Curve Tracing Questions and Answers – Curves in Cartesian Form and Answers

Differential and Integral Calculus Multiple Choice Questions on “Curves in Cartesian Form”.

1. Which of the following characteristic is not included in the study of general procedure for tracing the algebraic curve?
a) Symmetry
b) Region or Extent
c) Orthogonality
d) Tangents to the Curve at the origin
Answer: c
Explanation: General procedure for tracing the algebraic curve consists of the study of the following characteristics of the curve:

  • Symmetry
  • Region/Extent
  • Asymptotes
  • Origin
  • Tangents to the curve at the origin
  • Maxima and Minima
  • Sign of the first derivative
  • Sign of the second derivative
  • Inflection Point

2. Which of the following is the representation of a plane algebraic curve of nth degree?
a) f(x,y)=ayn+(bx+c) yn-1+(dx2+ex+f) yn-2+⋯+un (x)=0
b) f(x,y)=ayn-1+(bx+c) yn-2+(dx2+ex+f) yn-3+⋯+un (x)=0
c) f(x,y)=ayn+byn-1+cyn-2+⋯+un (x)=0
d) f(x,y)=ayn+(bx+c) yn+(dx2+ex+f) yn+⋯+un (x)=0
Answer: a
Explanation: Plane algebraic curve of nth degree is represented by,
f(x,y)=ayn+(bx+c) yn-1+(dx2+ex+f) yn-2+⋯+un (x)=0
Where a, b, c, d, e, f are all constants and un(x) is a polynomial in x of degree n.

3. If f(x,y)=ayn+(bx+c) yn-1+(dx2+ex+f) yn-2+⋯+un(x)=0…(1), is the algebraic curve of nth order then, what is the condition for the curve to be symmetric about x-axis?
a) Only even powers of x appear in (1)
b) Only odd powers of x appear in (1)
c) Only odd powers of y appear in (1)
d) Only even powers of y appear in (1)
Answer: d
Explanation: If only even powers of y occur in (1), i.e., if y is replaced by -y in (1), the equation (1) remains unaltered or in other words f(x, -y) = f(x, y).

4. Which of the following is not an example for curve symmetric about y axis?
a) x2=4ay
b) x2=ay
c) y2=4ax
d) x2=2ay
Answer: c
Explanation: Out of the given options, y2=4ax is an example of curve symmetric about x axis and not about y axis as shown in the figure below,

5. Which of the following graphs represent symmetric about the origin?
a) y2=4ax
b) x5+y5=5a2x2y
c) x2=4ay
d) x2+y2=a2
Answer: b
Explanation: Out of the given options, x5+y5=5a2 x2 y represents the curve symmetric about the origin and can be observed as,