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
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line integral hard function to differentiate

$$\int_\gamma \frac{(x^2+y^2-2)\,dx+(4y-x^2-y^2-2) \, dy}{x^2+y^2-2x-2y+2}$$ where $\gamma = 2\sin\left(\frac{\pi x}{2}\right)$ from $(2,0)$ to $(0,0)$. I think it should be a shortcut to this problem that I cannot see , if that is not the case I…
user302538
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Two questions about curves

How to know if the curve $x^6 + y^6 = x^4y$ is closed ? And how to know that the curve $y^2 = x^2\frac{1 - x}{ 1 + x}$ has a loop ? PS: When I ask this two questions, I'm not considering the usage of a computer program. Another consideration is that…
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Proof of a vector identity

I want a convincing proof of this... $\nabla^2 (1/|r-r'|)$ = $-4\pi \delta^3 (r-r')$ (where r and r' are vectors and $\delta^3 (r-r')$ represents the 3-D delta function...)
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How to change the order of integration when angles and trigonometric functions are involved in limits?

Problem: Change the order of integration of $$\int_0^{\pi/2}\int_0^{\cos(\theta)}\ \cos{(\theta)}\ dr\,d\theta$$ Solution: First, I've made a plot of the given region: $$0\leqslant\ r \leqslant \cos(\theta)$$ $$0\leqslant\ \theta \leqslant…
InfZero
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How to find the field lines of a vector field?

I need help finding the field lines of a vector field. I hesitant if the procedure and solution is correct. The vector field is $$\mathbf{F}(x,y)=\frac{-y}{x^2+y^2}\mathbf{\hat x}+\frac{x}{x^2+y^2}\mathbf{\hat{y}}$$ So I should solve the…
JDoeDoe
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Vector derivatives of vector functions

I need to evaluate the expression $$ {\partial \over \partial \mathbf a} \arctan(\mathbf{|a \times b| \over a^T b}) $$ where $ \mathbf {a,b} \in \mathbf R^3 $ are functions of nodal positions on a chain: $ \mathbf a = \mathbf {x_{i-1} - x_i} $ and…
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How to find the surface area of unit cube using a surface integral?

Problem: Consider the vector field $F=z\hat{i}+y\hat{j}+x\hat{k}$, and $S$ the unit cube. Find $\int_S\ F\cdot dS$ Solution: I have used the divergence theorem: $\iint_S\ \vec{F}\cdot d\vec{S}=\iiint_S\ \text{div}\vec{F}\ dV$ So, for the vector…
InfZero
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Conflicting answers when calculating $\oint (2x-y)\,dx + (x+3y)\,dy$ over unit circle

Please point out my stupid error. edit: $C$ is positively oriented, I should add First solution (correct one) comes by Green's Theorem. So the integral is just twice the area of the circle: $2\pi$. Second solution by parameterization. Use…
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How do I find Orthogonal Projection given two Vectors?

Given two vectors, a and b, how do I find the Orthogonal Projection? I've already found the Scalar and Vector Projections. \begin{align*} \text{Scalar}&:\quad \frac{-90 + -25 + 24}{\sqrt{9^2+5^2+8^2}};\\ \text{Vector}&:\quad…
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Gradient of composition $\nabla(f\circ \mathbf A)$

Wikipedia lists the identity for the gradient of a composition as $$\nabla(f\circ \mathbf A) = (\nabla f\circ \mathbf A)\nabla \mathbf A$$ First, is this formula correct? Assuming it is: Second, what does $\nabla\mathbf A$ mean? Is it the Jacobian…
Bobbie D
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How to change the limits of a double integral to polar coordinates limits?

Problem: Use polar coordinates to evaluate the following integral: $$\int_{0}^{2}\int_{0}^{\sqrt{2x-x^{2}}}xdydy$$ Solution: First, this is the graph I manually plotted to define the new limits: So I set up the new integral with these new limits in…
InfZero
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Think of a function $R^2\rightarrow R$ satisfies $f_x>0,f_y>0,f_{xy}<0$

Think of a function $R^2\rightarrow R$ satisfies that there exists some point where each partial derivative is positive and mixed partial derivative is negative? $$f_x>0,f_y>0,f_{xy}<0$$
ZHU
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Confusion in known result

Consider the function $$ f(x,y)= \frac{x^2-y^2}{(x^2+y^2)^2}. $$ Now, if you evaluate the integral $$ \int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}f(x,y)dydx = \frac{\pi}{4},$$ and if you consider the other order, you get $$ \int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}f(x,y)dxdy =…
PSUN
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How to find the volume of region described by three equations?

Problem: Find the volume of the solid which is below the paraboloid $z=x^{2}+y^{2}$ and above of the region bounded by $y=x^{2}$ and $x=y^{2}$. Draw the the solid. Solution: First, I have tried to draw the given surfaces: But I don't how to define…
InfZero
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Find the points on the ellipsoid $x^2 + 2y^2 + 3z^2 = 1$ where the tangent plane is parallel to the plane $3x - y + 3z = 1$.

Find the points on the ellipsoid $x^2 + 2y^2 + 3z^2 = 1$, where the tangent plane is parallel to the plane $3x - y + 3z = 1$. I'm not sure how to go about solving this. I'd appreciate some help.
The Pointer
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