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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Volume integral help

I have a volume integral to compute with the following bounded volume $V\in \mathbb{R}^3$ $$ \frac{x^2+y^2}{4}+z^2\leq 1 \;\;,\;\; \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{x^2+y^2}\leq z\;,\;\; z\geq 0$$ I hadn't a clue how to do it until my lecturer said to use spherical…
George1811
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Hessian equals zero.

I'm currently just working through some maxima/minima problems, but came across one that was a bit different from the 'standard' ones. So they used the usual procedures and ended up finding that the Hessian is zero at the critical point (0,0). They…
Trogdor
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Verify integral over a surface

Show $\int \int_{S} (x^2 +y^2) d\sigma = \frac{9\pi}{4}$ where $S = \left\{(x,y,z) : x>0, y>0, 3>z>0, z^2 =3(x^2+y^2)\right\}$. We have the formula $\int \int_{S} f(x,y,z) = \int \int_{D} f(x, y, g(x,y)) \sqrt{(\frac{\partial z }{\partial x})^2 +…
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When does [the distance from origin to some point in space] vary and when is it fixed?

As defined in spherical coordinates, $p =$ the distance from the origin to a point P in space. In Stewart P1092 16.7.47 (below), $p$ is fixed by the solution to be $a$. Yet in Stewart P1103 16.9.13, $p$ is a variable. How does one determine whether…
user53259
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Does the inverse of a function from $\mathbb{R}^n$ to $\mathbb{R}^m$ exist?

Suppose $T:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}^3$ is defined by $T(x,y) = (x,y,xy).$ What then is the inverse of $T$? Is it $$T^{-1}: \mathbb{R}^3 \to \mathbb{R}^2; (a,b,c) \mapsto (a,b)?$$ It is clear that, in this case, $T^{-1}(T(x,y)) = (x,y).$ But…
john
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Show that $\textbf F$ is a gradient field by giving a scalar function $f$ on $\Omega^+$ such that $\nabla f=\textbf F$.

Show that $\textbf F$ is a gradient field by giving a scalar function $f$ on $\Omega^+$ such that $\nabla f=\textbf F$. $\textbf F = (\frac{-y}{x^2+y^2},\frac{x}{x^2+y^2},0)$, $\Omega^+ = \{(x,y)|x,y>0\}$. My attempt: We must have that…
Bobby Lee
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vector fields and closed curves.

The vector field $\vec F(\vec R)$ is defined by $$\vec F(\vec R) = \oint_C \|\vec r − \vec R\|^2 d\vec r$$ where $\vec r$ lies on the simple closed curve $C$. Show that there are constant vectors $\vec A$ and $\vec B$ such that $\vec F(\vec R) =…
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Showing that $\phi:\Bbb R^2 \to \Bbb R^2$ is injective

I need to show that $$\phi:(x,y)\to(\sin\frac{y}{2}-x, \sin\frac{x}{2}-y)$$ Is a $C^1$-diffeomorphism. So, I need to show it's injective. How can I do this? Just explicitly setting $\phi(x, y)=\phi(x', y')$ just leads to a non-linear system that I…
Jack M
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Tricky Surface Parametrization

I am to parametrize the surface given by the ellipse $$9(z-1)^2 + x^2 = 1$$ in the $xz$-plane and rotated about the $x$-axis. I then have to find the volume of the region enclosed. The concept of "rotated about the $x$-axis" is causing me some…
Vivid
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Is $f$ differentiable at $(x,y)$?

I am working on a practice question, and I am not sure if what I have done would be considered, 'complete justification'. I would greatly appreciate some feedback or helpful advice on how it could be better etc. The question is here: Let $f: \mathbb…
JackReacher
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Elementary question in partial differentiation

Let's say we have a function of the form $f(x+vt)$ where $v$ is a constant and $x,t$ are independent variables. How is $\frac{\partial f}{\partial x} = \frac{1}{v}\frac{\partial f}{\partial t}$ equal to $f$? If I let $u=x+vt$ then $\frac{\partial…
kuch nahi
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Show that $\nabla [f(r)]=f'(r)\frac {\mathbf{r}}{r}$

Let $\mathbf{r} = xi+yj+zk$, write $r= \|\mathbf{r}\|$ and let $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ be a function of class $C^1$ So from what I know, we can derive the function at least once and we know gradients are just the derivative of the function with…
John
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How to measure distances from a point on a surface to a plane?

I have a surface $f(x, y) = z$ and a plane $ax + by + cz = 0$. I need to: $(1)$ Find the points on the surface which are above plane, and $(2)$ measure distances from those points to the plane. How can I do that?
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Applying constrained maxima/minima and Lagrange Multipliers with eigenvectors and eigenvalues?

Let $A$ be a nonzero symmetric $3\times3$ matrix. Consider the function $f(\textbf x)=\frac{1}{2}(A \textbf x)\cdot \textbf x$. (a) What is $\nabla f$? Here's what I did: Let $A= \left[ \begin{array}{ccc} a & b & c \\ b & e & d \\ c & d & g…
Bobby Lee
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At which point the plane tangent to the surface is horizontal?

I am given the surface $z = x^{2} - 7xy - y^{2} - 46x + 2y$ and have to find the point, among four options, at which the tangent plane to the surface is horizontal. Now my reasoning is this: if we write $F (x, y, z) = x^{2} - 7xy - y^{2} - 46x + 2y…