Questions tagged [multivariable-calculus]

Use this tag for questions about differential and integral calculus with more than one independent variable. Some related tags are (differential-geometry), (real-analysis), and (differential-equations).

Multivariable functions are functions like $f(x,y)=xy^2$, functions that have two or more inputs but still only one output.

There exist multivariable limits, where $x$ and $y$ approach a value instead of just $x$.

In multivariable calculus, when writing $\frac{\mathrm{d}}{\mathrm{d}x} \ f(x,y)$, one does not assume $y$ to be a constant, instead it is assumed that $y$ is a function of $x$.

To indicate that $y$ is a constant, one should use $\frac{\partial}{\partial x} f(x,y)$. These are called partial derivatives.

One also has integrals of multivariable functions. We say that we integrate over a surface in case of a two-variable function. We write this as $$\iint_S f(x,y)$$

If the surface is a rectangle $S: [a,b] \times [c,d]$, and the function is continuous on this rectangle, then Fubini's theorem says that $$\iint_S f(x,y) = \int^b_a\int^d_c f(x,y) \mathrm{d}y \mathrm{d}x$$

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Find the volume of the region bounded by $z = x^2 + y^2$ and $z = 10 - x^2 - 2y^2$

So these are two paraboloids. My guess is I would want to find the intersection of these two which would be $2x^2 + 3y^2 = 10$ and construct a triple integral based on its projection. No idea how to do this but the answer comes out to be…
iuppiter
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Can I prove continuity of a function of two variables in this way?

Common approach in handling functions of two variables is to express this function in polar coordinate system. For example, in the classic example $$f(x,y)=\left\{\begin{array}{lr}\frac{xy}{x^2+y^2} & (x,y)\neq (0,0)\\0 &…
nakajuice
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Integrate over the region bounded by two regions. Using Polar coordinates.

Using Polar Coordinates integrate over the region bounded by the two circles: $$x^2+y^2=4$$ $$x^2+y^2=1$$ Evaluate the integral of $\int\int3x+8y^2 dx$ So what I did was said that as $x^2+y^2=4$ and $x^2+y^2=1$ That $1 \le r \le 2$. And as there is…
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Chain rule to find geodesics

I'm reading these notes but I don't know how is the chain rule being applied on page 92. It says that we start with $\dfrac{dv}{du}=\dfrac{v'}{u'}$, having ruled out the case where $u'=0$. Then, he differentiates this wrt $u$ using the chain rule…
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Partial Derivatives vs Implicit Differentiation

The question is: Let $G(x,y)=x^2y^4-3x^4y$. (i) Find the first partial derivatives $G_x$ and $G_y$. (ii) Using (i) above, find $\frac{dy}{dx}$. (iii) If $G(x,y)=0$, confirm your answer in part (ii) above, finding $\frac{dy}{dx}$ using implicit…
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Mild Error on Page 32 Spivak's Calculus of Manifolds that I couldn't find online.

I'm just asking if this is actually an error, as I could not find it in any errata online, math stackexchange questions etc. In Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds, page 32, I believe there is a mild error in the statement of Theorem 2-9. The theorem…
Brett
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What does elementary function mean?

I am looking at my double integration example problems and I see a note that says integral of $e^{-x^2}$ is not an elementary function. What does that mean? And why isn't that an elementary function? It actually says observe integral of $e^{-x^2}…
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How do you find the limit of $\frac{4x^4 + 5y^4}{x^2 + y^2}$?

Find the limit of $\frac{4x^4 + 5y^4}{x^2 + y^2}$ as $(x,y)\to (0,0)$. Which method do I use to find the limit of that? I tried paths but the limits all came out to be $0$... (as a side question, when do you stop trying paths? I mean there are so…
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Is $f(x,y) = ( \frac{x}{x^2+y^2},\frac{2y}{x^2+y^2} )$ injective?

I came across this function in a context in which I need to know if it is injective. The function is $f:\mathbb{R}^2\backslash\{(0,0)\} \longrightarrow \mathbb{R}^2\backslash\{(0,0)\}$ and defined by $$f(x,y) = \Biggl(…
Wheepy
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Locate and classify critical points of a function?

Assuming $f(x,y) = 24xy + 4xy^2 + 3x^3$ and taking partial differentiation respect to $x$ and $y$ I found to be: $$\dfrac{\partial f}{\partial x} = 24y + 4y^2 +9x^2 \\ \dfrac{\partial f}{\partial y} = 24x + 8xy$$
Bryan
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If $\lim\limits_{(x,y)\to (0,0)}(f(x)+g(y))$ exists, do $\lim\limits_{x\to 0}f(x)$ and $\lim\limits_{y\to 0}g(y)$ exist?

If the limit $\lim\limits_{(x,y)\to (0,0)}(f(x)+g(y))$ exists.Is it true that the limits $\lim\limits_{x\to 0}f(x)$ and $\lim\limits_{y\to 0}g(y)$ both exist?
xyz
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Can we plug in values before evaluating a partial derivative?

If $f(x,y)$ is a function, to compute $\partial f / \partial y$ at some point $(a,b)$, is it always acceptable to plug in the value $a$ for $x$ before computing the derivative? I am convinced the answer is "yes", and that no justification needs to…
CJD
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Calculus on Manifolds Theorem 3-14 (Sard's Theorem)

I have a question regarding Theorem 3-14 in Spivak's Calculus on Manifolds: The proof starts by considering a closed rectangle $U\subset A$ such that all the sides of $U$ are of the same length $l$. Let $\epsilon>0$. Spivak claims that if $N$ is…
Hrhm
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Why isn't the union of the coordinate axes a manifold, using the formal definition of a manifold?

Let me call $M$ a manifold iff locally it is given as the graph of a $C^1$ function. Then without appealing to "remove a point" type arguments, why isn't the union of the $x$ and $y$ coordinate axes (the solution set of $xy=0$) a manifold? That is,…
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Directional derivatives for vector-valued functions

Do we only calculate directional derivatives for scalar-valued functions? Is it not possible to calculate directional derivatives for vector-valued functions? How about using the vector of directional derivatives of the components of the given…