FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES
Hoang Hai Ha
HCMUT-OISP
Email: hoanghaiha@[Link]
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Outline
1 Introduction to function of multivariables
2 Quadratic surfaces
3 Some exercises
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Introduction to function of multivariables
Example 1.1
The volume V of a circular cylinder depends on its radius R and its
height h according to the formula V = πR 2 h. So V is a function of R
and h.
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Introduction to function of multivariables
Example 1.1
The volume V of a circular cylinder depends on its radius R and its
height h according to the formula V = πR 2 h. So V is a function of R
and h.
Example 1.2
A manufacture determines that x units of a particular commodity can
be sold domestically for 90$ per unit, and y units can be sold to
foreign markets for 110$, then the total profit is P = 90x + 110y .
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Functions of two variables
Definition 1.1
A function f of two variables
f : D ⊂ R2 → R
(x, y ) 7−→ z = f (x, y )
The set D is the domain of f and is denoted by Df .
The set of values that f takes on
E = {z, ∃(x, y ) ∈ D : z = f (x, y )} is called range of f and is
denoted by Ef .
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Example 1.3
Write domains for the following functions:
1 z = x ln(y 2 − x).
p
2 z = 9 − x 2 − y 2.
q
3 z = yx−3+4
.
SOLUTION
Df = {(x, y ) : x < y 2 }.
Df = {(x, y ) : x 2 + y 2 ≤ 9}.
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Example 1.4
Which function whose domain is enclosed by an ellipse?
1 f (x, y ) = ln 10 + 5x 2 + 6y 2
2 f (x, y ) = sin x 2 − 5y 3
3 None of the others
p
4 f (x, y ) = 9 − x 2 − 3y 2
5 f (x, y ) = cosh 7 − x 2 − 3y 2
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Graphs of function two variables
Definition 1.2
If f is a function of two variables with domain D, then the graph of f
is the set of all points (x, y , z) in R3 such that z = f (x, y ) and (x, y )
is in D.
In other words, function z = f (x, y ) is interpreted geometrically as a
surface in space. So the graph of z = f (x, y ) is a surface whose
projection on Oxy is D.
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Example 1.5
2 −y 2
Using Matlab to graph the function z = e −x
syms x y ;
z=exp(−x 2 − y 2 );
fsurf(f ,’FaceColor’,’y’)
Some commands to sketch surface in Matlab: fsurf, mesh, surf,
ezsurf...
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Level curves
Definition 1.3
Another way to visualize function of two variables is using level
curves. The level curves of a function f are the curves with equations
f (x, y ) = k on Oxy plane( k is a constant in the range of f ).
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A set of level curves of a surface
on XY plane provides
topographical map or contour
map.
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A set of level curves of a surface
on XY plane provides
topographical map or contour
map.
Distance between level curves
expresses the steepness of surface.
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A set of level curves of a surface
on XY plane provides
topographical map or contour
map.
Distance between level curves
expresses the steepness of surface.
The surface is steep if level curves
are close together. It is flatter if
level curves are farther apart.
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Example 1.6
A contour map for a function f is shown below. Use it to guess the
value f (1, 3) and f (4, 5).
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Example 1.7
p
Sketch the level curves for z = x 2 + y 2 and z = x 2 + y 2 for
k = 1, 3, 5, 7.
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Example 1.7
p
Sketch the level curves for z = x 2 + y 2 and z = x 2 + y 2 for
k = 1, 3, 5, 7.
Figure: z = x 2 + y 2 : level curves spread
faster p
Figure: z = x 2 + y 2 : level curves
spread constantly
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Definition 1.4
A function of n variables
f : D ⊂ Rn → R
(x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) 7−→ f (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn )
or u = f (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ).
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Definition 1.4
A function of n variables
f : D ⊂ Rn → R
(x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ) 7−→ f (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn )
or u = f (x1 , x2 , . . . , xn ).
Example 1.8
The temperature T at a point on the surface of the earth
depends on the longitude x and latitude y of the point
and on the time t. So we can write T = f (x, y , t).
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Quadratic surfaces
Ellipsoid
x2 y2 z2
+ + = 1, (a, b, c ∈ R)
a2 b 2 c 2
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Hyperboloid of one sheet
x2 y2 z2
+ − = 1.
a2 b 2 c 2
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Hyperboloid of two sheets
x2 y2 z2
− − 2 + 2 = 1.
a2 b c
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Elliptic Paraboloid
x2 y2
z= +
a2 b 2
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Hyperbolic Paraboloid (saddle)
x2 y2
z= − 2
a2 b
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Cylinders
x2 y2
Elliptic Cylinder + = 1, z ∈ R
a2 b 2
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Cylinders
Parabolic Cylinder y 2 = 2px, z ∈ R
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Cone
x2 y2 z2
+ =
a2 b 2 c2
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Cone
p
z= x2 + y2
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Some exercises
Example 3.1
A surface S is given by the equation z = f (x, y ) ≥ 0 defined by
x 2 + y 2 − z 2 − 2x − 1.8y + 0.81 = 0.
1) S is a surface of:
a) Cone
b) Ellipsoid
c) Hyperbolic Paraboloid
d) Hyperboloid of two sheets
e) Hyperboloid of one sheet
2) Which region below is the domain of f ?
a) a circle
b) the Oxy plane
c) an ellipse and the region outside it
d) a circle and the region outside it
e) an ellipse
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Example 3.2
Let f be given in Example (3.1). Given the following figure. Which
one is the level map of f ?
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Example 3.3
Which function has the following graph?
p
(A) f (x, y ) = 4 − x 2 − y 2
(B) f (x, y ) = −x 2 − y 2
(C) None of the others
(D) f (x, y ) = x 2 + y 2
p
(E) f (x, y ) = x 2 + y 2
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