MULTIVARIABLE

FUNCTIONS
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Function of single variable
( ) y f x =
3
5 y x = + ( ) ln
x
f x x e = +
( ) u g v = 1 u v = +
Function of multiple variables
Two variables Three variables
( , ) z f x y =
2
3 z x y = +
3
( , ) 2 1 f x y xy x = +
( , ) V f r h =
2
V rh t =
( , , ) w f x y z =
2 2 2
w x y z = + +
( , , ) ln( ) f x y z xyz =
( , , ) u g v w t =
4
1
4 u v t
w
= +
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Domain and range
Function of single variable (recall)
Domain Consisted all values of x that is possible
Range The set of y values when x varies over the domain
Example
Given
2
y x =
2
y x =
Domain :
Range :
{ : } D x x = eR
{ : 0, } R y y y = > eR
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Common restriction for function
Type of
function
Example Restriction Remarks
Root
Reciprocal
log or ln
,
2, 4,
n
a
n =
1
a
log( )
ln( )
a
a
0 a >
0 a =
0 a >
The function will
become complex
number if .
Any number divided
by zero is undefined.
0 a <
log or ln for
is undefined.
0 a s
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Function of multiple variables
Domain Consisted all values of x,y and z that is possible
Range The set of f values when x,y and z varies over
the domain
Let function of two variables is f (x,y) and three variables is f (x,y,z)
Example: Domain and range
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Level curves and contour lines
Level curves Two dimensional curves with
equation where c is any
appropriate number.
( , ) f x y c =
Contour lines Set of level curves
level curves
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Equation Note
Circle
r
2 2 2
( ) ( ) x h y k r + =
Centre: (h,k)
Radius: r
(h,k)
a
b
(h,k)
2 2
2 2
( ) ( )
1
x h y k
a b

+ =
Centre: (h,k)
Distance x: a
Distance y: b
Ellipse
Parabola
(i)
(ii)
(i)
(ii)
2
( ) y a x h k = +
2
( ) x a y k h = +
Vertex: (h,k)
2 2
2 2
( ) ( )
1
x h y k
a b

=
2 2
2 2
( ) ( )
1
y k x h
a b

=
(i)
(ii)
(h,k)
Centre: (h,k)
Hyperbola
Example: Level curves and contour lines
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
3d Graphs
xy - plane
Corresponds to all the points
which have zero z - coordinates.
yz - plane
Corresponds to all the points
which have zero x - coordinates.
xz - plane
Corresponds to all the points
which have zero y - coordinates.
Common 3d Graphs Sketch 3d graphs
The graph of function of two variables are surfaces in 3d spaces.
Basic coordinate system
Example: 3d Graphs
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Limits and continuity
Limits
( , , ) ( , , )
lim ( , , )
x y z a b c
f x y z L

=
Two variables
Three variables
( , ) ( , )
lim ( , )
x y a b
f x y L

=
Finding the limits
Determine f (a,b) or f (a,b,c) define or not.
If defined,
or

( , ) ( , )
lim ( , )
x y a b
f x y L

=
( , , ) ( , , )
lim ( , , )
x y z a b c
f x y z L

=
If not
2
nd
attempt
Simplify f . After simplify, check the new
f defined or not at the point.
If cant
simplify or
f not
defined
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
or
The limit does not exist. Show that the limit does
not exist by choosing any smooth curves which
pass through the point.
Example: Limits
Continuity
f is defined at point (a,b) or (a,b,c)
Limits of f is exist
( , ) ( , )
lim ( , ) ( , )
x y a b
f x y f a b

=
( , , ) ( , , )
lim ( , , ) ( , , )
x y z a b c
f x y z f a b c

=
1
2
3
Example: Continuity
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Partial derivatives
1
st
order partial derivatives
Partial derivative of f with respect to x
x
f
f
x
c
=
c
Partial derivative of f with respect to y
y
f
f
y
c
=
c
Partial derivative of f with respect to z
z
f
f
z
c
=
c
How to find partial derivatives?
Assume any variables other than x (or y or z depends on
differentiation with respect to what) as constant.
Example: 1
st
Order
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
2
nd
order partial derivatives
Partial derivative of with respect to x
2
2
xx
f f f
f
x x x
c c c
| |
= =
|
c c c
\ .
Partial derivative of with respect to y
2
2
yy
f f f
f
y y y
c c c | |
= =
|
c c c
\ .
Partial derivative of with respect to z
2
2
zz
f f f
f
z z z
c c c
| |
= =
|
c c c
\ .
Example: 2
nd
Order
x
f
y
f
z
f
Mixed derivatives
Partial derivative of with
respect to y
x
f
( )
2
x xy
y
f f f
f f
y x y x
c c c
| |
= = =
|
c c c c
\ .
Example: Mixed derivatives
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Implicit partial differentiation
Implicit function??
9 cos( ) xy xy x =
2
1 0
x y
e + =
10 10tan( ) 3sin zx xyz x =
If given an implicit function and let . ( , , ) 0 F x y z =
Thus,
x
x
z
F
z
F
=
and
y
y
z
F
z
F
=
Example: Implicit differentiation
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Chain rule
Two variables Three variables
If z = f (x,y) is a function
of x and y
And
( ) x g t = ( ) y h t =
Then
dz z dx z dy
dt x dt y dt
c c
= +
c c
If w = f (x,y,z) is a function
of x,y and z
And
( ) x g t = ( ) y h t =
Then
dw wdx wdy wdz
dt x dt y dt z dt
c c c
= + +
c c c
( ) z l t =
Example: Chain rule
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Application of partial derivatives
Tangent plane
Slope of surface
Rate of change
Small increment and
approximation
Analysis of error
Local extreme value
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Tangent plane
Tangent plane to the surface z = f (x,y) at point is
0 0 0
( , , ) x y z
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
( , )( ) ( , )( )
x y
z z f x y x x f x y y y = +
Example: Tangent plane
Slope of surface
Slope of surface in
x direction at
0 0
( , ) x y
0 0
( , )
x
f x y
Slope of surface in
y direction at
0 0
( , ) x y
0 0
( , )
y
f x y
0 0
( , ) x y
Example: Slope of surface
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
( , , )( ) ( , , )( ) ( , , )( ) 0
x y z
f x y z x x f x y z y y f x y z z z + + =
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Rate of change
If change of z = f (x,y) in time,
z dx z dy
x dt y dt
c c
= +
c c
the rate of change
dz
dt
Example: Rate of change
Small increment and approximation
Total differential
Two variables
Three variables
x y
dz f dx f dy = +
x y z
dw f dx f dy f dz = + +
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Example: Small increment and approximation
Please consider these 4 things
Approximate change, dz
a
Exact change, dz

Approximate value, z
a
Exact value, z

Use total differential to find dz
a
1 1 0 0
( , ) ( , ) dz f x y f x y =
0 0
( , )
a a
z f x y dz = +
1 1
( , ) z f x y =
Approximation of using total differential
Exact calculation
If given two points, and ;
0 0
( , ) x y
1 1
( , ) x y
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Analysis of error
Let z = f (x,y)
Error of z
Relative error of z
Percentage of error
| | | | | |
x y
dz f dx f dy = +
x y
dz dx dy
f f
z z z
= +
Example: Analysis of error
Syahirbanun Isa, FSTPi, UTHM
Local extreme value
How to determine local extreme value(s)???
Step 1
Find and , , ,
x y xx xy
f f f f
yy
f
Step 2 Let and , then find all critical point(s) 0
x
f = 0
y
f =
Step 3
2
( , ) ( )
xx yy xy
G x y f f f = Find
Step 4 Calculate G for each critical point. Do a conclusion.
Conclusion
Let (a,b) is critical point
( , ) 0 G a b > ( , ) 0 G a b =
( , ) 0 G a b <
( , ) 0
xx
f a b < ( , ) 0
xx
f a b >
z has local
max at (a,b)
z has local
min at (a,b)
z has saddle
point at (a,b)
No
conclusion
Example: Local extreme value