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
1
vote
1 answer

General change of coordinates

I would like to integrate over the following surface: $\Omega=\{(v_1,\dots,v_n):\sum_{i=1}^N\phi(|v_i|^2)=N, \sum_{i=1}^N v_i=p, v_i\in R^3,p \in R^3\}$. If $\phi(|v|^2)=|v|^2$, it is easy to see that $\Omega$ is a sphere, but for a general $\phi$…
1
vote
1 answer

Find local max/min and saddle points of $f(x,y) = e^x\cos(y)$.

I want to find the local max/min and saddle points of $f(x,y) = e^x\cos(y)$. I started off by finding the following: \begin{align} f_x &= e^x\cos(y) \\ f_{xx} &= e^x\cos(y) \\ f_y &= -e^x\sin(y) \\ f_{yy} &= -e^x\cos(y) \\ f_{xy} &=…
1
vote
0 answers

$f(x,y)=\frac{x^ay^b}{x^2+y^2}$ differentiable?

One knows that $$f(x,y)=\frac{x^\alpha y^\beta}{x^2+y^2}$$ is continuous iff $\alpha+\beta>2$. Is there any condition of $\alpha$ and $\beta$ so that the previous function is differentiable?
1
vote
1 answer

Find max rate of change of $f(x,y) = \sin(xy)$ at the point $(1,0)$ and in the direction in which it occurs.

Find max rate of change of $f(x,y) = \sin(xy)$ at the point $(1,0)$ and in the direction in which it occurs. I did the following: $$\nabla f = <\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}, \frac{\partial f}{\partial y}>$$ $$= $$ $$\nabla…
1
vote
0 answers

3D graph of a function - its projection onto xy plane?

Suppose we have a function with two variables $x, \ y$, ie $f(x,y)=z$ Is there any universal, general way of determining the projection of the graph of this function, after intersecting it with a plane, onto $xy$ plane? I'm having some trouble…
Bilbo
  • 1,323
1
vote
1 answer

Determine points of continuity

Determine all points on which the following function is continuous: $$f(x,y) = \begin{cases} \cos\left(\frac{1}{x^2+y^2}\right) & \text{if } (x,y) \neq (0,0) \\ 1 & \text{if } (x,y) = (0,0). \end{cases}$$ By composition of functions, the function of…
Adam
  • 135
  • 11
1
vote
1 answer

Understanding Arc Length Parameterization- Concept behind Numbers

So, my main motive for understanding this concept comes from a problem I had to solve. it reads: Find an arc length parameterization of the line segment from $(1,2)$ to $(5,-2)$ In the book I'm using they don't have an explicit example of how to…
Adam
  • 135
  • 11
1
vote
1 answer

Verifying Stokes's Theorem

I am trying to verify Stokes's theorem if $\vec{v} = z\vec{i} + x\vec{j} + y\vec{k}$ is taken over the hemispherical surface $x^2+y^2+z^2=1, \; z>0$ I have finished the left hand size of Stokes's theorem, and the answer was $\pi$. I am working on…
Jackson Hart
  • 1,600
1
vote
2 answers

calculating the divergence of a vector over a function

I need to find the divergence of $$\frac{\vec{r}}{r^3}$$ I think this is the way to solve (but I would like someone to check) r = {x,y,z} r^3 = (x^2+y^2+z^2)^(3/2) For r, let us says Ax = x/((x^2+y^2+z^2)^(3/2)) WLOG, y and z are the same. Can I…
Jackson Hart
  • 1,600
1
vote
2 answers

Do these two lines intersect?

L1 = <3,4,1> + t <2,-1,3> L2 = <1,3,4> + s <4,-2,5> I'm trying to see if these lines are parallel, skew, or intersect. I've already discovered that they are not parallel. I was thinking about setting them equal to each other at the point t=s and…
ShaneBird
  • 343
1
vote
3 answers

Find the line of intersection of the planes

The planes are x+2y+3z=1 and x-y+z=1. My guess would be to set them equal to each other, since they are both equal to 1, we could write that as x+2y+3z=x-y+z. This simplifies to 3y+2z=0, it doesn't seem like this would be our answer though. Update:…
ShaneBird
  • 343
1
vote
1 answer

How can I numerically evaluate the total derivative of a multivariate function?

I think I understand now the intuitive reasoning behind the total derivative of a multivariate function $z = z(x, y)$, which is $$ dz = \frac{\partial{z}}{\partial{x}}dx + \frac{\partial{z}}{\partial{y}}dy $$ So let's take an example, $z = x^2 +…
user3002473
  • 8,943
1
vote
0 answers

Applying Green's formula

I've been having some trouble proving this, so any help or suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance! Show using a Green's formula that, for any $u \in H^2(\Omega)$ satisfying $$u = \frac{\partial u}{\partial n} = 0$$ we have …
EpicMochi
  • 1,018
1
vote
1 answer

Integral of $f$ over all space is $0$ implies $f=0$?

If you have that the integral of a function in all space (in my particular case is three dimensional space) is zero, under what conditions can you say that the argument is null over space? What happens in singular points of the argument? Thanks! ps:…
1
vote
1 answer

Finding an oriented path for line integral

Let $\mathbf{F}(x,y)=\langle 3y,x-1 \rangle$. Find an oriented path $C$ from $(2,2)$ to $(1,1)$ such that $\int_C \mathbf{F}\cdot d\mathbf{r}=4$ Is there a general way to do this beyond trial and error? I can't see one. I also know that…