Internal Use

Domain and Range of

Multi-Variables
Functions
Internal Use

Objective
To evaluate a function of
two or more variables and
determine its domain and
range.
Internal Use

Functions of Two or More Variables

Recall: A Function of One Variable
𝑦=𝑓 𝑥
The equation means that 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥 in the sense that a unique
value of the dependent variable 𝑦 is determined by specifying value for the
independent variable 𝑥.
The terminology and notation for functions of two or more variables is
the same to that for functions of one variable.
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Functions of Two or More Variables

The equation 𝑧 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 expresses 𝑧 as a function of 𝑥 and 𝑦.

Similarly, the equation 𝑤 = 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 expresses 𝑤 as a function of 𝑥, 𝑦,
and 𝑧 and 𝑢 = 𝑓 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 expresses 𝑢 as a function of 𝑥1 , 𝑥2 , … , 𝑥𝑛 .
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Definitions
1. A 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔, 𝑥 and 𝑦, is a rule that assigns a unique real number
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 to each point 𝑥, 𝑦 in some set D in the xy − plane.

𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)

2. A 𝒇𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔, 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧, is a rule that assigns a unique real number
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 to each point 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 in some set D in three − dimensional space.
𝑤 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
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Natural Domain of the Function

As with functions of one variable, the independent variable of a function

of two or more variables may be restricted to lie in some set D, called the
domain of 𝑓. Sometimes the domain will be determined by physical
restrictions or other restrictions stated explicitly, so this domain, called
the 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, consists of all points for which the
formula yields a real value for the dependent variable.
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ANSWER:
PROBLEM 1 • z 0,1 = 1 − 02 = 1
Evaluate the function and determine the natural
• 𝑦 − 𝑥 2 is defined only when 𝑦 − 𝑥 2 ≥ 0 or 𝑦 ≥ 𝑥 2
domain of the function 𝑧 = 𝑦 − 𝑥 2 ; 𝑧 0,1 .
Thus, the natural domain of 𝑓 consists of all points in
the xy-plane for which 𝑦 ≥ 𝑥 2 .
PROBLEM 2 ANSWER:
• 𝑤 0,1,5 = 02 + 12 + 52 − 4 = 22
Evaluate the function and determine the natural
• 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 4 is defined only when 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 +
domain of the function 𝑤 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 4;
𝑧 2 − 4 ≥ 0 or when 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≥ 4
w 0,1,5 .
Thus, the natural domain of 𝑓 consists of all points in the
3D-space for which 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≥ 4.
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SOLUTION:
𝑓 𝑒, 0 = 0 + 1 + ln 𝑒 2 − 0 = 1 + 2 = 3
PROBLEM 3 • 𝑦 + 1 ≥ 0; 𝑦 + 1 ≥ 0, 𝑦 ≥ −1

Evaluate the function and describe the domain • ln 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 ; 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 > 0, 𝑥2 > 𝑦

by an inequality and in words. Domain: −1 ≤ 𝑦 < 𝑥 2

2 Domain: all points above the line 𝑦 = −1 and below the parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑦 + 1 + ln(𝑥 − 𝑦); 𝑓 𝑒, 0

SOLUTION:
2 2
1 1 1 1 1
PROBLEM 4 𝑓 0, , − = 2
1−0 − − − =
2 2 2 2 2
Evaluate the function and describe the domain • 1 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 − 𝑧2; 1 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 − 𝑧 2 ≥ 0, 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≤ 1

Domain: 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 ≤ 1
by an inequality and in words.
1 1 Domain: all points on or inside the sphere 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 1
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 1− 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 − 𝑧2; 𝑓 0, , −
2 2
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PROBLEM 5 SOLUTION:
• 𝑦 + 2; 𝑦 + 2 ≥ 0, 𝑦 ≥ −2
Describe the domain of 𝑓 in words.
Domain: all points on or above the line 𝑦 = −2.
𝑎. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥𝑒 − 𝑦+2

𝑏. ) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 25

SOLUTION:
• 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 25; 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 − 25 ≥ 0, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 +
𝑧 2 ≥ 25
Domain: all points on or outside the sphere 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 25.
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Level Curves
The topographic or contour maps in which a three − dimensional landscape, such as a mountain

range, is represented by two − dimensional contour lines or curves of constant elevation. The

contour map is constructed by passing planes of constant elevation through the hill, projecting the

resulting contours onto a flat surface, and labelling the contours with their elevations.
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Contour maps are useful for studying functions of two variables. If the surface 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is cut by

a horizontal plane 𝑧 = 𝑘, then at all points on the intersection, 𝑓 (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑘. The projection of this

intersection onto the xy-plane is called the level curve of height k or the level curve with constant

k. A set of level curves for 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is called a contour plot or contour map of f.
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Identify the level curves of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 ; k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑘
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑘