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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Finding the shortest distance between an arbitrary point and a parabola

I'm attempting to find the shortest distance between a point and a parabola. The point in question is (0,b), for any b, and the parabola that we are given is$\ y = x^2 $. How would you approach the problem and find the shortest distance for any…
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Condition for equality of mixed derivatives

It says that theorems 12.11 and 12.12 imply Theorem 12.13. But, don't we need some extra conditions? Like existence of $D_{r,r}f$ and $D_{k,k}f$? Here $f$ is a function from $\mathbb{R}^n$ to $\mathbb{R}^m$ and $D_kf$ denotes the partial derivative…
MathManiac
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Inversion of matrices is a diffeomorphism.

I am having problems showing that the function $$ \operatorname{inv}:G\rightarrow G$$ $$A\rightarrow A^{-1}$$ where $G$ is the set of all invertible $n\times n$ matrices, is a diffeomorphism. I have already shown that such function is a…
Marra
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Different Definitions of the Directional Derivative

I have seen several different starting points for definition the directional derivative of a function $f$ at a point $p$. Ultimately though, they can all be reduced to the equivalent definition via the gradient: $$ D_v f(p) = \langle \nabla f(p), v…
AFX
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How to convert (or transform) from one range to another?

I have score ranges min score = 40 and max score = 60. I have same gpa ranges too 1.00 - 1.99. Which formula I can use to calculate the gpa. Like If I entered 45 then it should print 1.25. Range of score and grade can be different. P.S. I am a web…
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Taylor-like expansion for multivariable functions

Is there any analogue for taylor series for multivariable functions? In other words, can we rewrite any function as a sum of algebraic terms? For example, $x^y$. Can it be written of the form $\sum C_{m,n}x^my^n$, where $C_{m,n}$ is some constant…
Manishearth
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Explaining the purpose of the remaining part of this proof .

I'm given that:= $E\subseteq \mathbb R^n$ be open and $f:E\to \mathbb R^n$ be a $C^1$ map . Suppose that for some $a\in E$ , the linear map $f'(a)$ is invertible ,and $b=f(a)$ .Then := I've to show that := There are open set $U$ and $V$ in…
coool
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Can't understand this simple passage involving multivariable calculus

A certain passage in my Fundamentals of Thermodynamics book is driving me crazy. I considered posting this is Physics.SE, but I think the question is eminently mathematical. Here is the passage: As we know, $c_p$ is defined as: $$c_p =…
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Global Max and Min Problem

I'm working on a problem which asks me to find local and global extrema of the following function. $$f(x,y) = x^2y^2e^{(-x^2 - 2y^2)}$$ I went through and found all of the relevant partial derivatives. \begin{align*} f_x &= (2xy^2)(e^{(-x^2 -…
manny
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Changing variables in a partial derivative

If I have the equation and function $$f_1(x_1,x_2,x_3,...,x_n) = 0,\qquad x_1 = g_1(y_1, y_2, y_3,...,y_m)$$ then what is $\frac {\partial f_1}{\partial x_1}$ in terms of $g_1$ and $y_i$?
user10389
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Easiest way to tell if a critical point is a a min or max

For $f(x,y) = \sqrt{x^2 + y^2 + \frac{1}{x^2 y^2}}$ the critical points are $(1,1), (1,-1), (-1,1), (-1,-1)$ and all of their values in the function is $3$. How can you tell that these are either maximums or minimums? The example problem states that…
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Equivalence of definitions of multivariable differentiability

The usual definition of differentiability for a multivariable function says that $f:\mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ is differentiable at $(x,y)$ if there is a linear map $d_{(x,y)} f : \mathbb{R}^2\to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$ \lim_{(h,k)\to 0}…
Mike Shulman
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Conceptual question: Critical Points

This is my first question posted here, I hope to make it as easy-to-answer as possible. I'm currently studying Vector Calculus it is taught that to find critical points (over the entire surface, not over some domain), we do the following: Let…
Trogdor
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Without Stokes's Theorem - Calculate $\iint_S \operatorname{curl} \mathbf{F} \cdot\; d\mathbf{S}$ for $\mathbf{F} = yz^2\mathbf{i}$ - 2013 10C

2013 10C. Consider the bounded surface S that is the union of $x^2 + y^2 = 4$ for $−2 \le z \le 2$ and $(4 − z)^2 = x^2 + y^2 $ for $2 \le z \le 4.$ Sketch the surface. Use suitable parametrisations for the two parts of S to verify Stokes’s…
user53259
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How do we make this integration rigorous?

This is from Jaynes, Probability Theory: The Logic of Science, pp 27-28. We have a function $F$ which is $\mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$, and we set $v = F(y,z)$. We discover that $$ F_1(y,z) = { \partial F \over \partial y } = { H(v) \over…
philh
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