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Unit 5 PT 1 Functions Several Variables

The document is a summary of key concepts about functions of several variables including: - A function of two variables assigns a real number to each ordered pair in its domain. - The graph of a function of two variables is a surface in 3D space consisting of points (x, y, f(x, y)). - Level curves of a function f show the curves where f(x, y) is constant. - Examples are given of how to sketch common surfaces like planes, spheres, paraboloids by examining their intersections with planes where one variable is held constant.

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11 views

Unit 5 PT 1 Functions Several Variables

The document is a summary of key concepts about functions of several variables including: - A function of two variables assigns a real number to each ordered pair in its domain. - The graph of a function of two variables is a surface in 3D space consisting of points (x, y, f(x, y)). - Level curves of a function f show the curves where f(x, y) is constant. - Examples are given of how to sketch common surfaces like planes, spheres, paraboloids by examining their intersections with planes where one variable is held constant.

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sprinklesdb16
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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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WTW 164

Unit 5.1: Functions of several


variables
Dr HR (Maya) Thackeray
<[email protected]>
Functions of several variables
A function of two variables is a rule f such that for some set D contained in ,
each ordered pair (x, y) in D is assigned exactly one real number f(x, y).
The set D is the domain of f (that is, the set of “input” values for f).
The range of f is {f(x, y): (x, y) in D} (that is, the set of “output” values reached
by f).
We sometimes write z = f(x, y), where x and y are the independent variables
and z is the dependent variable.
Function of one variable: y = f(x); graph is a curve in 2D space consisting of the
points (x, f(x)).
Function of two variables: z = f(x, y); graph is a surface in 3D space consisting of
the points (x, y, f(x, y)).
Questions (page 1)
In each case: (a) find f(2, 1), (b) find the domain of f, and (c) find the range of f.
• f(x, y) =
(a) f(2, 1) = = . (b) Domain is .
(c) The range is { : (x, y) in }.
We have > 0 for all (x, y) in .
Note that = z if and only if x + = ln z. For all z > 0, we have
f(ln z, 0) = = z.
Therefore, the range is (0, ).
(Strategies to find the range: (1) Substitute input values into f; the output is
always in the range. (2) Find restrictions on what the output of f can be.)
Questions (page 2)
• f(x, y) =
(a) f(2, 1) = = .
(b) Domain of f is {(x, y) in : 0, y is not –1}, that is, the part of the xy
plane on or to the right of the parabola x = –y2, minus the line y = –1.
(c) Consider = z. We have f(x, 0) = for all x 0, so f(z2, 0) = z for all
nonnegative z. We have f(x, –2) = –, so f(z2 – 4, –2) = – = –|z| = z for all z
< 0. Therefore, the range of f is .
Sketching surfaces in 3D space
To sketch a surface, look at its intersections with planes of the form x =
c, y = c, or z = c.
Questions (page 3)
• Consider the graph of f where f(x, y) = 3 – 2x – y.
The surface is given by z = 3 – 2x – y, that is, 2x + y + z = 3. It is a plane.
If x = 0, we get z = 3 – y; this is a line in the yz plane with y and z
intercept 3.
If y = 0, we get z = 3 – 2x; this is a line in the xz plane with x intercept
3/2 and z intercept 3.
If z = 0, we get 0 = 3 – 2x – y, that is, 2x + y = 3; this is a line in the xy
plane with x intercept 3/2 and y intercept 3.
We obtain a plane with x intercept 3/2, y intercept 3, and z intercept 3.
Questions (page 4)
• Consider the surface x2 + y2 + z2 = 4.
If x = 0, we get y2 + z2 = 4; if y = 0, we get x2 + z2 = 4; and if z = 0, we get
x2 + y2 = 4. In each case, we get a circle with centre the origin and radius
2.
The surface is the sphere with radius 2 and centre (0, 0, 0).
Questions (page 5)
• Consider the graph of f where f(x, y) = .
The surface is given by z = , which implies z2 = 4 – x2 – y2, that is, x2 + y2 +
z2 = 4. Also, z must be nonnegative (it is a square root).
The surface is a hemisphere, namely, the top half of the sphere with
radius 2 and centre (0, 0, 0).
Questions (page 6)
• Consider z = x2 + 4y2.
If x = 0, we get the parabola z = 4y2.
If y = 0, we get the parabola z = x2.
If z = 0, we get 0 = x2 + 4y2, which implies x = y = 0.
If z = 1, we get the ellipse 1 = x2 + 4y2.
If z = 4, we get the ellipse 4 = x2 + 4y2.
The bowl-like surface is an elliptic paraboloid. (If the intersections with
planes z = c were circles instead of merely ellipses, the surface would
be a circular paraboloid.)
Questions (page 7)
• Consider z2 = x2 + 4y2.
If x = 0, we get z2 = 4y2, which is the union of the two lines z = 2y.
If y = 0, we get z2 = x2, which is the union of the two lines z = x.
If z = 0, we get 0 = x2 + 4y2, which implies x = y = 0.
If z = 1, we get the ellipse 1 = x2 + 4y2.
The surface is an elliptic cone. (If the intersections with planes z = c
were circles instead of merely ellipses, the surface would be a circular
cone.)
Questions (page 8)
• Consider x2/9 + y2/4 + z2 = 1.
If x = 0, we get the ellipse y2/4 + z2 = 1.
If y = 0, we get the ellipse x2/9 + z2 = 1.
If z = 0, we get the ellipse x2/9 + y2/4 = 1.
The rugby-ball-like surface is an ellipsoid.
Questions (page 9)
• Consider z = x2 – y2.
If x = 0, we get the parabola z = –y2.
If x = 1, we get the parabola z = 1 – y2.
If y = 0, we get the parabola z = x2.
If y = 1, we get the parabola z = x2 – 1.
The saddle-like surface is a hyperbolic paraboloid.
Sketching surfaces: reference table
See the table in section 12.6 in Stewart et al. for a useful list of
surfaces.
Level curves
For a function f of two variables, the level curves of f are the curves
f(x, y) = k
in , where k is a constant in the range of f.
(On a map, each “level curve” shows places at some particular height
above sea level.)
Questions (page 10)
• f(x, y) = x2 + 4y2.
The level curves are x2 + 4y2 = k. For k = 1 and k = 4, we get the ellipses
x2 + 4y2 = 1 and x2 + 4y2 = 4 respectively as level curves. For k = 0, the
level curve consists of the single point (0, 0).
• f(x, y) = .
The level curves are = k. For k = 0, k = 1, and k = 2, we get the
parabolas y – x2 = 0, y – x2 = 1, and y – x2 = 4 respectively as level curves.
For k = –1, we get no level curve: a square root is never –1.

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