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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Unit vector orthogonal to a surface

Not too sure about this. A surface is described as $y=\phi(x,t)$ Find a unit vector orthogonal to the surface. I was thinking of a new function $f(x,y,t) = y - \phi(x,t) = 0$ and taking the gradient over the magnitude of the gradient. Any help…
Mike Miller
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A basic doubt on local minima when first and second derivative test fails

How to check whether the functions $f(x,y)=x^2y^2$ and $f(x,y)=x^2y^3$ has local minima at $(0,0)$. Actually, the problem is the first and second derivative both reaches to zero at $(0,0)$. So, Hessian is positive semi-definite. How do I check then?…
user96000
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Evaluate integral using Stokes' theorem

Evaluate the integral $\int_C \vec{F} \cdot d\vec{r}$ with $\vec{F}$ and $C$ as given and the direction integration along $C$ being clockwise as seen by a person standing at the origin. $\vec{F}=[-z, 5x, -y]$ and $C$ is the ellipse $x^2+y^2=4,…
Lefty
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How to prove that union of skew lines can be $\mathbb{R}^3$ using vector calculus

How does one prove that union of skew lines can be $\mathbb{R}^3$ using vector calculus? Space-filling curve methods are available, but i would like to know the method using vector calculus, as I heard that the method exists.
Skew
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second partial derivatives of $f(z)=\arctan ((x+y)/(1-xy))$?

$$f(x,y)=\arctan \frac {x+y}{1-xy}.$$ So it is my intention to find out what second partial derivative $f_{xx}$, $f_{xy}$ and $f_{yy}$ are. But using quotient rule turns out to be complex. Is there any easy way to calculate second partial…
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How do I show that a position vector is perpendicular to a motion vector?

Suppose a particle moves in space with its position vector at time $t$ given by $\vec{r}(t) = f(t)\hat{i}+g(t)\hat{j}+h(t)\hat{k},\,\,$ $a < t < b$. Denote the particle's velocity at time $t$ by $\vec{v}(t)$. Assume that the particle does not pass…
John
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Maximum value of a function when a function of several variables, and each variable is not dependent on each other

A function $f$ is of several variables. Each variable is not a function of any other variables. I'd like to find out whether global maximum point exists, and if it does, what would the values of variables look like. How do I do this?
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The set of points in 2-space that satisfy a condition

Let u= $\langle X,Y \rangle$ and v= $\langle X_1,Y_1 \rangle$. Describe the set of points $(X,Y)$ in 2-space that satisfy the stated conditions: $(a)$ ||u - v||$=1$ $(b)$ ||u - v||$≤1$ $(c)$ ||u - v||$>1$ I don't know how to answer these questions.…
Hautdesert
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Vector equation and parametric equation for a line segment

Suppose that $P = (1,1,7)$ and $Q = (8,6,1)$. Inside parenthesis are x-coordinate value, y-coordinate and z-coordinate. The question is to find vector and parametric equation for a line segment. Now, I used equation that goes like…
MEH
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Help computing $\nabla_{X} \mathsf{tr}\left( f \left( X \right) Y \right)$

I'm hoping someone can help me compute $$\nabla_{X} \mathsf{tr}\left( f \left( X \right) Y \right)$$ where $f : \mathbb{R}^{u \times v} \to \mathbb{R}^{m \times n}$ and $Y \in \mathbb{R}^{n \times m}$. I'd like to get an expression in terms of…
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Finding bounds of a double integral

I'm asked to find the integral of the function $ xy e^{x^2 - y^2} $, on $$ D = {\{(x,y) \in R^2: 1 \leq y, \sqrt2 \le x \le 9, 1 \le x^2 - y^2 \le 9 \} } $$ I think I don't understand the necessary steps to get the bounds of integration. I know…
FNB
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Showing $\int_{B(\mathbf{\xi},\rho)} f(\mathbf{x})d\mathbf{x}=\int_{B(\mathbf{0},\rho)} f(\mathbf{x}+\mathbf{\xi})d\mathbf{x}$

I am trying to show the following: $$ \int_{B(\mathbf{\xi},\rho)} f(\mathbf{x})d\mathbf{x}=\int_{B(\mathbf{0},\rho)} f(\mathbf{x}+\mathbf{\xi})d\mathbf{x}, $$ where $B(\mathbf{\xi},\rho)$ and $B(\mathbf{0},\rho)$ are open balls of radius $\rho$…
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Vector-parametric description of the tangent plane to a function of two variables

The vector-parametric description of the tangent plane to the graph of a function $f: \mathbb{R}^2 \to \mathbb{R}$ at a point $(a, b, f(a, b))$ is the following: $$\begin{bmatrix} x\\ y\\ z\\ \end{bmatrix} = \begin{bmatrix} a\\ b\\ f(a,…
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Evaluate the limit $\lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{\cos(x) - 1 - \frac{x^2}{2}}{x^4 + y^4}$

Evaluate the limit $$\displaystyle \lim_{(x,y) \to (0,0)}\frac{\cos(x) - 1 - \frac{x^2}{2}}{x^4 + y^4}$$ I know to evaluate limits of multiple variables, I have to check if the limits along different paths are the same. If they are different,…
Ozera
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Why does $\frac{\delta (e^Te)}{\delta e} = 2e^T$ ? Doesn't the product rule apply here?

Why is $$\frac{\delta (e^Te)}{\delta e} = 2e^T$$ ?, where $e$ is a vector. Doesn't the product rule apply here ? Because from understanding, isn't it like this: $$\frac{\delta (e^Te)}{\delta e} = e\frac{\delta e^T}{\delta e} + e^T\frac{\delta…