Solution to Continuity Problem
To show that the function
f(x, y) = { 2xy / (x^2 + y^2), (x, y) not equal (0, 0)
{ 0, (x, y) = (0, 0)
is continuous at every point except the origin, we need to verify that f(x, y) is continuous for points
other than (0,0)
and check the continuity at (0,0).
Step 1: Check Continuity at Points (x, y) not equal (0, 0)
For points (x, y) not equal (0, 0), the function f(x, y) = 2xy / (x^2 + y^2) is defined and behaves as a
standard function of two variables.
There are no discontinuities in this form for (x, y) not equal (0, 0) because the expression 2xy / (x^2
+ y^2) is well-defined wherever x^2 + y^2 not equal 0.
Thus, f(x, y) is continuous at all points (x, y) not equal (0, 0).
Step 2: Check Continuity at the Origin (0, 0)
To check if f(x, y) is continuous at (0, 0), we need to determine whether:
lim_{(x, y) -> (0, 0)} f(x, y) = f(0, 0) = 0
If the limit approaches 0 as (x, y) -> (0, 0), then f(x, y) is continuous at the origin. Otherwise, it is not.
Evaluating the Limit as (x, y) -> (0, 0)
To evaluate lim_{(x, y) -> (0, 0)} 2xy / (x^2 + y^2), we can try different paths and see if we get the
same limit.
1. Path y = 0:
f(x, 0) = 2x(0) / (x^2 + 0^2) = 0
So along the path y = 0, the limit is 0.
2. Path x = 0:
f(0, y) = 2(0)y / (0^2 + y^2) = 0
So along the path x = 0, the limit is also 0.
3. Path y = x:
f(x, x) = 2x * x / (x^2 + x^2) = 2x^2 / 2x^2 = 1
Along the path y = x, the limit is 1.
Since we get different results (0 along some paths and 1 along others), the limit does not exist as (x,
y) -> (0, 0).
Conclusion
Since the limit does not exist at (0, 0), f(x, y) is not continuous at (0, 0). However, it is continuous at
every other point.
Therefore, we conclude that:
- f(x, y) is continuous at every point except the origin (0, 0).