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1 Functions of Several Variables

1. The document discusses functions of several variables including their domains, ranges, graphs, level curves/surfaces, and partial derivatives. 2. Partial derivatives measure the rate of change of a function with respect to one variable. Directional derivatives measure the rate of change along a specified direction. 3. Examples are provided for finding partial and directional derivatives of functions of two and three variables.

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MohammedTalib
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© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
156 views

1 Functions of Several Variables

1. The document discusses functions of several variables including their domains, ranges, graphs, level curves/surfaces, and partial derivatives. 2. Partial derivatives measure the rate of change of a function with respect to one variable. Directional derivatives measure the rate of change along a specified direction. 3. Examples are provided for finding partial and directional derivatives of functions of two and three variables.

Uploaded by

MohammedTalib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Functions of Several Variables

Suppose D is a set of n - tuples of real numbers (x


1
, x
2
, ...x
n
). A real - valued function f on
D is a rule that assigns a real number
( )
n
x x x f w ,... ,
2 1
=
to each element in D.
D( f ) - set D
R( f ) - set of w - values taken on by f .

When the domain of a function is not specified, it is assumed to consist of the largest
subset of R
n
for which f exists.

Examples Functions of 2 variables
Function Domain Range

2
x y w =
2
x y 0 w

xy
w
1
=
0 xy
0 w


( ) xy w sin = entire plane 1 1 w


Functions of 3 variables
Function Domain Range

2 2 2
z y x w + + =
entire space 0 w

z xy w ln =
Half space z > 0 < < w



Graphs and level curves of functions of 2 variables

A level curve of f is defined by the set of points in the plane where a function f (x, y) has
a constant value f (x, y) = c. The set of all points ( x, y, f(x, y) ) in space, for (x, y) in the
domain of f is called the graph of f. The graph of f is also called the surface z = f(x, y).

Example
For the function ( )
2 2
100 , y x y x f =
i. find its domain and range
ii. plot the level curves f (x, y) = 0, f (x, y) = 36, f(x, y) = 75 & f (x, y) = 100.
iii. sketch the given function.


Level surfaces of functions of 3 variables

The set of points in space where a function of 3 independent variables has a constant
value f (x, y, z) = c is called a level surface or isosurface of f.

Example
Describe the level surfaces of the function
( )
2 2 2
, , z y x z y x f + + =


Partial Derivatives
If f is a function of several variables, we can investigate the rate of change of f with
respect to just one of the variables.

Partial derivative with respect to x
The partial derivative of f(x, y) with respect to x is defined by
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f y h x f
y x f
h
x
, ,
lim ,
0
+
=


provided the limit exists.

Notation:
x
f
x
f
,



x
f

can be interpreted as the rate of change of f in the x direction.



Partial derivative with respect to y
The partial derivative of f(x, y) with respect to y is defined by
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f h y x f
y x f
h
y
, ,
lim ,
0
+
=



provided that the limit exists.

Notation:
y
f
y
f
,



Examples
1. Find the partial derivatives of the following functions :
i. ( ) 10 ,
2 2
+ = y x y x f
ii. ( ) ( )
x
e x y y x f = ,

2. Find the value of
x
f

at the point (1, 2) if ( ) 1 3 ,


2
+ = xy x y x f

Functions of more than 2 variables
The definitions of the partial derivatives of functions of more than 2 independent
variables are like the definitions for functions of 2 variables.

Example
Find the partial derivatives of the function ( ) ( ) z y x z y x f 3 sin , , + =



Directional Derivatives
The directional derivative of f at any point ( )
0 0
, y x P in the direction of u is the rate
of change of f at P in any fixed direction given by the vector u.

Directional derivative of a function of 2 variables

The directional derivative of ( ) y x f , at the point ( )
0 0
, y x P in the direction of a unit
vector j i u
2 1
u u + = is
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f hu y hu x f
y x f D
h
0 0 2 0 1 0
0
0 0
, ,
lim ,
+ +
=

u

if this limit exists.


If ( ) y x f , is a differentiable function of x and y , then f has a directional derivative
in the direction of any unit vector j i u
2 1
u u + = and
( )
2 1
, u
y
f
u
x
f
y x f D

=
u


Directional derivative of a function of 3 variables

The directional derivative of ( ) z y x f , , at the point ( )
0 0 0
, , z y x P in the direction of a
unit vector k j i u
3 2 1
u u u + + = is
( )
( ) ( )
h
z y x f hu z hu y hu x f
z y x f D
o
h
0 0 0 3 2 0 1 0
0
0 0 0
, , , ,
lim , ,
+ + +
=

u

if this limit exists.

If ( ) z y x f , , is a differentiable function of x , y and z , then f has a directional
derivative in the direction of any unit vector k j i u
3 2 1
u u u + + = and
( )
3 2 1
, , u
z
f
u
y
f
u
x
f
z y x f D

=
u


Example

Find the directional derivative of the function ( )
2 2 2
, , z y x z y x f + + = at the point
( ) 2 , 0 , 1 in the direction of the vector k j i u 2 2 + = .

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