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 $$\iint_S f(x,y) = \int^b_a\int^d_c f(x,y) \mathrm{d}y \mathrm{d}x$$

35850 questions
3
votes
1 answer

Prove that $g_x(x,y,z)+g_y(x,y,z)+g_z(x,y,z)=0$

I am having some trouble proving the following: Prove that if $f$ is a differentiable function of $3$ variables and $g(x,y,z)=f(x-y,y-z,z-x)$, then $g_x(x,y,z)+g_y(x,y,z)+g_z(x,y,z)=0$ I tried setting $u=x-y,v=y-z,w=z-x$, so that…
sasha
  • 161
3
votes
0 answers

Finding points on surface with specified tangent planes

Suppose that $ f(x,y,z) = \frac{3}{2-x} + \frac{1}{y-z} $ and let $S$ be the surface given by the equation $f(x,y,z) = 1$ Are there any points on $S$ where the tangent plane to $S$ is parallel to the $xy$, $xz$ or $yz$–planes? If such points exist…
Gregory Peck
  • 1,717
3
votes
1 answer

Question about supremum

Let $f:U\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n$ be a differentiable function over an open convex set $U\subset\mathbb{R}^m$. Show that $\sup_{x\neq y}\dfrac{|f(x)-f(y)|}{|x-y|}=\sup_{z\in U}|(Df)_z|.$ I know I must use the Mean Value theorem to show this, and…
Marra
  • 4,839
3
votes
1 answer

Finding $\nabla r^n$

Find $\nabla r^n$ where $r= \sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2}$. So $r^n = (x^2+y^2+z^2)^{n/2}$. Then $$\frac{\partial r^n}{\partial x} = 2x\cdot\frac{n}{2}\cdot(x^2+y^2+z^2)^{n/2 - 1} = nx(x^2+y^2+z^2)^{(n-2)/2} = nxr^{n-2},$$ similarly $$\frac{\partial…
user2850514
  • 3,689
3
votes
1 answer

Spherical coordinates for sphere with centre $\neq 0$

For something like $(x-1)^2+y^2+z^2=1$, we would let $x-1=\rho \sin (\phi)\cos (\theta)$ $y=\rho \sin (\phi)\sin (\theta)$ $z=\rho \cos (\phi)$ But we know $\rho =1$ right? So it becomes $x-1= \sin (\phi)\cos (\theta)$ $y= \sin (\phi)\sin…
snowman
  • 3,733
  • 8
  • 42
  • 73
3
votes
1 answer

Why isn't $d\mathbf{A}$ normalized in Stokes' theorem?

For a nice curve $C$ which is a boundary of a smooth surface $D$, Stokes' theorem says that $$\begin{align*} \oint_C \mathbf{F}\cdot d \mathbf{s} = \iint_D (\nabla \times \mathbf{F} )\cdot d\mathbf{A} \end{align*}$$ However, I don't think I…
3
votes
2 answers

parametric equation of level curve in three dimensional plane

What is the parametric equation for the tangent plane to the level curve of the function $$w(x,y,z) = xy+yz+xz$$ at the point $(1,-1,2)$? My answer was: $$(x,y,z) = (1,-1,2)+r<1,0,δz/δx>+<0,1,δz/δy>$$ but since $δz/δx$ and $δz/δy$ are not defined at…
MBdr
  • 315
3
votes
1 answer

Conditions for existence of divergence of a vector field

What are the necessary and sufficient conditions on a vector field $F$ for the divergence $\nabla\cdot F$ to exist at a given point. EDIT In Divergence in the second line under the heading "Application in Cartesian coordinates", why is it assumed…
Rajesh D
  • 4,247
3
votes
1 answer

Is the isosurface of a smooth function a smooth surface?

suppose $ f(x)\in C_c^{\infty}(R^n, R)$, an infinitely differentiable function with compact support, from $R^n$ to $R$. If $f\not\equiv 0$, is the boundary of its support, i.e. $\partial\{x\in R^n: f(x)\neq 0\}$, always a smooth surface of…
Calvin
  • 31
3
votes
1 answer

Cone into cartesian coordinates

Let $K$ be the surface of an infinite cone with circular cross section, vertex at the origin and axis lying along the positive $z$-axis. If the angle between the $z$-axis and the surface of the cone is $α$, find expressions for $K$ in terms of…
snowman
  • 3,733
  • 8
  • 42
  • 73
3
votes
2 answers

Multivariable taylor polynomial

$$f(x, y) = e^{2x+xy+y^2}$$ Find the 2nd order taylor polynomial to the above function about (0,0) The formula is: $$P(x,y)=f(a,b)+f_x(a,b)(x-a)+f_y(a,b)(y-b)+\frac…
Nash
  • 393
3
votes
0 answers

problem book on Functions of Two Real Variables

please refer a problem book on Functions of Two Real Variables: limit, continuity, partial derivatives, differentiability, maxima and minima. Method of Lagrange multipliers, Homogeneous functions including Euler’s theorem. i have already done this…
BigBang
  • 361
3
votes
1 answer

Find $\mathbf{F}$ such that $\nabla \times \mathbf{F} = (-3xz^2, 0, z^3)$

Let $S$ be the surface defined by $z = x^{2} + y^{2}$ for $z \leq 4$, oriented with upward-pointing normal. Use Stokes' theorem to evaluate $\iint_{S}\left(\, -3xz^{2}\ ,\ 0\ ,\ z^{3}\,\right)\cdot{\rm d}\mathbf{S}$. Hint: You may look for a…
Nighty
  • 2,152
3
votes
3 answers

Line Integral $\int_{C} \frac{x dy - y dx}{x^{2}+y^{2}}$

Find $$\int_{C} \frac{x dy - y dx}{x^{2}+y^{2}}$$ along the oriented broken line $C$ with vertices $(2,-2)$, $(4,4)$, $(-5,5)$ oriented counterclockwise. I noted that $C$ is a closed curve which passes through the origin, so Green's theorem cannot…
nchar
  • 373
3
votes
2 answers

How to draw the picture of vector field

The given function is $$f(x,y,z) = \frac{1}{\sqrt{x^2+y^2+z^2}}$$ and I need to find gradient and draw the picture of this vector field. Gradient that I calculate is: grad $f(x,y,z) = \left(\frac{-x}{(x^2+y^2+z^2)^{\frac{3}{2}}} ,…
rndflas
  • 955