Past exam of the mathematical methods II course of the University of Oxford 2018 5 Solution 2026-10-25
Let . Implicit differentiation of the two constraints gives the linear systemAdding them, then substituting back, gives at regular pointsThe relevant Jacobian determinant is . Thus the special parameter value is , assuming the other factors are nonzero. At that parameter, adding the original constraints gives : the intersection curve lies wholly in the plane and cannot be parametrized by on an interval. Calling its derivatives “infinite” describes a vertical projection, not a finite-valued differentiable pair at ; the displayed ratios then have simultaneous zero numerators on the intersection and are undefined.
There are also point-dependent failures when , or . These can produce vertical tangents or require a different local parameter, and simultaneous numerator zeros need separate analysis. The implicit function theorem guarantees finite only where the stated Jacobian determinant is nonzero. This distinction is the geometry of a singular projection of an implicit curve.