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CHAPTER 14: Partial Derivatives

This document summarizes key concepts related to functions of several variables, including: 1) Functions of several variables assign a unique real value to tuples of real numbers as inputs. Their domain is the set of valid input tuples and their range is the set of possible output values. 2) Level curves are curves where the function value is constant. The graph of a function is the set of points plotting the inputs and output. Level surfaces generalize these concepts to functions of three variables. 3) Examples are given of level curves, graphs, and level surfaces for functions like f(x,y)=9-x^2-y^2, illustrating these geometric notions for functions of two and three variables

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Mohamad Yassine
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16 views9 pages

CHAPTER 14: Partial Derivatives

This document summarizes key concepts related to functions of several variables, including: 1) Functions of several variables assign a unique real value to tuples of real numbers as inputs. Their domain is the set of valid input tuples and their range is the set of possible output values. 2) Level curves are curves where the function value is constant. The graph of a function is the set of points plotting the inputs and output. Level surfaces generalize these concepts to functions of three variables. 3) Examples are given of level curves, graphs, and level surfaces for functions like f(x,y)=9-x^2-y^2, illustrating these geometric notions for functions of two and three variables

Uploaded by

Mohamad Yassine
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CHAPTER 14: Partial Derivatives

§14.1 Functions of Several Variables

Section Contents:

(1) Functions of several variables.

(2) Some planar geometric notions.

(3) Level curves, Graphs, Surfaces, Contours.

(4) Level surfaces.


1. Functions of several variables.

Definition 1. (Functions of n variables)

Consider a set of n−tuples

D = {(x1, x2, · · · , xn) : x1, x2, · · · , xn ∈ R}


A Real-valued function f of D is a rule that
assigns a unique real value

w = f (x1, x2, · · · , xn)


to every member (x1, x2, · · · , xn) ∈ D. We call

each of x1, x2, · · · , xn an independent variable;

w the dependent variable;

D the domain of f ;

R = {f (x1, x2, · · · , xn) : x1, x2, · · · , xn ∈ R} the


range of f ;
Sometimes, A function of several variables w =
f (x1, x2, · · · , xn) is given without specifying its
domain. In this case, the domain is considered
the set of all n−tuples (x1, x2, · · · , xn) for which
the function makes sense.

Example 1. (i) The function


1
f (x, y) = q
16 − x2 − y 2
has domain D = {(x, y) : x2 + y 2 < 16} and
range R = [1/4, ∞[.

√
(ii) The function f (x, y) = y−x

has domain D = {(x, y) : y − x ≥ 0} and range


R = [0, ∞[.
(iii) The function f (x, y) = ln(x/y) has domain
D = {(x, y) : xy > 0} and range R =] − ∞, ∞[.

(iv) The function


1
f (x, y, z) = 2
x + y2 − z2

has domain D = {(x, y, z) : x2 + y 2 − z 2 6= 0}


and range R = R \ {(0, 0, 0)}.
q
(v) The function f (x, y, z) = y 2 − x2 − z

has domain D = {(x, y) : y 2 − x2 − z ≥ 0} and


range R = [0, ∞[.
2. Some planar geometric notions.

Definition 2. Let D = {(x, y) : x, y ∈ R.}

(a) A point (x0, y0) ∈ D is called an interior


point of D if it is the center of a disc in D.
The set of all interior points of D is called the
interior set of D.

(b) A point (x0, y0), not necessarily in D, is


called an boundary point of D if every disc
centered at (x0, y0) meets both points in and
outside of D. The set of all boundary points of
D is called the boundary of D.
(c) The set D is called open if it consists only
of interior points. It is called closed if it the
complement of an open set.

(d) The set D is called bounded if it is the sub-


set of s finite disc in R. It is called unbounded
if it is not bounded.
Other geometric notions in space

Definitions.

Let f (x, y) be a function of two variables of a


domain D.

(a) The c−level curve of f, c is a constant, is


the curve f (x, y) = c.

(b) The graph of f is the set {(x, y, f (x, y)) :


(x, y) ∈ D.}

(c) The surface of f is the sketch of the graph


of f in R3.

(d) The c−contour of f, c is a constant, is the


trace of the surface of f with the plane z = c.
It is the curve on the surface of f spreading
over the c−level curve of f.
Example 2. Consider f (x, y) = 9 − x2 − y 2.

Level curves: These are all the curves of


equations f (x, y) = c, c is a constant, or 9 −
x2 − y 2 = c, or x2 + y 2 = c − 9. If c = 9, then the
corresponding level curve is the origin. If c > 9,
then it is the circle of center the origin and ra-
√
dius c − 9. If c < 9, then the corresponding
level curve is the empty set.

Graph or Surface: The graph or surface of


f is a paraboloid whose vertex is (0, 0, 9) and
meets the xy−plane in the circle x2 + y 2 = 9.

Contour: A contour of the graph or surface


of f is a curve of all the points of f satisfying
(x, y, c = 9 − x2 − y 2) for some c ≥ 9.
4. Level surfaces

Definition 3. Let f (x, y, z) be a function of


three variables of a domain D in the xyz−space.

The c−level surface of f, c is a constant, is


the surface f (x, y, z) = c.

Example 3. (i) The level surfaces of f (x, y, z) =


z − x2 − y 2 are paraboloids.

(ii) The level surfaces of f (x, y, z) = x2 +y 2 −z 2


are one-sheeted hyperboloids.

(iii) The level surfaces of f (x, y, z) = x2 − y 2 − z


are hyperbolic paraboloids.

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