Vellore Institute of Technology
Department of Mathematics
Multivariable Calculus and Differential
Equations (BAMAT101)
Question Bank
Module 1:Functions of Several Variables
Problems
2x2 y
1. Evaluate the limit: limx→1 x 2 +y 2 +1 .
y→2
Ans: 32 .
xy
x2 +y 2
, (x, y) ̸= (0, 0)
2. Investigate the continuity of the function f (x, y) = at the origin.
0, (x, y) = (0, 0)
Ans: f is not continuous at (0, 0).
∂z ∂z
3. Evaluate ∂x
and ∂y
, if (i) z = x2 y − x sin xy, (ii) z = log (x2 + y 2 ).
Ans:
∂z ∂z
(i) ∂x
= x2 (1 − cos xy)), and ∂y
= 2xy − xy cos xy − sin xy.
∂z 2x ∂z 2y
(ii) ∂x
= x2 +y 2
, and ∂y
= x2 +y 2
.
2
∂z ∂z ∂z ∂z
4. If z(x + y) = x2 + y 2 , show that ∂x
− ∂y
=4 1− ∂x
− ∂y
.
∂z ∂z
5. If z = eax+by f (ax − by), prove that b ∂x + a ∂y = 2abz..
∂u 2
6. The equation = µ ∂∂xu2 refers to the conduction of heat along a bar without radiation,
∂t q
show that if u = Ae−gx sin(nt − gx), where A, g, n are positive constants then g = 2µ n
.
− 21
7. If u = sin−1 (x − y), x = 3t and y = 4t3 , show that du
dt
= 3 (1 − t2 ) .
y
8. If u = tan−1 , where x = et − e−t and y = et + e−t , then find du
x dt
.
−2
Ans: e2t +e−2t
∂(u,v)
9. If x = eu cos v, y = eu sin v, find J = ∂(x,v)
and J ′ . State what we observe from JJ ′ .
Ans: J = 1
e2u
and J ′ = e2u . Further, JJ ′ = 1.
∂(x,y)
10. If x = a cosh ξ cos η, y = a sinh ξ sin η, show that ∂(ξ,η)
= 21 a2 (cosh 2ξ − cosh 2η).
x+y ∂(u,v)
11. If u = 1−xy and v = tan−1 x + tan−1 y, find ∂(x,y)
. Are u and v functionally related if so,
find the relationship.
Ans: They are functionally dependent. The relation is u = tan v.
12. Obtain Taylor’s series expansion of the maximum order for the function f (x, y) = x2 +
3y 2 − 9x − 9y + 26 about the point (2, 2).
Ans: f (x, y) = 6 − 5(x − 2) + 3(y − 2) + (x − 2)2 + 3(y − 2)2 .
13. Obtain the second order Taylor’s series approximation to the function f (x, y) = xy 2 +
y cos(x − y) about the point (1, 1).
−x2 +2xy+3y 2 −3x2 y+6xy 2 +y 3
Ans: f (x, y) = 2 + (x + 3y) + 2!
+ 3!
.
p
14. Find the Linear, Quadratic and Cubic approximations of f (x, y) = 20 − x2 − 7y 2 using
Taylor’s series expansion at the point P (2, 1).
Ans: Linear: f (x, y) = 3 − 23 (x − 2) − 73 (y − 1).
Quadratic: f (x, y) = 3 − 23 (x − 2) − 73 (y − 1) − 13
54
(x − 2)2 − 28
27
56
(x − 2)(y − 1) − 27 (y − 1)2 .
Cubic: f (x, y) = 3 − 23 (x − 2) − 73 (y − 1) − 13 54
(x − 2)2 − 2728
(x − 2)(y − 1) − 56
27
(y − 1)2 +
37 3 154 2 686 2 686
81
(x − 2) + 27
(x − 2) (y − 1) + 27
(x − 2)(y − 1) + 27
(y − 1)3 .
15. Find the maximum and minimum values of f (x, y) = x3 + y 3 − 3axy.
Ans: Local minimum value: −a3 at (a, a). No local maximum value. The other critical
points are saddle points.
16. Find the maximum and minimum values of f (x, y) = 2 (x2 − y 2 ) − x4 + y 4 .
Ans: Maximum value: 1 at (1, 0) and (−1, 0). Minimum value: −1 at (0, 1) and (0, −1).
17. Show that the perimeter of a triangle is constant the triangle has maximum area when it
is equatorial.
18. Find the maximum and minimum distances from origin to the curve 5x2 +6xy+5y 2 −8 = 0.
Ans: Maxima is 2, Minima is 1.
19. The temperature T at any point ( x, y, z ) in space is given by T = 400xyz 2 . Find the
highest temperature on the surface of the unit sphere x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 1.
Ans: Highest temperature is 50.
20. Divide 24 into three parts such that the continued product of the first, square of the second
and cube of the third may be maximum.
Ans: x = 4, y = 8, z = 12. The Maximum value is 384.