Scribd
Upload
175 views

1 Functions of Several Variables

1. The document discusses functions of several variables including their domains, ranges, graphs, level curves/surfaces, and partial derivatives. 2. Partial derivatives measure the rate of change of a function with respect to one variable. Directional derivatives measure the rate of change along a specified direction. 3. Examples are provided for finding partial and directional derivatives of functions of two and three variables.

Uploaded by

MohammedTalib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
175 views

1 Functions of Several Variables

1. The document discusses functions of several variables including their domains, ranges, graphs, level curves/surfaces, and partial derivatives. 2. Partial derivatives measure the rate of change of a function with respect to one variable. Directional derivatives measure the rate of change along a specified direction. 3. Examples are provided for finding partial and directional derivatives of functions of two and three variables.

Uploaded by

MohammedTalib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Functions of Several Variables

Suppose D is a set of n - tuples of real numbers (x


1
, x
2
, ...x
n
). A real - valued function f on
D is a rule that assigns a real number
( )
n
x x x f w ,... ,
2 1
=
to each element in D.
D( f ) - set D
R( f ) - set of w - values taken on by f .

When the domain of a function is not specified, it is assumed to consist of the largest
subset of R
n
for which f exists.

Examples Functions of 2 variables
Function Domain Range

2
x y w =
2
x y 0 w

xy
w
1
=
0 xy
0 w


( ) xy w sin = entire plane 1 1 w


Functions of 3 variables
Function Domain Range

2 2 2
z y x w + + =
entire space 0 w

z xy w ln =
Half space z > 0 < < w



Graphs and level curves of functions of 2 variables

A level curve of f is defined by the set of points in the plane where a function f (x, y) has
a constant value f (x, y) = c. The set of all points ( x, y, f(x, y) ) in space, for (x, y) in the
domain of f is called the graph of f. The graph of f is also called the surface z = f(x, y).

Example
For the function ( )
2 2
100 , y x y x f =
i. find its domain and range
ii. plot the level curves f (x, y) = 0, f (x, y) = 36, f(x, y) = 75 & f (x, y) = 100.
iii. sketch the given function.


Level surfaces of functions of 3 variables

The set of points in space where a function of 3 independent variables has a constant
value f (x, y, z) = c is called a level surface or isosurface of f.

Example
Describe the level surfaces of the function
( )
2 2 2
, , z y x z y x f + + =


Partial Derivatives
If f is a function of several variables, we can investigate the rate of change of f with
respect to just one of the variables.

Partial derivative with respect to x
The partial derivative of f(x, y) with respect to x is defined by
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f y h x f
y x f
h
x
, ,
lim ,
0
+
=


provided the limit exists.

Notation:
x
f
x
f
,



x
f

can be interpreted as the rate of change of f in the x direction.



Partial derivative with respect to y
The partial derivative of f(x, y) with respect to y is defined by
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f h y x f
y x f
h
y
, ,
lim ,
0
+
=



provided that the limit exists.

Notation:
y
f
y
f
,



Examples
1. Find the partial derivatives of the following functions :
i. ( ) 10 ,
2 2
+ = y x y x f
ii. ( ) ( )
x
e x y y x f = ,

2. Find the value of
x
f

at the point (1, 2) if ( ) 1 3 ,


2
+ = xy x y x f

Functions of more than 2 variables
The definitions of the partial derivatives of functions of more than 2 independent
variables are like the definitions for functions of 2 variables.

Example
Find the partial derivatives of the function ( ) ( ) z y x z y x f 3 sin , , + =



Directional Derivatives
The directional derivative of f at any point ( )
0 0
, y x P in the direction of u is the rate
of change of f at P in any fixed direction given by the vector u.

Directional derivative of a function of 2 variables

The directional derivative of ( ) y x f , at the point ( )
0 0
, y x P in the direction of a unit
vector j i u
2 1
u u + = is
( )
( ) ( )
h
y x f hu y hu x f
y x f D
h
0 0 2 0 1 0
0
0 0
, ,
lim ,
+ +
=

u

if this limit exists.


If ( ) y x f , is a differentiable function of x and y , then f has a directional derivative
in the direction of any unit vector j i u
2 1
u u + = and
( )
2 1
, u
y
f
u
x
f
y x f D

=
u


Directional derivative of a function of 3 variables

The directional derivative of ( ) z y x f , , at the point ( )
0 0 0
, , z y x P in the direction of a
unit vector k j i u
3 2 1
u u u + + = is
( )
( ) ( )
h
z y x f hu z hu y hu x f
z y x f D
o
h
0 0 0 3 2 0 1 0
0
0 0 0
, , , ,
lim , ,
+ + +
=

u

if this limit exists.

If ( ) z y x f , , is a differentiable function of x , y and z , then f has a directional
derivative in the direction of any unit vector k j i u
3 2 1
u u u + + = and
( )
3 2 1
, , u
z
f
u
y
f
u
x
f
z y x f D

=
u


Example

Find the directional derivative of the function ( )
2 2 2
, , z y x z y x f + + = at the point
( ) 2 , 0 , 1 in the direction of the vector k j i u 2 2 + = .

You might also like