Normal vector + Tangent plane to a surface. Chris Tisdell UNSW Sydney

The video briefly discusses how to compute a normal vector and the equation of a tangent plane to a surface. These concepts are usually seen in 1st and 2nd year mathematics subjects at university.

Such ideas have important applications, respectively, in the study of fluid flow and also in linear approximation.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• multivariable
• calculus
• normal
• vector
• surface
• equation
• of
• tangent
• plane
• MATH1231
• Chris
• Tisdell
• UNSW
• Sydney
• mathematics

[karantechie1]

How did the prof.. managed to get a vector u as (1,0, fx(x0,y0))...can somebody pls share their thoughts on this... I really need it... thnx

[batmanownsyourass]

@Choshbook Because that's totally a real thing.

[fermixx]

@MatrixOfDynamism no, but i passed the exam, so I don't care much about the answer :P

[MatrixOfDynamism]

@fermixx did you get your answer?

[Choshbook]

Wow this professor is amazing i really like the way he explains everzthing he should get the nobel prise for the best teacher ever

[solidsnake1447]

Thank you, you've helped a lot!

[fermixx]

so, if i have a function defined in R2 -> R, i simpli take the partial derivatives, find the gradient vector and add a -1 at the end. that gives me the normal vector, which i later use to find the tangent plane equation.

but whats if the function is defined in R2 -> R3 (just to make an example) ?

For example f (u,v) = (u-v, u+v, uv)

i get a jacobian matrix instead of a gradient vector, then i dont see how it would be geometrically :S

thanks in advance

[DrChrisTisdell]

Hi Ben and thanks for your suggestions.

I'm sure more universities will be trying the YouTube environment out - it's just a matter of time! Maybe you can start the ball rolling at home!?

I have considered the "live" factor for these videos. In fact, you can find a playlist like this for MATH2111 that I did last session - although I made sure I wasn't too 'dynamic'. I'm not sure that my sort of style would translate to video.........we'll see!

Hope your Class Test 1 went well.

Chris

[ben133uk]

Math1231

Online resources, such as this video series are very beneficial to modern students in my opinion. I'm here on exchange, and wish my university did something similar. As per some of the other people, I too have been watching MIT lectures etc, and commend you on bringing this lecturing technique to UNSW. Have you thought about just recording one of your lectures as opposed to this style? That way the whole world can enjoy your amusing and dynamic lecture style.