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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How to find $\int_0^1 \int_x^1 \arctan(\frac{y}{x})dxdy$?

How to find $$\int_0^1 \int_x^1 \arctan \left( \frac{y}{x}\right)~dxdy$$ I am not looking for any full solutions just some small hints to get me started would be great.
Mike H
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Area Enclosed by Ellipse with Function: $(x+y)^2+(x+3y)^2=1$

How can I find the area of the following region which is enclosed by the following curve: $$(x+y)^2+(x+3y)^2=1$$ This is an ellipse, and I graphed it to find that its center is at the origin. Not sure where this leads to though. I know that the area…
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Why are these two things equivalent when doing surface integrals?

As I understand it, when doing a surface integral we have, $$\iint_S F\cdot ndS=\iint_D r~\frac{r_a \times r_b}{|r_a \times r_b|}|r_a \times r_b|dA$$ and this is true because $$ndS=\frac{r_a \times r_b}{|r_a \times r_b|}|r_a \times r_b|dA$$ (A unit…
Josh I
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Using Green's theorem to find an area.

I wish to find out the area enclosed by the ellipse $C:=2x^2+3y^2=2y$ using Green's theorem. I know how to parametrize the ellipse and understand Green's theorem I just don't understand how it is useful in this case. Looking at my notes it says…
Smithy
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Computing $\max_{1/2 \leq x \leq 2} ( \min_{1/3 \leq y \leq 1} f(x,y) )$ where $f(x,y) = x(y \log y - y) - y \log x$.

Let $f(x,y)=x(y\ln y-y)-y\ln x.$ Find $\max_{1/2\le x\le 2}(\min_{1/3\le y\le1}f(x,y))$. This problem is quite easy and it is from Spivak; it is the part $c)$ of the general exercise 2-41 page 43 Calculus on manifolds; here it is: Let…
user256658
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Why do we take the dot product with the normal vector when we do Stokes' Theorem?

So this part I'm struggling with on Stokes' Theorem: $$\iint_S ~(\text{curl}~\vec{F} \cdot \hat{n})~ dS$$ I don't really understand why we would want to dot it with the unit normal vector at that point. This is going to tell us how much of the curl…
Peter H
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Properties of Curl.

Could anyone please let me know which of these statements is true. 1)$$\text{curl}~{\vec{F}}=0 \implies \vec{F} ~\text{is conservative.}$$ 2) $$\text{curl}~{\vec{F}}=0 \impliedby \vec{F} ~\text{is conservative.}$$ 3) $$\text{curl}~{\vec{F}}=0…
Daniel K
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How to find $\frac{\partial^2u}{\partial x \partial y}$ given $u=\sin(x\sin^{-1}y)$?

How to find $$\frac{\partial^2u}{\partial x \partial y}$$ given $$u=\sin(x\sin^{-1}(y))$$? I have calculated $$\frac{\partial u}{\partial x }=\sin^{-1}(y)\cdot \cos(x\sin^{-1}(y))$$ but get stuck on applying the product rule on the next derivative…
Dylan
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Volume of Solid Defined by Inequalities

How can I find the volume of a solid defined only by inequalities? For example, in this case I have: $$0\le z \le y \le x \le 1$$ Can someone please explain to me step-by-step on how I can do this. This is a very new concept to me.
Nina
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Does the concept of a derivative a rate of change work for n dimensions?

I am trying to understand what exactly a derivative is. I understand the total derivative is a linear map. But I don't understand what happens to the idea of a rate. In high school calc, one is taught the derivative is a rate of change. For…
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$\nabla \times \left(\frac{\mathbf{A \times r}}{r^3}\right)$, where $\mathbf{A}$ is independent of $\displaystyle\nabla \times$

The curl is just over $\mathbf{r}$ and $r$. I've been trying to pull the vector $\displaystyle \mathbf{A}$ out of the way, in order to get a expression much easier to deal with, but I have no idea how to do it without expanding the whole expression…
asd
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$\displaystyle\iiint_E (x²+y²) \;\mathrm{d}V$ where $E$ is the region between the spheres $x^2+y^2+z^2 = 4$ and $x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = 9$

To be honest I'm not even too sure of what I'm integrating. I'm picturing two spheres touching each other, with a cylinder of two different radii going from the center of one to the other and I'm supposed to calculate the volume of the space inside…
xsr
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Minimize Total Cost of Box

So there is a rectangular box that has a volume of $8 m^3$. The top and bottom of the box is made with some material that has a cost of $8$ dollars per square meter. The sides are made with another material that costs $1$ dollar per square meter.…
aña
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Is the function differentiable at $(0,0)$

Given the function $$ f(x,y)= \begin{cases} \frac{\sin(x)^4 \ln(1+x^2)}{(1+\cos(x))^2+y^4}, & \text{if $(x,y)\neq (0,0)$} \\ 0, & \text{if $(x,y)=(0,0)$} \end{cases}$$ I want to check if it is differentiable at $(0,0)$. First I checked if it is…
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About $\nabla$'s Property.

For a scalar function $g$, and a vector function $f$, $$ | \nabla ( (\nabla g) \cdot f ) | \leqslant |f| \cdot \text{Something} $$ Is this inequality possible? If possible, what would "$\text{Something}$" be?
Misaj
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