P Functions of Several Variables

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4.2 Limits and Continuity
Objectives
 Understand the definition of a neighborhood in
the plane.

 Understand and use the definition of the limit of

a function of two variables.

 Extend the concept of continuity to a function of

two variables.

 Extend the concept of continuity to a function of

three variables.

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Neighborhoods in the Plane

4
Neighborhoods in the Plane
Using the formula for the distance between two points (x, y)
and (x0, y0) in the plane, you can define the
-neighborhood about (x0, y0) to be the disk centered at
(x0, y0) with radius  > 0

as shown in Figure 13.17.

Figure 13.17 5
Neighborhoods in the Plane
When this formula contains the less than inequality sign, <,
the disk is called open, and when it contains the less than
or equal to inequality sign, ≤, the disk is called closed. This
corresponds to the use of < and ≤ to define open and
closed intervals.

Let the region R be a set of points

in the plane. A point (x0, y0) in R is
an interior point of R if there exists
a -neighborhood about (x0, y0) that
lies entirely in R, as shown in
Figure 13.18.
Figure 13.18 6
Neighborhoods in the Plane
If every point in R is an interior point, then R is an open
region. A point (x0, y0) is a boundary point of R if every
open disk centered at (x0, y0) contains points inside R and
points outside R. If R contains all its boundary points, then
R is a closed region.

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Limit of a Function of Two Variables

8
Limit of a Function of Two Variables

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Limit of a Function of Two Variables
Graphically, the definition of the limit of a function of two
variables implies that for any point (x, y) ≠ (x0, y0) in the disk
of radius , the value f(x, y) lies between L + ε and
L – ε, as shown in Figure 13.19.

Figure 13.19 10
Limit of a Function of Two Variables
The definition of the limit of a function of two variables is
similar to the definition of the limit of a function of a single
variable, yet there is a critical difference.

To determine whether a function of a single variable has a

limit, you need only test the approach from two directions
—from the right and from the left.

When the function approaches the same limit from the right
and from the left, you can conclude that the limit exists.

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Limit of a Function of Two Variables
For a function of two variables, however, the statement
(x, y) → (x0, y0)
means that the point (x, y) is allowed to approach (x0, y0)
from any direction.

If the value of

is not the same for all possible approaches, or paths, to

(x0, y0), then the limit does not exist.

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Example 1 – Verifying a Limit by the Definition

Show that

Solution:
Let f(x, y) = x and L = a.

You need to show that for each ε > 0, there exists a

-neighborhood about (a, b) such that
|f(x, y) – L| = |x – a| < ε
whenever (x, y) ≠ (a, b) lies in the neighborhood.

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Example 1 – Solution cont’d

You can first observe that from

it follows that

So, you can choose  = ε, and the limit is verified.

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Limit of a Function of Two Variables
Limits of functions of several variables have the same
properties regarding sums, differences, products, and
quotients as do limits of functions of single variables.

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Limit of a Function of Two Variables
For some functions, it is easy to recognize that a limit does
not exist.

For instance, it is clear that the limit

does not exist because the values

of f(x, y) increase without bound
as (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along
any path (see Figure 13.21).
Figure 13.21
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Continuity of a Function of Two
Variables

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Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

The limit of f(x, y) = 5x2y/(x2 + y2) as (x, y) → (1, 2) can be

evaluated by direct substitution.

That is, the limit is f(1, 2) = 2.

In such cases, the function f is said to be continuous at

the point (1, 2).

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Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

19
Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

The function

is not continuous at (0, 0). Because the limit at this point

exists, however, you can remove the discontinuity by
defining f at (0, 0) as being equal to its limit there. Such a
discontinuity is called removable.

The function

is not continuous at (0, 0), and this discontinuity is

nonremovable.

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Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

Theorem 13.1 establishes the continuity of polynomial and

rational functions at every point in their domains.
Furthermore, the continuity of other types of functions can
be extended naturally from one to two variables.

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Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

For instance, the functions whose graphs are shown in

Figures 13.23 and 13.24 are continuous at every point in
the plane.

Figure 13.23 Figure 13.24

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Continuity of a Function of Two Variables

Note in Theorem 13.2 that h is a function of two variables

and g is a function of one variable.

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Example 5 – Testing for Continuity
Discuss the continuity of each function.

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Example 5(a) – Solution
Because a rational function is continuous at every point in
its domain, you can conclude that f is continuous at each
point in the xy-plane except at (0, 0), as shown in
Figure 13.25.

Figure 13.25 25
Example 5(b) – Solution cont’d

The function g(x, y) = 2/(y – x2) is continuous except at the

points at which the denominator is 0. These points are
given by the equation
y – x2 = 0.
So, you can conclude that the function is continuous at all
points except those lying on the parabola y = x2.

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Example 5(b) – Solution cont’d

Inside this parabola, you have y > x2, and the surface
represented by the function lies above the xy-plane, as
shown in Figure 13.26.

Figure 13.26

Outside the parabola, y < x2, and the surface lies below the
xy-plane. 27
Continuity of a Function of Three
Variables

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Continuity of a Function of Three Variables

The definitions of limits and continuity can be extended to

functions of three variables by considering points (x, y, z)
within the open sphere

The radius of this sphere is , and

the sphere is centered at (x0, y0, z0),
as shown in Figure 13.27.

Figure 13.27 29
Continuity of a Function of Three Variables

A point (x0, y0, z0) in a region R in space is an interior

point of R if there exists a -sphere about (x0, y0, z0) that
lies entirely in R. If every point in R is an interior point, then
R is called open.

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Example 6 – Testing Continuity of a Function of Three Variables

Discuss the continuity of

Solution:
The function f is continuous except at the points at which
the denominator is 0, which are given by the equation

So, f is continuous at each point in space except at the

points on the paraboloid

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