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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$\iint_D \frac{1}{1+x^2+y^2} dx dy$

Problem: $$\iint_D \frac{1}{1+x^2+y^2} dx dy,$$ where $D=\left\{(x,y):0 \le x \le y\right\}$. I got everything right, except the region. The book said $\pi / 4 \le \theta \le \pi /2$ and I wanted the region where $0 \le \theta \le \pi /4 $. Since I…
jacob
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Parametrizing a "surface" that is actually a curve, then integrating to find the area?

Find a parametrization of the surface $x^2-y^2=1$, where $x>0$, $-1 \leq y \leq1$ and $0 \leq z \leq 1$. Use your answer to express the area of the surface as an integral. I'm confused because in the past I've only seen parametrizing as a change…
Bobby Lee
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Simplest way to determine differentiability at given point

What is the simplest way to determine if function $f(x,y)=\sqrt[3]{x^3+y^3}$ is differentiable at point $(0,0)$?
1osmi
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Triple integral - getting the region right

I have this problem: $$\iiint_D xyz \, dx \, dy \, dz,$$ with $D=\{(x,y,z) : 0 \le x \le y \le z \le 1 \}$. I tried solving it the same way, only that I did $y$ from $x$ to $z$, and not $0$ to $z$. $z$ from $y$ to $1$, and not $0$ to $1$.…
jacob
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Tangent, Normal and Binormal vectors

Let $C$ be the graph of vector function $r(s)$ parametrized by arc length with $r'(0)= ({2\over3},{1\over3},{2\over3})$ and $r''(0)=(-3,12,-3)$. I need to find tangent vector $T(0)$, normal vector $N(0)$ and binormal vector $B(0)$. I found…
1osmi
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Line integral equals zero.

Currently going through some line integral problems and in the worked example provided, the line integral evaluated to become zero. The curve C that they have provided was a simple closed curve (it was a half-circle). Does the answer being zero have…
Trogdor
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Let $f$ be a $C^2$ function and let $\textbf{F}$ be a smooth vector field on $\mathbb R^3$.

Let $f$ be a $C^2$ function and let $\textbf{F}$ be a smooth vector field on $\mathbb R^3$. Explain why div$(\nabla f)=0$ is false. This was a multiple choice question on a past test. Can someone explain why this is false or drop hints? Thank you.
user95087
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Charge Density Triple Integral to infinity

OK, I'm given a charge density function $\displaystyle \frac{2\cdot10^{-4}}{1 + \rho^3}$, and the spherical coordinate of $0 \le \rho < \infty$. Task: find total charge of cloud. Is the answer the following? $$\int_0^{2\pi} \int_0^{\pi}…
Tony
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Let $S$ be given by $\vec r(u,v)=\langle u\cos v,u\sin v,v\rangle$. Find the tangent plane to the surface at $\vec r(1,\frac {\pi}{4})$.

Let $S$ be given by the vector valued function $\vec r(u,v)=\langle u\cos v,u\sin v,v\rangle$. Find the tangent plane to the surface at $\vec r\left(1,\frac {\pi}{4}\right)$. What I did: $$\vec r_u=\langle\cos v,\sin v, 0\rangle, \vec…
user95087
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Contiguous Saddle Points

Could one have a function $f(x,y)$ s.t. it is increasing along the line $x=y$ but the partial derivatives $\frac{\partial f(x,y)}{\partial y} = \frac{\partial f(x,y)}{\partial x} = 0$ on every point on that line. Essentially this would amount to…
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How to determine the boundary curve of a surface? [StewartP1097 16.8.15]

$1.$ In the main, how do you determine the boundary curve? I referenced How to find the boundary curve of a surface, like the Möbius strip?, but the answer thereunder refers to the specific example of a Mobius strip. $2.$ In this question, why is…
user53259
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Surface integrals and Jacobian

When do we need to use the Jacobian for surface integrals? I'm asking because when you parametrize a surface $S\in \mathbb{R}^3$ then surely there is no need to change coordinates (essentially parametrising again) to find a simple integral. Can…
George1811
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Description of the boundary of a ball

Solving an optimization problem in multiple variables, I had to examine a function $$ f(x,y,z)=x^2+2yz $$ defined on a ball $$ \{ (x,y,z)\enspace|\enspace x^2+y^2+z^2\leq1 \}. $$ The boundary is then described by the sphere $x^2+y^2+z^2=1$.…
Andrea
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$\theta$ for Triple Integral above paraboloid $z = x^2 + y^2$ and below $z = 2y$ [Stewart P1011 15.8.37]

$\bf\sf37.$ Evaluate $\iiint_E z\,dV,$ where $E$ lies above the paraboloid $z=x^2+y^2$ and below the plane $z=2y.$ In cylindrical coordinates the paraboloid is given by $z=r^2$ and the plane by $z=2r\sin\theta$ and they intersect in the circle…
user53259
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Multivariable calculus chain rule

Find partial derivatives of $f(g(x,y))$ where $f(z)=cos(z)$ and $g(x,y)=\frac xy$ I understand the principal of chain rule for multivariable calculus, however this example confuses me. As I would approach it, is to write it out in full as…