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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Show symmetry of the critical points of this function

I am trying to prove that the global maxima of the following function $$f_n(x_1,\ldots,x_n):=\exp(-\sum_{i=1}^n x_i ^2)\prod_{1\leq i
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Multivariable calculus: hard problems with solutions

I'm practicing for my multivariable calculus exam and I'm having some trouble mostly because I have no way of knowing if my solutions are correct or not. For example, a typical problem goes like this: Let $f:\mathbb{R^2}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R}$…
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Inverse of a multivariable function

I was trying to find the inverse of $f(x,y)=(u,v)=(\sqrt{x+y},\sqrt{x-y})$ and I found that $x=\frac{u^2+v^2}{2}, y=\frac{u^2-v^2}{2}$. This expression seems well defined to me, but how can I be certain that $f$ really has an inverse? Have I proven…
Andrea
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Finding extreme values when the determinant of the Hessian at a critical point is zero.

We want to determine extreme values of $f(x,y)=x^3+xy^2-x^2y-y^3$. We first determine critical points by solving $\dfrac{\partial f(x,y)}{\partial x}=0$ and $\dfrac{\partial f(x,y)}{\partial y}=0$ which gives that the only critical point is…
palio
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Show $\nabla\cdot\left(\mathbf{F}\times\mathbf{G}\right)=\mathbf{G}\cdot(\nabla\times\mathbf{F})-\mathbf{F}\cdot(\nabla\times\mathbf{G})$

Question as follows. Suppose that $\mathbf{F}$,$\mathbf{G}:\mathbb{R^3}\rightarrow\mathbb{R^3}$ and $\phi:\mathbb{R^3}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ are smooth. Show using the summation convention that…
jamesh625
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If $\mathrm{Int}(\mathrm{Im}(f(\mathbb {R^n})))=\varnothing$ then the determinant of the Jacobian matrix is zero.

I need some light in this exercise: "If $f:\mathbb {R^n}\rightarrow \mathbb {R^n}$ is continuous differentiable and the image of $f(\mathbb {R^n})$ has $\text{int} =\varnothing$ then the determinant of the Jacobian matrix is zero." I really don't…
HipsterMathematician
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Implicit Function Theorem: a counter-example

The following theorem is stated in Spivak's "Calculus on Manifolds" as a follow-up on the Implicit Function Theorem: Theorem 2.13: Let $f: \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}^p$ be continuously differentiable in an open set containing $a$, where $p \le n$.…
koletenbert
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Differentiability of a two variable function $f(x,y)=\dfrac{1}{1+x-y}$

We're given the following function : $$f(x,y)=\dfrac{1}{1+x-y}$$ Now , how to prove that the given function is differentiable at $(0,0)$ ? I found out the partial derivatives as $f_x(0,0)=(-1)$ and $f_y(0,0)=1$ , Clearly the partial derivatives are…
User9523
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Regular Value Theorem Using Implicit Function Theorem in Calculus.

I want to prove the following: THEOREM. (Regular Value Theorem.) Let $f:\mathbf R^n\to\mathbf R^m$ be a smooth function and $\mathbf a\in\mathbf R^n$ be a regular point of $f$. Let $f(\mathbf a)=\mathbf 0$ and $\text{rank }Df(\mathbf a)=r$. …
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Proving that $f:U\to\mathbb{R}^n$ differentiable is an open map when $\det \operatorname{J}f(a) \neq 0$

Let $U\subset\mathbb{R}^n$ be an open set and $f:U\to\mathbb{R}^n$ a differentiable function such that $\det \operatorname{J}f(a)\neq 0\; \forall a\in U$. Prove that if $V$ is an open subset of $U$ then $f(V)$ is an open subset of…
Cure
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Trouble with gradient intuition

I'm currently learning about gradients, and I thought khanacademy could help me acquiring some intuition. The actual computation is clear to me, however I'm having trouble understand the intuition. This is the video I'm talking about, and the part…
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When are $3$ vectors associative in triple cross products?

The question I am trying to show under what conditions $$\vec{A}\times(\vec{B}\times\vec{C}) = (\vec{A}\times\vec{B})\times\vec{C}.$$ I have found that right-hand side of the above equation is equal…
achacttn
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How to calculate this area?

Calculate the area of $$S:=\lbrace (x,y,z)\in\mathbb{R}^3: y^2+(z-x^2)^2=x^2-1\rbrace$$ Anyone have an idea? I tried using cylindrical coordinates, but nothing. Well, I have something, but I'm not really sure... Ok: We have the surface…
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How can I deduce a lower hemisphere's boundary's orientation?

Source: Stewart. Calculus: Early Transcendentals (6 edn 2007). p. 1098. §16.8, Exercise #19. Despite reading this, I don't understand how to deduce the red sentence beneath. $\text{19}.$ If $S$ is a sphere and $\mathbf{F}$ satisfies the hypotheses…
user53259
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What is the fastest (most reliable) way to calculate the Frenet frame, curvature and torsion, given r(t)?

Vector calculus, just learned about the Frenet frame and curvature and torsion. Naturally, we have to calculate a lot of these on homework and exams. However, the formulas that we are given for getting curvature, torsion, frame are computationally…
fhyve
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