12.
6: A few basic 3D surfaces
First, a 2D review. Examples:
Line: ax + by = c 3x + 2y = 1
Parabola: ax2+ by = c or
ax + by2= c 3x2 – y = 4
Ellipse: ax2 + by2 = c (if a,b,c >0)
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑥2 𝑦2
+ 2=1 + =1
𝑎2 𝑏 32 22
(Note: If a = b, then it’s a circle)
Hyperbola: ax2 – by2 = c or 𝑥2 𝑦2
− =1
– ax2 + by2 = c (if a,b,c >0) 32 42
𝑥2 𝑦2
− =1
𝑎2 𝑏2
12.6: A few basic 3D Shapes
Cylinders: If one variable is absent, then
the graph is a 2D curve extended into
3D.
If the 2D shade is called “BLAH”, then
the 3D shade is called a “BLAH cylinder”.
Examples:
(a) x2 + y2 = 1 in 3D is a
circular cylinder
(i.e. a circle extended in the
z-axis direction).
(b) z = cos(x) in 3D is a
cosine cylinder
(i.e. the cosine function
extended in the y-axis direction).
Quadric Surfaces: A surface given by an
equation involving a sum of first and
second powers of x, y, and z is called a
quadric surface.
To visualize, we use traces: Elliptical/Circular Paraboloid
Fix one variable and look at the resulting 𝑧 𝑥2 𝑦2
= 2+ 2
𝑐 𝑎 𝑏
2D picture (i.e. look at one slice).
(ex: z = 3x + 5y2)
2
If we do several traces in different
directions, we start to get an idea about
the picture.
Hyperbolic Paraboloid
𝑧 𝑥2 𝑦2
= 2− 2
𝑐 𝑎 𝑏
(ex: y = 2x – 5z2)
2
Ellipsoid/Sphere Hyperboloid of One Sheet
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2 𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2
+ + =1 + 2− 2=1
𝑎2 2𝑏 2 2𝑐 2 2 2
𝑎 2𝑏 2 𝑐2
(ex: 3x + 5y + z = 3) (ex: x – y + z = 10)
Hyperboloid of Two Sheets
Circular/Elliptical Cone
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2 + − = −1
2
+ 2− 2=0 𝑎2 2𝑏 2 2 𝑐 2 2
𝑎 𝑏2 2𝑐 2 (ex: x + y – z = -4)
(ex: z = x + y )
Practice Examples 2. 4x2+3y2 = 10
Find the traces and name the shapes:
1. x – 3y2 + 2z2 = 0 One variable missing.
2. 4x2+3y2 = 10 The given equation is an ellipse in
3. 5x2 – y2 – z2 = 4 the xy-plane.
4. –x2 + y2 + 4z2 = 0
5. x2 - 2y2 + z2 – 6 = 0 Name: Elliptical Cylinder
Answers:
1. x – 3y2 + 2z2 = 0 3. 5x2 – y2 – z2 = 4
x = k: k – 3y2 + 2z2 = 0 (hyp.) x = k: 5k2 – y2 – z2 = 4 (circ/pt/nothing)
y = k: x – 3k2 + 2z2 = 0 (par.) y = k: 5x2 – k2 – z2 = 4 (hyp)
z = k: x – 3y2 + 2k2 = 0 (par.) z = k: 5x2 – y2 – k2 = 4 (hyp)
Also note: x = 3y2 – 2z2 Also note: -5x2 + y2 + z2 = -4
Name: Hyperbolic paraboloid Name: Hyperboloid of Two Sheets
4. –x2 + y2 + 4z2 = 0
x = k: -k2 + y2 + 4z2 = 0 (ellipse/pt)
y = k: - x2 + k2 + 4z2 = 0 (hyp./lines)
z = k: - x2 + y2 + 4k2 = 0 (hyp./lines)
Also note: x2 = y2 + 4z2
Name: Elliptical Cone
5. x2 - 2y2 + z2 – 6 = 0
x = k: k2 – 2y2 + z2 – 6 = 0 (hyp)
y = k: x2 – 2k2 + z2 – 6 = 0 (circle)
z = k: x2 – 2y2 + k2 – 6 = 0 (hyp)
Also note: x2 – 2y2 + z2 = 6
Name: Hyperboloid of One Sheet
