Homework Set 1 for Advanced Engineering Mathematics

Remark: Hat functions are important building blocks in finite element methods.
Task 1 (one-dimensional hat functions)
Consider the one-dimensional hat function
(
1 + x , if 1 x 0
h0 (x) = 1 x , if 0 < x 1
0
, otherwise
and its horizontally shifted version (=translates) hk (x) = h0 (x k).
Draw the functions 2h0 (x), h1 (x), and 21 h2 (x) with different colors in one coordinate
system. In a new coordinate system draw the linear combination 2h0 (x)h1 (x)+ 12 h2 (x).
Task 2 (two-dimensional hat functions)
As in the lecture we define a two-dimensional hat function h0,0 (x, y) as the function
whose graph, consisting of the points (x, y, h0,0 (x, y)), is a pyramid with corners at
(1, 1, 0) and tip at (0, 0, 1). As indicated in the lecture use the following instructions
to find a piecewise definition

. . . , if 0 x 1, x y x
h0,0 (x, y) =
. . . , if . . .
You will need five cases. The surface of the pyramid consists of four triangles.
a) in a top view, i.e., looking along the z-axis onto the xy-plane, use different colors
to indicate the parts on which each triangular surface is defined. For example, one
triangular surface is defined on 0 x 1, x y x. For each part find the
corresponding pair of inequalities. Those will be four of the five case conditions.
What is the fifth case condition?
b) For one of the triangular planes compute the direction vectors from the tip to
the corners. Compute their cross product to find a normal vector to the plane
and, finally, determine the plane equation. Solve that equation for z. The other
side of the equation is the formula needed for the respective case.
c) Compare your result to the one-dimensional case in Task 1. What do you notice?
What is the reason for this? A picture of the front view or the side view (along
the x-axis or along the y-axis) may help.
d) Use analogy with the one-dimensional case to fill in all cases. Or, if you do not
notice the analogy, repeat the above steps for each triangular plane.

Task 3 (linear combination model of two-dimensional hat function)

The translates of the two-dimensional hat function are hk,` (x, y) = h0,0 (x k, y `).
Build a cardboard model of the linear combination h0,0 (x, y) + 2h1,1 (x, y). Use 5 cm for
one unit. My model is on display in the glass showcase next to my office. My tutors
will organize a group session, in which you can build the model. Cardboard will be
provided. You will have to bring a pencil, ruler, protractor, and adhesive tape. The
learning effect will be better, if you first try it on your own.
Task 4 (Function Spaces)
Consider the vector space of functions from an interval [a, b] to the set of real numbers.
a) What is the zero vector in this space?
b) What is the negative vector of the function f (x) = ex ? Draw the graphs of both
functions for the interval [a, b] = [1, 2].
c) Using the interval [0, 2] draw the functions g(x) = 2 sin x and h(x) = sin(2x)with
different colors in one coordinate system (draw a big picture to obtain good
accuracy). Use pointwise addition to determine their sum (g + h)(x) graphically.
Task 5 (Subspace of Linear Functions)
Consider the linear functions f1 (x) = m1 x + b1 and f2 (x) = m2 x + b2 . Show that the
constant zero function, the scalar multiple f1 and the sum f1 + f2 are linear functions.
What are their slopes and intercepts? Why does the set of all linear functions form a
subspace (of the function space of all real functions)? Find two linear functions that
span this subspace.
Task 6 (Subspaces)
Draw each of the following subsets of the real number plane. Show whether the subsapce conditions (Z), (CA), (CM) are satisfied or not. To show that (CM) or (CA)
are not satisfied, it suffices to give one example of a scalar multiple or a vector sum
that is not contained in the subset. Make use of the graphical interpretation: a point
corresponds to the vector from the origin to this point; a scalar multiple is a stretched
or compressed version of the original vector, and a sum can be indicated as a diagonal
in the parallelogram spanned by the two summands.
a) x 0, y 0
b) x 0, y 0 or
c) y = 1 + x
d) 2x = 3y
e) y = sin x

x 0, y 0