.

Preliminary Notions
.
1. A ball in space (R3 ) of radius r, centered at P(a, b, c) in R3 is given by
{ (x, y, z) R3 | (x a)2 + (y b)2 + (z c)2 < r2 }, which includes all
the points X(x, y, z) in space with distance PX less than r.
2. A disc in plane (R2 ) of radius r, centered at P(a, b) in R2 is given by

{ (x, y) R2 | (x a)2 + (y b)2 < r2 }, which includes all the points

X(x, y) in space with distance PX less than r.
3. In general, one has B(P, r) = { X(x , , xn ) Rn | PX < r }.
1
4. A sphere of radius r centered P consists of all the point X such that the

distance PX = r.
.

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
A region (or domain resp.) or , denoted by R, is a subset of R2 (or R3 resp., in
which any two points in R or D are joined by a path inside R (or D resp). In
.most cases, one can think R or D as a disc or a ball resp.
.
Interior points and Boundary points in a domain (region)
.
1. A point P of the region R is called an interior point of the region R, if we

can find a ball centered at the point P with positive radius so that the ball
lies completely inside the region R.
2. A point P is called a boundary point of the region R, if for any ball centered

at the point P, we can find two other distinct points in that ball: one is in R
and the other is not in R.
. Given a point p Rn and a region R Rn , p is called an accumulation
3

point of D if for any positive > 0, one can find another point
q D B(p, ) \ {p}.
Remark. Accumulation point plays an important role in defining the
important concept of limit.
.

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.
Bounded, Closed and Open Region in Rn
.
1. A region R is called bounded if the region R lies completely inside a ball

centered at origin with a (sufficiently large) positive radius.

2. A region R is called open if all the points of the region is an interior point.

. A region R is called closed if its complement Rn \ R is open.

3

.
.
Example Let a, b, c be positive numbers. (i) The box
T = { (x, y, z) | |x| a, |y| b, |z| c } is a closed set in R3 . Any point on the
6 faces of the box T is a boundary point of T.
(ii) S = { (x, y, z) | |x| < a, |y| < b, |z| < c }, which is the subset of T with all 6
faces
. deleted, is an open set in space.

Proof. (ii) For any point P(x0 , y0 , z0 ) in S, B(P, ) S, where

= 12 min{ |x0 a|, |x0 + a|, |y0 b|, |y0 + b|, |z0 c|, |z0 + c| }. Note that
> 0 as (x0 , y0 , z0 ) does not lie in any of the 6 faces.

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. Functions of several variables
.
Example. There is a box with length x, width y and height z, then one consider
two geometric quantities:
its volume V (x, y, z) = xyz, which is a function of 3 variables of the dimensions
of the box.
its surface area S(x, y, z) = 2(xy + yz + zx), which is also a function of 3
.variables of the dimensions of the box.n
Remark. Not all the functions are given by polynomials in the x, y, z.
.
The reason why we need to study functions of several variables is that most
quantity we want to measure or to study are the outcome which can be
affected
. by more than a single factor.

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. Functions of several variables:
.
Domain of a function.
.
Definition. Given a function f (x, y) of two variables, the domain Dom(f ) of
f (x, y) is the set of points (x, y) in which one can evaluate for f ,and obtain a
finite value in R. i.e. Domain(f ) = { (x, y, ) R2 | f (x, y) is a finite number }.
.The similar definition can be worked out for functions of 3 variables.
.
Example. Define f (x, y) = xy . Determine its domain.
.
Solution. One can see that if y = 0, then the fraction yx is a finite quantity, and
if y = 0, then no matter what x is (including x = 0), the expression xy is
meaningless. The domain of f (x, y) is the set { (x, y) | y = 0}= R2 \ the x-axis.

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.
Example. The domain of a polynomial function f (x, y) of 2 variables is the
entire xy-plane R2 ;The domain of a polynomial function f (x, y, z) of 3 variables
. the entire space R .
is 3

.
Example. Find the domain of the following functions: (a) z(x, y) = y cos x;
y
(b) u(x, y, z) = ln(1 x2 y2 z2 ) (c) v(x, y) = arctan 1+x2 +y2 .
.

Solution. (a) The domain of z(x, y) = y cos x is given by
{ (x, y) R2 | y cos x 0 }, which is not easy to describe geometrically.
(b) The domain of u(x, y, z) is given by
{ (x, y, z) R3 | 1 (x2 + y2 + z2 ) > 0 }, which is the unit open (solid) ball
{ (x, y, z) | x2 + y2 + z2 < 1 } in space.
(c) The domain of arctan is R, and the denominator of rational functions
y
1+x2 +y2
does not vanish on the entire xy-plane, hence the domain of v(x, y) is
the entire xy-plane R2 .

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.
Range of a function.
.
Given a function f (x, y) or f (x, y, z) of 2 or 3 variables, the range Ran(f ) of f is
the set of all the values of f (x, y) or f (x, y, z) while (x, y) or (x, y, z) runs through
. the points in the domain of f .
all

Remark. In general, it is very difficult to determine the range of f .

.
Example. For any non-zero vector (a, b, c) define f (x, y, z) = ax + by + cz.
Determine
. the domain of f and the range of f .

Solution. As f is a polynomial of degree 1, so the domain of f consists of all

points in R3 , i.e. Domain(f ) = R3 . To determine the range of f , it is enough to
choose some points P(x, y, z) in Dom(f ) and to show that f (x, y, z) takes every
real number. For this, since (a, b, c) = (0, 0, 0), we know that one of a, b, c is
non-zero, without loss of generality, one may assume that a = 0, otherwise
consider the other two. For any given R, one knows a R, so
f (/a, 0, 0) = /a a = . Hence the set of all real numbers lies in range of f ,
i.e. range of f = R.
.
Remark. From now on, one will write z = f (x, y) to represent a function,
. . . . . .

meaning
. z is an arbitrary value in the range
Matb of f . in 2013-2014
210/Math200
.
Level Curves of function f (x, y)
.
Given a function f (x, y) of two variables, and a fixed real number c, the level
curve Lc of a function z = f (x, y) at value c is given by the set of points (x, y) in
xy-plane such that the value of f (x, y) equals to the given constant c. In
.notation, Lc = { (x, y) | f (x, y) = c }.
Example. Define f (x, y) = x2 + y2 , and c = 1, then L1 =
{ (x, y) | x2 + y2 = 1 } which is the unit circle centered
at (0, 0) in xy-plane. If one changes the constant c from 0

to 1, one obtain a family of concentric circle of radius c,
centered at the origin (0, 0).
Remark. Level curve Lc for a fixed c is a set of points in xy-plane. Given a nice
function z = f (x, y), the level curve Lc looks like a curve in xy-plane.

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.
Example 11. Sketch the level curves of the function
3 1 1
f (x, y) = y2 + y3 y4 x2 .
. 4 24 32
.

Solution. Here we use the color to rep-

resent the value of f as shown in the
scale appeared in right hand side of the
figure.

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Graph G of a function z = f (x, y)
.
Definition. Let function z = f (x, y), the graph of the function f is given by the
set of all points (x, y, f (x, y)) in space R3 , where the point (x, y) is in the
domain of the function f . In notation,
.G = G(f ) = { (x, y, f (x, y) ) R | (x, y) is in domain of f }.
3

In general, the graph G is a surface in space.

.
Example. For any (a, b) = (0, 0), one define f (x, y) = ax + by. Determine the
.graph G(f ) of f .
Solution. The graph G of f is a plane in space. For any point P(x, y, z) in the
graph G of f , we know that z = f (x, y) = ax + by. Rewrite it as ax + by z = 0,
then this is an equation of the plane S : ax + by z = 0 in R3 , and hence the
graph of f is a plane. Indeed, For any point P(x, y, z) in the plane S, one can
immediately check that z = ax + by = f (x, y), so P lies in the graph G(f ) of f .

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example.
. Describe the graph G(f ) of the function f (x, y) = x2 + y2 .

Solution. Let P(x, y, z) be any point of G(f ). Then we have z = x2 + y2 , which

we have just considered in the definition of level curve. Since the domain of f
is R2 , so the graph of f is the set of all points of the form (x, y, f (x, y) ). In fact,
if we use the cylindrical coordinates, i.e using polar coordinates to describe the
xy-plane, and no changes in z-coordinates. In this case,
z = x2 + y2 = (r cos )2 + (r sin )2 = r2 . It means that the graph of z = x2 + y2
is a surface of revolution about z-axis. First draw a parabola curve C : z = x2
on xz-plane, and then rotate the curve C in space about z-axis.

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.
Example 11. Study the graph of the function
f. (x, y) = 34 y2 + 24 y 32
1 3
y x2 .
1 4

Solution. Though the function f (x, y) is a polynomial function, but its graph is
not so easy to visualize by hand. A computer plot of the graph is given at page
856 of our textbook. We need more tools in fact!
Now we will discuss the y-section of the graph, i.e. one fix the value of y = a,
and allow the variable x to change. Think of cutting the graph by using a knife
along the plane y = a (compare with 0 x + 1 y + 0 z = a).
f (x, a) = 34 a2 + 24
1 3
a 32
1 4
a x2 , which represents a family of parabolas
z = k x with coefficients k changing with respect to y = a.
2

Hence the graph of f is symmetric about yz-

plane, i.e. (x, y, z) in the graph if and only if
(x, y, z) is also in the graph.

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

Remark. 1. The concepts x-section and y-section are important, as they play a
significant role in multiple integral which will be treated in ch. 14.
2. Next we will discuss the x-section of the graph by fixing the value of x = b.
1 3
Then f (b, y) = 34 y2 + 24 y 32 y b2 is a degree 4 polynomial in y with
1 4

negative highest coefficient, which makes the thing complicated. One can
easily show by means of derivative that there are some local maximum values.
However these local maxima only happen in one-direction, and we will later
locate the global maxima or minima by means by means of derivative test,
which is more complicated.

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.
Level Surface Sc of a function w = f (x, y, z)
.
Definition. Given a function f (x, y, z) of 3 variables, and a fixed number c R,
the level surface Sc of a function w = f (x, y, z) at value c is a set in R3 ,
consisting of all the points (x, y, z) in domain of f such that the value f (x, y, z)
equals
. to the given constant c. In notation, Sc = { (x, y, z) R3 | f (x, y, z) = c }.

In general, the graph G is a surface in space R3 . And it is difficult to visualize a

graph, though the function is given by a polynomial.
.
Example. Prove that the level surface of f (x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2 at c = 1 is just
the
. sphere of radius 1, centered at (0, 0, 0).
Proof. Let P(x, y, z) be any point in the level surface of Sc of the function f , then

x2 + y2 + z2 = f (x, y, z) = 1, so OP = 1, i.e. P lies on the unit sphere S,
centered at O(0, 0, 0). On the contrary, for any point Q(x, y, z) lying in the unit
sphere S, it follows from the definition of sphere S that x2 + y2 + z2 = 1, and
hence that f (Q) = x2 + y2 + z2 = 1, then Q is in the level surface Sc of f .

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.
Example Given f (x, y, z) = x2 + y2 z2 defined on the space R3 . The figure
below illustrates the level surfaces Sc = { (x, y, z) | f (x, y, z) = c } of the
function f(x, y, z), with
.(i) c = 2; (ii) c = 1; (iii) c = 0; (iv) c = 1; and (v) c = 2.

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

. Limit of the function of several variables
In this section v represents a vector in Rn , sometimes, we call a vector as a
point in the the n-dimensional space.
.
1. Suppose that f is a function defined in Dom(f ) of Rn , this means that

f = f (x1 , x2 , , xn ) is a function of n variables.

2. Recall a point w in Rn lies in domain Dom(f ) if and only if one can

evaluate the expression f (w).

. We will encounter the following statement:
3

For any number > 0, there exists some > 0 satisfying the condition P
(depending on the given function f , and ).
In fact, this means that
If someone (your teacher) gives you a positive number , then you (as a
student)need to find another positive number depending of (by various
means, theorem or given assumption), so that no matter what happens,
the condition P always holds for this .
.
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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

. Limit of the function of several variables
.
Definition. Suppose that a scalar function f (v) is defined in the domain(f ) in
Rn and p be an accumulation point in D. We say that the limit of the function
f (v) as the point v in Rn approaches to p is equal to , ( denoted by
lim f (v) = ,) if
v>p
for any given positive number > 0,
there exists a positive number > 0 such that
the following condition holds:
For any point w (not equal to p) in Rn lying in the domain of f and
the distance between the point w and p is less than , then
. the distance between f (w) and is less than , i.e. |f (w) | < .

> 0 > 0 such that for any w(= p) in the ball B(p, ) domain (f ),
one has f (w) lies in the ball B( , ) R, i.e. |f (w) | < .

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example. Show that the limit of the function f (x, y) = 2x + 3y is equal to 0
when (x, y) approaches to (0, 0) i.e. lim (2x + 3y) = 0.
. (x,y)(0,0)

Solution. Domain of f is R2 . For any given > 0, we need to choose

= ???,such that
for any (x, y) R2 = domain (f ) and (x, y) in B((0, 0), ) \ {(0, 0)}, i.e.
x2 + y2 < 2 , we have
|f (x, y) 0| =|2x + 3y|
(by Cauchy-Schwarz
ineq |v w| v w, )
22 + 32 x2 + y2 = 13 x2 + y2
< 13 < ?? < .
And hence f (x, y) B(0, ) for all (x, y) R2 B( (0, 0), ).
For the missing condition on , one can choose = or even smaller =
4
13
which will fill up the gap in the inequality ?? above.
.
Remark. One can use Cauchy-Schwarz inequality as above to show that
lim (Ax + By + Cz) = Aa + Bb + Cc.
.(x,y,z)(a,b,c)

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.
Example. (Important) Prove that
(i) lim x = a; (ii) lim y = b; (iii) lim z = c;
(x,y,z)(a,b,c) (x,y,z)(a,b,c) (x,y,z)(a,b,c)
(iv) lim k = k, where k is a constant;
(x,y,z)(a,b,c)

(v) lim x2 + y2 + z2 = 0.
. (x,y,z)(0,0,0)
Solution. (iv) is the easiest one. Define r(x, y, z) = k, as
|r(x, y, z) k| = |k k| = 0, so for any given > 0, one can choose = > 0.
The detail can be filled as in (i) proved below.
For any > 0, choose = , then for any (x, y, z) B( (0, 0, 0), ), we have
(v)
(x 0) + (y 0) + (z 0) < , it follows from the condition above
2 2 2

that | x +2 y + z 0| = x + y2 + z2 < = . So
2 2 2

lim x2 + y2 + z2 = 0.
(x,y,z)(a,b,c)

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example. (Important) Prove that (i) lim x = a; (ii) lim y = b;
(x,y,z)(a,b,c) (x,y,z)(a,b,c)
(iii) lim z = c; (iv) lim k = k, where k is a constant;
(x,y,z)(a,b,c) (x,y,z)(a,b,c)

(v) lim x2 + y2 + z2 = 0.
. (x,y,z)(0,0,0)

Solution. (i) Let f (x, y, z) = x, and its domain is R3 . For any given > 0, one
choose = > 0, such that for any (x, y, z) domain (f ) = R3 , with
x, y, z) B( (
( a, b, c), ) \ {(a, b, c)}, then |f (x, y, z) a| = |x a| =
(x a)2 (x a)2 + (y b)2 + (z c)2 < = . (ii) and (iii) can be
proved in a similar way.

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.
Laws of Limit
.
Let c be a constant, and suppose that f (v) and g(v) are two functions defined
on the same domain D such that lim f (v) = A and lim g(v) = B exist and both
vp vp
are finite, then we have
1. Sum and Difference Rules: lim ( f (v) + g(v) ) = A + B, and
vp
lim ( f (v) g(v) ) = A B;
vp
. Product Rule: lim ( f (v) g(v) ) = A B;
2
vp
. Scalar Multiplication Rule: lim ( c f (v) ) = c A;
3
vp
. Quotient Rule: lim ( f (v)
4
g(v)
)= A
B, provided that B = 0.
vp
.
Remarks. (i) The following examples are the applications of these 4 rules.
(ii) In Quotient Rule above, the condition B = 0 is necessary for the statement.

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.
1. The limit of polynomial function p(x, y) in two variables, or p(x, y, z) in
three variables, at any point s is equal to the function value p(s).
2. Suppose that f (v) =
p(v)
is a rational function, i.e. p(v) and q(v) are
q(v)
polynomials, then the limit of f (v) at any point s is equal to the function
value f (s), provided that q(s) is not zero
.
Proof (a) Let s = (a, b, c) and v = (x, y, z) R3 , the case of two variables can
be treated similarly. Any polynomial is a sum of monomials of the form
Axn ym zk , it follows from laws of product and scalar multiplication that
lim Axn ym zk = Aan bm ck . Then it follows from the law of addition that
(x,y,z)(a,b,c)
p(v)
lim f (x, y, z) = f (a, b, c) for any polynomial f in x, y, z. (b) As f (v) = q(v)
(x,y,z)(a,b,c)
where p and q are polynomial in n-vector v, suppose that q(s) = 0, it follows
lim p(x,y,z)
(x,y,z)(a,b,c) p(a,b,c)
from the law of quotient that lim f (x, y, z) = lim q(x,y,z)
= q(a,b,c)
.
(x,y,z)(a,b,c) (x,y,z)(a,b,c)

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.
Sandwich Theorem of Limit
.
Suppose that f (v) and g(v) are function defined on the same domain D in Rn ,
such that 0 |f (v)| g(v) for all v D( Rn ).
If lim g(v) = 0, then lim f (v) = 0.
. vp vp

Solution. For any given > 0, it follows from lim g(v) = 0 that there exists
vp
> 0 such that for any point w B(p, ) D and w = p, one has
|g(w)| = |g(w) 0| < .
In particular, it follows from that for the same > 0, one has
|f (w) 0| = |f (w)| < |g(w)| < ,
for any w B(p, ) D \ {p} i.e. lim f (v) = 0.
vp

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.
xy(x + y)
Example. Evaluate the limit lim .
. ( x,y )( 0,0 ) x2 + y2
xy(x + y)
Solution. Let f (x, y) = 2 . We apply the first principle to show that
x + y2
lim f (x, y) = 0. Observe that f (x, 0) = f (0, y) = 0 for all non-zero x and y.
(x,y)(0,0)
By using completing square, one has x2 + y2 2|xy| > 0, for all
(x, y) D = R2 \ both coordinate axes,
For any (x, y) D, one has
 
 xy(x + y) 
0 2   |xy(x + y)| = 1 |x + y| 1 (|x| + |y|)
x +y 2 2|xy| 2 2

1
( x2 + y2 + x2 + y2 ) = x2 + y2 ,
2
and hence it follows from the sandwich theorem of limit that
xy(x+y)
lim x2 +y2
= 0.
(x,y)(0,0)

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example. Let f be a scalar function defined in some domain D in Rn with
range R R, and lim f (v) = . Suppose that g : R R is continuous scalar
vp
function defined on R. Prove that
(i) the composite function g f is defined on D;
(ii) lim g f (v) = g().
. vp
Solution. (i) This follows easily by directly plugging into the composite function
g f . (ii) For any p = (a, b, c) D3 = domain (f ), and any given > 0, it follows
from the continuity of g at , i.e. lim g(w) = g() thatthere exists > 0 such
w
that for any w R B(, ) we have g(w) B(g(), ), i.e.
|g(w) g()| < . Then it follows from lim f (v) = and > 0 that there
vp
exists > 0 such that for any v = (x, y, z) D B(p, ) \ {p}, one has
|f (v) | < .In this case, f (v) B(, ), and hence it follows from that
|g(f (v)) g()| < for all v (x, y, z) D B(p, ) \ {p}. In particular, we
have lim g f (v) = g().
vp

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.
Proposition. Suppose that the limit lim f (x, y) = as (x, y) approaches to
(x,y)(a,b)
(a, b), and let C : x = x(t), y = y(t) for any continuous curve passing through
(a, b) at t = 0. Prove that the directional limit g(t) = f (x(t), y(t)) of the function
f along the curve C at t = 0 is given by , i.e. lim g(t) = .
. t0

Proof. For any > 0, there exists > 0 such that for any
(x, y) domain(f ) B((a, b), ) \ {(a, b)}, one has |f (x, y) | < . As
> 0, it follows from the continuity of the curve
C, there exists > 0 such that

for any t (0 , 0 + ) and t = 0 we have (x(t) a) + (y(t)2 b)2 < .
2

In particular, the point (x(t), y(t)) on the curve C lies in the ball B((a, b), ), and
hence it follows from that |g(t) | = |f (x(t), y(t)) | < for any
t (0 , 0 + ) \ {0}, so lim g(t) = .
t0
Remark. One can use the result of this proposition to disprove the limit of
certain function does not exist.

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example. Discuss the limit of the following function f (x, y) at (0, 0) such that
xy
f (x, y) = x2 +y2 if (x, y) = (0, 0), and f (0, 0) = 0.
.
Solution. The limit does not exists at (0, 0). The reason is that one can obtain
two different directional limits namely 21 and 12 along two different lines y = x
and y = x respectively. Indeed. along the line y = x, one can parameterize
the line : x(t) = t, and y(t) = t for t R, then f (t, t) = t2t+tt2 = 12 , for all t R,
and hence the directional limit of f along the line at t = 0 is limf (t, t) = 21 .
t0
Similarly along the line : x(t) = t and y(t) = t for t R, then the
directional limit of f along the line at t = 0 is limf (t, t) = 21 . As these two
t0
limits are not the same, so the original limit lim f (x, y) does not exist.
(x,y)(0,0)

. . . . . .

Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
2x2 y
Example. Determine the limit of f (x, y) = exist as (x, y) approaches to
x4 + y2
.(0, 0).
Solution. Let r(t) = (t, t2 ), which traces out the
red curve. For any t R \ {0}, one has f r(t) =
f (t, t2 ) = t2t4 +tt4 = 1, and hence the limit of f along
2 2

the curve r(t) is 2. However, one can check that

f (0, t) = 0 for all non-zero t, so the limit of f along
the x-axis is 0. As these two limits along different
paths are not the same, so the limit of f (x, y) does
not exist as (x, y) approaches to (0, 0).

. . . . . .

Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
sin(xy)
Example. Define f (x, y) = xy if xy = 0 and f (x, y) = 1 otherwise. Prove
.that f (x, y) is continuous at (0, 0).

Solution. Note that Dom(f ) = R2 . For any > 0,

sin t
it follows from lim = 1 and the definition
t0 t
of limit that there exists >
 0 such that for all
 sin t 
t ( , ) \ {0}, we have  t 1 < .

Let = , which is also positive. Then for any (x, y) B((0, 0), ) \ {(0, 0)},
x2 + y2 1
we have x2 + y2 < , and hence | |
 2 < 2 < 2 < , so it follows
1 2
 xy <
 sin xy 
from that |f (x, y) f (0, 0)|  1 < for all
xy
(x, y) B((0, 0), ) \ {(0, 0)}. In particular, we have lim f (x, y) = f (0, 0),
(x,y)(0,0)
so f is continuous at (0, 0).

. . . . . .

Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
Example. Determine the values of the following limits, if exist:
x2 +y2 +11
lim x2 +y2
.
.(x,y)(0,0)
Proof. First simplify
the function by rationalizing the numerator, for any
x2 + y2 + 1 1
(x, y) = (0, 0),
x2 + y2
2 2
= 2 2x +y 2 2 = 2 12 . It follows from the laws of limits that
( x +y +1+1)(x +y ) x +y +1+1

x2 + y2 + 1 1 1
lim 2 2
= lim
(x,y)(0,0) x + y (x,y)(0,0) x + y2 + 1 + 1
2
1
= by quotient law of limit
lim ( x2 + y2 + 1 + 1)
(x,y)(0,0)
1
= by composition of continuous function
lim (x2 + y2 + 1) + 1
(x,y)(0,0)
= 1 = 12 .
1+1

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
1
Example. The limit lim e x2 +y2 cos(x2 + y2 ) =
(x,y)(0,0)
A.
. 0 B. 1 C. 1 D. e1 E. does not exist.

Solution. First observe the following inequality holds

ex 1 + x for any x 0.
Then
 1 it follows that 
 2 2  1 1 x2 + y2
e x +y cos(x2 + y2 ) 0 = x2 + y2 . It
  1+
1 1 1 + x2 + y2
e x2 + y2 x2 +y2
follows from the sandwich theorem and rules of limit that
1
lim e x2 +y2 cos(x2 + y2 ) = 0.
(x,y)(0,0)

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
1
Example. Determine all the points (x, y) at which f (x, y) = xy has no limit.
.
Solution. First domain D = Dom(f ) = { (x, y) R2 | x y = 0 }
= R2 \ { (t, t) | t R }. At every point (a, b) in D, one knows that a = b, and
hence one can find a circular disc B with center (a, b) and radius r = 31 |a b|.
We are going to prove that all the point (x, y) of 1the disc B completely lies in D.
Observe that |x a| (x a)2 + (y b)2 3 |a b|, and similarly
|y b| 13 |a b|. By triangle inequality,
|x y| = |(x a) + (a b) + (b y)|
| |(x a) + (a b)| |(b y)| |
| | |(a b)| |x a| | |(b y)| |
|a b| 13 |a b| 13 |a b| = 31 |a b| > 0, and hence x = y, i.e. (x, y) lies in
1 1
D. So it follows from the rules of limit that lim = . (Continue ..)
(x,y)(a,b) x y ab

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Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
1
Example. Determine all the points (x, y) at which f (x, y) = xy has no limit.
.
Solution. It remains to prove that limit of the function does not exist at any point
(a, a). For any point (a, a), one can check the limit of the function along the line
: y + x = 2a passing through (a, a). Rewrite the equation in parametric form,
(x, y) = (a + t, a t), where t R, then the limit of the function along the line
1 1 1
is given by lim = lim = lim which is
(x,y)(a,b) along x y t 0 ( a + t ) ( a t ) t 0 2t
certainly not finite, and hence it does not exist.

. . . . . .

Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014

.
x2 y
Example. Sketch the graph of the function f (x, y) = x2 +y2
for all (x, y) = (0, 0).
.Determine the domain Dom(f ) of f , and the set of points at which f has limit.

Proof. Dom(f ) = { (x, y) | denominator x2 + y2 of f does not

vanish } = R2 \ {(0, 0)}. It follows from the laws of limit that
lim f (x, y) = f (a, b) for any point (a, b) Dom(f ). Notice that (0, 0) is an
(x,y)(a,b)
accumulation point of Dom(f ) but not in Dom(f ). We claim that
lim f (x, y) = 0. It follows from x2 x2 + y2 , that for any (x, y) = (0, 0),
(x,y)(0,0)
2
one has |f (x, y) 0| = x2x+y2 |y| |y| x2 + y2 . From the sandwich
theorem of limit that lim f (x, y) = 0.
(x,y)(0,0)
. . . . . .

Matb 210/Math200 in 2013-2014