/2 ≤ v π/2 .  What are the ranges of the three coordinate functions x(u,v) = cos(u)cos(v), y(u,v) = sin(u)cos(v) and z(u,v) =  sin(v)?
  • Same question for (v cos(u), v sin(u), v).
  • Same question for ((2+cos(v))cos(u), ((2+cos(v))sin(u),sin(v)).
  • What is the relationship between the range of (x(u,v),y(u,v),z(u,v)) and the ranges of x(u,v), y(u,v) and z(u,v)?




  • Slice Curves in Parametric Equations Polar Coordinates  Rectangular Coordinates  Top of Page  Contents

    We can describe a slice curve with x = x0 as a parametric curve x(t) = x0, y(t) = t, so f(x(t),y(t)) = f(x0,t).

    The slice curve through (x0,y0) with slope m can be described as (x0 + t. y0 + mt, f((x0 + t. y0 + mt).

    In general the slice curve over the parametric curve (x(t),y(t)) in the domain of a function f is the curve (x(t),y(t),f(x(t),y(t))).

    Figure11

    [D]

    Slices of Parametric Surfaces

    For every point (u0,v0) in the domain of a parametric function f, the u0-parametric curve is X(u0,v) = (x(u0,v),y(u0,v),z(u0,v)).  The domain of the u0-slice curve is the set of y for which (u0,v) is in the domain of f.

    Similarly we define the v0-parametric curve to be X(u,v0) for all u such that (u,v0) is in the domain of f.

    Figure14

    [D]
     


    Level Sets & Contours in Parametric Equations 1D  Polar Coordinates   Rectangular Coordinates  Top of Page  Contents

    Given a parametric surface in three-space, we can consider the contours for any of the three coordinate functions.

    For example, the level set x = k for the surface (x(u,v),y(u,v),z(u,v)) is the set of points (u,v) in the domain such that x(u,v) = k. The x-contour at height k is the collection of all points (x(u,v),y(u,v),z(u,v)) where x(u,v) = k.  Geometrically the x-contour of the surface is the intersection of the graph of the surface and the plane x = k in three-space.  The analogous definitions give the y-level sets and y-contours, and the z-level sets and z-contours.

    Figure17

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    Exercises

  • Describe the x-, ,y-, and z-contours for the surface (cos(u)cos(v),sin(u)cos(v),sin(v)) where -π ≤ u π and -π/2 ≤ v π/2.
  • Same question for the surface (v cos(u), v sin(u), v), where -π ≤ u π and where v is any real number.
  • Find the x = 0 level set and the x = 0 contour for the surface ((2+cos(v))cos(u), ((2+cos(v))sin(u),sin(v)) where -π ≤ u π and -π/2 ≤ v π/2.  What about the level sets and contours for y = 0 and for z = 0?


  • Figure18

    [D]


    Continuity in Parametric Functions 1D  3D  Polar Coordinates   Rectangular Coordinates  Top of Page  Contents

    If x(u,v), y(u,v), and z(u,v) are continuous functions of u and v, and if u(t) and v(t) are continuous functions of t near t=t0, then the parameterized curve (x(u(t),v(t)), y(u(t),v(t)), z(u(t),v(t))) in 3-space is a continuous funciton of t.

    Figure25

    [D]