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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Partial derivatives must exist and be continuous on all defined points of $f$ for $f$ to be differentiable?

Today my professor explained that $f(x,y)=\frac{2xy}{(x^2+y^2)^2}$ is differentiable even though for $(x,y)=(0,0)$ $f$ is not defined. The partial derivatives are $\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}=\frac{2y^3-6x^2y}{(x^2+y^2)^3} \text{ and }…
Bobby Lee
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Stuck on derivation of divergence in cylindrical coordinates

I'm having a hard time trying to derive the divergence in cylindrical coordinates from its expression in cartesian coordinates $\dfrac {\partial F_{x}} {\partial x}+\dfrac {\partial F_{y}} {\partial y}+\dfrac {\partial F_{z}} {\partial z}$. I'm…
gpr1
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Is Gradient really the direction of steepest ascent?

I want to intuitively understand why the gradient gives you the direction of the steepest ascent of a function. Apart from the already posted questions, my confusion arises from the fact that we form the gradient vector from the derivative of each…
MohamedEzz
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Show that the given function is a diffeomorphism

Let $U=\{x\in\mathbb{R}^n: ||x||<1\}$. If we define $f:U\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^n$ by $f(x) = \displaystyle\frac{x}{\sqrt{1-||x||^2}}$, show that $f$ is a diffeomorphism and $f^{-1}:\mathbb{R}^n\rightarrow U$ is given by $f(y) =…
Cure
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Why curl free field implies existence of potential function?

If curl of a vector field F is zero, then there exist some potential such that $$F = \nabla \phi.$$ I am not sure how to prove this result. I tried using Helmholtz decomposition: $$F = \nabla \phi + \nabla \times u,$$ so I need to show that…
Man
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Does integration by parts work for partial derivatives?

Does integration by parts works for partial derivatives? Can we write $$\int_a^b \frac{\partial f(x,y)}{\partial x}g(x,y) dx = f(x,y)g(x,y)|_a^b - \int f(x,y)\frac{\partial g(x,y)}{\partial x}dx$$
stephan
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Volume of the first octant under a surface

Find the volume of the first octant region under the surface $\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{y}+\sqrt{z}=1$ I think that the integral should be: $$\int_{0}^1\int_{0}^{\left(1-\sqrt x\right)^2}\int_{0}^{\left(1-\sqrt x -\sqrt y\right)^2}\,dz\,dy\,dx$$ Could…
EggHead
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Invariance of Laplacian under Orthogonal transformations

Let $F=f\circ \bf{L}$, where $\bf{L}$ is a Linear transformation with matrix $(c^{i}_{j})$ of $dim=n\times n$ with $i$ for rows, and $j$ for columns. $F$ and $f$ are $C^2$ real-valued functions. We know that The 2nd order partial derivatives of $F$…
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Does $S:\Bbb{R}^m\to \Bbb{R}^n$ have to be a matrix?

Let $S:\Bbb{R}^m\to \Bbb{R}^n$ be a linear transformation. Every textbook that I have come across states that $S$ is an $n\times m$ matrix. It is easy to see that such a matrix satisfies the properties of such a linear transformation. However, can…
user67803
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Basic theorem of multivariable calculus

Consider the following theorem: It appears in many different places but always with both conditions stated: One: $g_i(0,...,0) = {\partial f\over \partial x_i}(0,...,0)$ Two: $f(x_1,...,x_n) = \sum_i x_i g_i$ But as far as I can tell the first one…
newb
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If the gradient of a function $f(x, y)$ is $\nabla f = (2xy - y)\hat{\bf i} + (x^2 - x)\hat{\bf j}$, what is $f(x, y)$?

I have this gradient and I am suppose to find the original function it belongs to..Before this I always did it the other way; given a function find the gradient. Now working back is tougher for me because it probably involves some integration... I…
Raynos
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Laplacian of a Smooth Function $f(\vec x) = 1/\|\vec x \|$ for $\| \vec x \| \geq 1$

This is a multivariable calculus problem from a past prelim exam. I have an answer for this written up (posted below), but it seemed rather time-intensive. If there is a slicker way to approach this problem, I'd appreciate seeing it. Thanks! Recall…
Michael Chen
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Understanding this partial derivative problem

Problem: Considering $x$ and $y$ as independent variables, find $\dfrac{\partial r}{\partial x}, \dfrac{\partial r}{\partial y}, \dfrac{\partial \theta}{\partial x}, \dfrac{\partial \theta}{\partial y}$ when $x = e^{2r} \cos \theta, y =…
ghshtalt
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How does the gradient of a function show greatest slope for a function $f(x,y,z)$?

$$\nabla f(x,y,z)=\frac{\partial f}{\partial x}\mathbf{i}+\frac{\partial f}{\partial y}\mathbf{j}+\frac{\partial f}{\partial z}\mathbf{k}$$ $\nabla$ is the gradient operator. $(\nabla f).\mathbf{r}$ is the rate of change of $f$ in the $\mathbf{r}$…
user67803
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Interesting double integral $\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log{(1+x^3+y^3)}-\log{(xy)}}{1+x^3+y^3}dxdy$

I found this integral in a FB page: $$I=\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1}\frac{\log{(1+x^3+y^3)}-\log{(xy)}}{1+x^3+y^3}dxdy$$ I am trying to evaluate it, but it is hard. My attemps: convert by using substitution $x=r\cos^{2/3}({\theta}),…
OnTheWay
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