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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Line integrals and path independence

Consider $\textbf{F}(x,y)=\frac{-y}{x^2+y^2}\textbf{i}+\frac{x}{x^2+y^2}\textbf{j}$. Let $C_1$ be the upper half of the unit circle oriented counterclockwise, and let $C_2$ be the lower half of the unit circle oriented clockwise. Compute…
user7000
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Line integral parametrization

We are given the field $\textbf{F}(x,y)=(x-y)\textbf{i}+xy\textbf{j}$ and C being $\frac{3}{4}$ of a circle of radius $2$ centered at the origin traversed from $(2,0)$ to $(0,-2)$. $$\textbf{F}(x,y) =(x-y)\textbf {i}+(xy)\textbf{j}$$ $$C: x^2+y^2=4,…
user7000
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L'hopital's Rule in higher dimensions.

I was working on getting intuition behind limits in multivariate calculus and I ran into this article. I am mostly concerned with the case where we have functions of two or three variables. Unfortunately I do not have the necessary background to…
recmath
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Divergence Theorem Question

$$\iint\limits_\sum f \ d \sigma = \iiint\limits_S \operatorname{div} \textbf{f} \ dV$$ $$\operatorname{div} \textbf{f}=1+2+3=6$$ After this, we could multiply $6$ by the volume of the sphere $\frac{4}{3} \pi (3)^3$ to get $216 \pi$. Shouldn't…
user7000
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Unique solution for parametric system of two equations

The system is: $$x - 2y + z = 2\alpha \\ 3(xy + xz + yz) = 3\alpha - 4$$ I have to find for which values of $\alpha$, the system has an unique solution. I've tried to simplify both expressions, set $x,y,z$ to some special values, and even apply…
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Brouwer's fixed theorem using Stokes' theorem

according to Wikipedia, there is a simple way to prove Brouwer's fixed point theorem from Stokes' theorem: see here. So I would like to present the former famous theorem (Brouwer's one) to my Calculus students using the latter famous one…
Taladris
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Convexity of $\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$

I am to prove that $\sqrt{x^2+y^2}$ is convex for $x,y>0$. Intuitively, if I look at the derivatives, $\frac{x}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}$, $\frac{y}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2}}$, they are increasing in every positive direction. However, that isn't a very formal argument…
Dahn
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Verifying Stokes' Theorem

Verify Stokes' Theorem for the given vector field $f(x, y, z)$ and surface $\Sigma$. $$f(x, y, z) = 2y \textbf{i} - x \textbf{j} + z \textbf{k}; \quad \Sigma : x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 1, z \ge 0$$ This was the solution given. I understand the line…
user7000
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Find the surface area of portion of the plane that is inside the cylinder.

I am given the plane $x + y + z = 1$ and the cylinder $x^2 + y^2 = 4,$ and have to find the surface area of portion of the plane that is inside the cylinder. I am very confused with this. I tried writting the intersection of the two surfaces as a…
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Proving extermum by using Taylor series

Will someone please help me in the following? I am given with the function $f(x,y)=(x+y)^3\sqrt{x^2+y^2}-1+\cos(x+y)$ and need to determine whether $(0,0)$ and $(1,-1)$ are extremum points or not. As for $(0,0)$ after using Taylor expansion for…
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Double integral of a piecewise function over a rectangle?

Let $f$ be defined on the rectangle $R=[1,2] \times [2,4]$ as follows: $$ f(x,y) = \begin{cases} (x+y)^{-2}, & \text{if }x\leq y \leq 2x; > \\\\ 0, & \text{otherwise. } \end{cases} $$ Compute the value of the double integral $\int\int_Rf$. I think…
Bobby Lee
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Finding a partial derivative of a double summation.

How to find $$\frac{\partial T }{ \partial {\dot q_i}},$$ given that $$T= \sum_i\sum_j{\alpha_{ij}\dot q_i\dot q_j}?$$
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Contradictory area elements in Cartesian and polar coordinates

We all know that the area element $dA$ in Cartesian coordinates is given by $$dA = dx\ dy.$$ With a bit of geometry, we can also see that the area element $dA$ in polar coordinates is given by $$dA = r\ dr\ d\theta.$$ If this is the case, when why…
David Zhang
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Tangent plane to a function $z=f(x,y)$

I'm given with the following question: Part A: prove that for the tangent plane to a function $z=f(x,y)$ at a point $(x_0,y_0,z_0)$ is given by $z=f(x_0,y_0) + f_x(x_0,y_0)(x-x_0) +f_y(x_0,y_0)(y-y_0)$ (I did it) Part B: prove that if $f$ is…
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Integrating over a y-simple region $D$?

Let $D=\{(x,y)\space|\space1\leq x^2+y^2 \leq 2 \text{ and }y\geq0\}$. Evaluate $\int\int_D(1+xy) dA$. So I stated that $D$ is a y-simple region because for all $(x,y)\in D$, $\sqrt{1-x^2} \leq y \leq \sqrt{2-x^2}$. My book states that for a…
Bobby Lee
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