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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Calculus on Manifolds (Spivak), theorem 2-13

I'm having trouble understanding this theorem: 2-13 Theorem. Let $f: \mathbb{R}^n \to \mathbb{R}^p$ be continuously differentiable in an open set containing $a$, where $p \leq n$. If $f(a) = 0$ and the $p \times n$ matrix $(D_jf^i(a))$ has rank…
Brian Bi
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Stokes' Theorem

Let $C$ be the following, let $C$ be the curve of intersection of the cylinder $x^2 + y^2 = 1$ and the given surface $z = f(x,y)$, oriented counterclockwise around the cylinder. Use Stokes' theorem to compute the line integral by first converting it…
Student
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How to find unit normal vector of a 2d line

I have been given the line equation of $y-8=0$, and have to find the unit normal vector? How would I go about doing this? is there a specific equation I need to use? Following this I have been given the question: Find the equation of a line passing…
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Differentiation of one function with respect to another in multivariable calculus?

I want to differentiate the function say $g(x)=x^2+y^2$ with respect to the function $f(x)=xy$. But I haven't been able to figure it out. Though I have derived the formula $$\frac{dg}{df}=\frac{\left(\frac{\partial g}{\partial…
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What is $X$ in this problem?

I captured this picture from the movie A Beautiful Mind. I see this is a problem solving for the dimension of a quotient space, so I guess $W$ is assumed to be a subspace of $V$, and let's also assume $V$ is a vector space over $\mathbb{Q}$. I…
Rubertos
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Formal Definition of the Divergence of a Vector Field

I recently completed an introductory course on multivariate calculus, and I'm still trying to come to grips with the concepts taught in the vector calculus segment. Right now, I'm reviewing the concept of divergence. I understand the lexical…
Pockets
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A function whose partial derivatives exist everywhere, but is nowhere continuous?

Consider $f: \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$. Unlike functions of one variable, the partial derivatives may exist at a point even though $f$ is not continuous there. I have seen examples where $f_x$ and $f_y$ exist in the neighbourhood of a…
user56914
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Calculating triple integral over an ellipsoid

I'm trying to calculate $$\iiint \frac{dx\,dy\,dz}{\sqrt{1 - \left(\frac{x^2}{9}+\frac{y^2}{16}+\frac{z^2}{25}\right)}}$$ over the ellipsoid $\frac{x^2}{9}+\frac{y^2}{16}+\frac{z^2}{25}=1$. I couldn't find a solution. Can anyone help me?
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Is this true for a continuously differentiable function

Prove or find a counterexample: if $f:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ is continuously differentiable with $f(0)=0$ then there exist continuous functions $g_1,\dots,g_n:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ with $$f(x)=x_1g_1(x_1,\dots,…
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$\nabla^2u=0$ implies every critical point is a saddle point

Hi everybody I need help with this problem: let $u:R^n \rightarrow R$ be a function so that $\nabla^2u=0$ prove that every critical point of the function is a saddle point.
Carlos Martinez
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Interchanging Derivative and Integral Example

In class the other day, my professor stated the following theorem: Suppose $\frac{d}{dy}f(x,y)$ is continuous on $[0,1] \times [0,1]$, then $\frac{d}{dy} \int^1_0 f(x,y) \, dx = \int_0^1 \frac{d}{dy}f(x,y) \, dx$. He then quickly corrected this to…
FraGrechi
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Proving that $\iint\limits_{x^2+y^2\leq 1} e^x \cos y dxdy=\pi$

I want to prove that $$\iint\limits_{x^2+y^2<1} u(x,y) dxdy=\pi$$ where $u(x,y)=e^x \cos y$. There is a theorem which says that if $u\in C^2(\Omega)$ and $\nabla^2 u=0$ in a domain $\Omega\subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$, then for any ball $B=B_R(v)$ with…
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Homework Help - Finding a Vector when given two points, and then finding a unit vector in the same direction

I've attempted to solve the problem, but I got $\langle \frac{1}{\sqrt{\frac{29}{4}}}, \frac{5}{\sqrt{\frac{29}{4}}}\rangle$, which is incorrect. There is not a similar problem in my textbook that I can reference. I know that to find a unit vector,…
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Deriving the curl of a vector field from the definition of torque.

I just learned about the definition of $\text{curl}\ F$ for some vector field $F(x, y)=M(x, y)\mathbf{e}_1+N(x, y)\mathbf{e}_2$ in $\Bbb{R}^2$ and was wondering how that could be derived from the definition of torque: $$ \tau=F\times r $$ My…
user3002473
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How to show that a continous function $f:\mathbb{R}^m \to \mathbb{R}$ has a maximum?

My task is this: Suppose $f:\mathbb{R}^m \to \mathbb{R}$ is a positive, continous function such that $\lim_{\mid \textbf{x}\mid \to \infty} f(\textbf{x}) = \textbf{0}$. Show that $f$ has a maximum. I am not sure exactly how to show this since the…
Thomas
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