MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 3

L2/L3 (Fall 2019)

Extra Problem Set 3

Note: The extra problem sets serve as additional exercise problems for your own practice. Some
problems may be a bit more difficult than those you encounter in WeBWorK.

1. Find the natural domain of each of the following functions. Also describe and sketch some of
the level curves of each of these functions.
𝑥
𝑦 − 2 2
(a) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ln 𝑥 (b) 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) = √𝑦 − 𝑥 (c) ℎ(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑥 +𝑦

2. Find and describe the natural domain of each of the following functions.
10
(a) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 2 −(𝑦+𝑧)𝑥+𝑦𝑧

(b) 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) = arcsin[(𝑥 − 𝑦)2 ]

(c) ℎ(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = ln(𝑧 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 3)
3. Evaluate each of the following limits, or show that it does not exist.
√𝑥−√𝑦+1 𝑥 2 +sin2 𝑦
(a) lim (g) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(4,3) 𝑥−𝑦−1 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑥 4 −𝑦 2 |𝑥|+|𝑦|
(b) lim (h) lim arctan 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)

𝑥−𝑦+2√𝑥−2√𝑦 𝑥𝑦 2 −𝑦2
(c) lim (i) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) √𝑥−√𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(1,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 −2𝑥+1

1 𝑥𝑦+𝑦𝑧 2 +𝑥𝑧 2
(d) lim 𝑦 sin 𝑥 (j) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) (𝑥,𝑦,𝑧)→(0,0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 4

𝑦 ln 𝑦 𝑥2𝑦2𝑧2
(e) lim (k) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,1) 𝑥 (𝑥,𝑦,𝑧)→(0,0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑧 2

𝑥 2 +sin2 𝑦
(f) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 2𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑦 2 −sin2 𝑦
Hint: In (g), consider the limit lim , and note that 𝑓(𝑡) = 𝑡 2 − sin2 𝑡 is an
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

increasing function for 𝑡 ≥ 0.

4. Using partial derivatives, find the slope of tangent to the curve of intersection of the paraboloid
𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 and the plane 𝑥 = 1 at the point (1, 2, 5).
5. Let 𝑓: ℝ2 → ℝ be the function defined by

2 2)
1
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) ≔ {(𝑥 + 𝑦 sin if 𝑥 ≠ 0 .
𝑥
0 if 𝑥 = 0
Compute 𝑓𝑥 (0, 0) and 𝑓𝑦 (0, 0). Is 𝑓 differentiable at (0, 0)?

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MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 4
L2 (Fall 2019)

𝜕𝑓
6. Find for each of the following functions 𝑓: ℝ2 → ℝ.
𝜕𝑥
𝑦
(a) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑥
𝑦
(b) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑒
𝑒
(c) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 𝑥
𝑦2
(d) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∫cos 𝑥 √𝑡 3 + 1𝑑𝑡

(e) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 |𝑥−𝑦|

sin(𝑥−𝑦)
if 𝑥 ≠ 𝑦
(f) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = { 𝑥−𝑦
1 if 𝑥 = 𝑦
7. Let 𝑓 be a function of three real variables (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧). What is the (limit) definition of the
partial derivative of 𝑓 with respect to 𝑦 at a point (𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐)? Use this definition to evaluate
𝜕𝑓
(1, 2, 3) for the function 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) = 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 𝑧.
𝜕𝑦

8. Let 𝑓 be a function of two real variables, whose level curves together with a point (𝑎, 𝑏) are
shown in the diagram below. Determine whether each of the following quantities is positive,
negative or zero. 𝑦
(a) 𝑓𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏)
7
(b) 𝑓𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) 6
5 (𝑎, 𝑏)
(c) 𝑓𝑥𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏) 4
(d) 𝑓𝑦𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏) 3
(e) 𝑓𝑥𝑦 (𝑎, 𝑏)
2 𝑥
(f) 𝑓𝑦𝑥 (𝑎, 𝑏) 1 0

9. Let 𝑓: ℝ2 → ℝ be the function defined by

𝑥𝑦(𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 )
if (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0, 0)
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = { 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 .
0 if (𝑥, 𝑦) = (0, 0)
(a) Show that 𝑓 is continuous at (0, 0).
(b) Compute the first partial derivatives of 𝑓 at (0, 0).
(c) Is 𝑓 differentiable at (0, 0)?
(d) Show that 𝑓𝑥𝑦 (0, 0) ≠ 𝑓𝑦𝑥 (0, 0). Does this contradict the mixed derivatives theorem?
𝜕2 𝑓
10. Find for each of the following functions 𝑓.
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦

(a) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = sin(𝑥 + 𝑦) cos(𝑥 − 𝑦)

1
sin8964 𝑦+cos777 𝑦 999
(b) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = cos 𝑥𝑦 + (sin2 ln(𝑦 4 +1)+689)

𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 +𝑒 𝑥−𝑦
(c) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 −𝑒 𝑥−𝑦

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MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 4
L2 (Fall 2019)

11. Show that there does not exist any function 𝑓: ℝ2 → ℝ which satisfies
𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑦 and (𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 for every (𝑥, 𝑦) ∈ ℝ2 .
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
12. Let 𝑐 be a real constant, let 𝑔, ℎ: ℝ → ℝ be twice differentiable functions, and let 𝑓: ℝ2 → ℝ
be the function defined by
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑔(𝑥 + 𝑐𝑡) + ℎ(𝑥 − 𝑐𝑡).
Verify that 𝑓 is a solution to the partial differential equation
𝑓𝑡𝑡 = 𝑐 2 𝑓𝑥𝑥 .
Remark: The partial differential equation 𝑓𝑡𝑡 = 𝑐 2 𝑓𝑥𝑥 is known as the (one-dimensional)
wave equation. It describes the propagation of waves with speed |𝑐|.
13. Let 𝑘 be a positive constant and let 𝑓: ℝ × (0, +∞) → ℝ be the function defined by
1 𝑥2
−
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑡) = 𝑒 4𝑘𝑡 .
√4𝜋𝑘𝑡
Verify that 𝑓 is a solution to the partial differential equation
𝑓𝑡 = 𝑘𝑓𝑥𝑥 .
Remark: The partial differential equation 𝑓𝑡 = 𝑘𝑓𝑥𝑥 is known as the (one-dimensional) heat
equation. In physics, it describes heat diffusion or particle diffusion. In finance, it
arises in the modeling of option prices.
Use the following fact for Q14.
Fact (“Partial antiderivatives”) Let 𝑓 be a function of two real variables having partial derivatives
𝜕
𝑓𝑥 and 𝑓𝑦 . Then for every one-variable function 𝐶, we also have [𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝐶(𝑦)] = 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦).
𝜕𝑥

As a result, we may write

∫ 𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑥 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝐶(𝑦),

where 𝐶 is an arbitrary function of one real variable depending on 𝒚 only. Similarly, since
𝜕
[𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝐶(𝑥)] = 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦), we may also write
𝜕𝑦

∫ 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦)𝑑𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) + 𝐶(𝑥),

where 𝐶 is an arbitrary function of one real variable depending on 𝒙 only.

14. For each of the following two-variable functions 𝑢, use the above fact to find a two-variable
function 𝑣 so that 𝑢 and 𝑣 satisfy the system of partial differential equations
𝑢𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦
{𝑢 = −𝑣 .
𝑦 𝑥

(a) 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 (b) 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 2𝑥 − 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 (c) 𝑢(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑒 𝑥 cos 𝑦

Remark: The equations 𝑢𝑥 = 𝑣𝑦 and 𝑢𝑦 = −𝑣𝑥 are called Cauchy-Riemann equations and
are important in complex analysis.

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MATH2023 Multivariable Calculus Problem Set 4
L2 (Fall 2019)

15. Let 𝑇(𝑥, 𝑦) be the temperature at the point (𝑥, 𝑦) on the unit circle in ℝ2 centered at the
origin. Suppose that
𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑇
(𝑥, 𝑦) = 8𝑥 − 4𝑦 and (𝑥, 𝑦) = 8𝑦 − 4𝑥.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
At which point(s) on the circle is the temperature the highest / the lowest?
16. Let 𝑓 be a function of three real variables having continuous partial derivatives, and let 𝑧 be a
function of two real variables having continuous partial derivatives such that
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧(𝑥, 𝑦)) = 0
for every (𝑥, 𝑦). Show that
𝑓𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑓𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
𝑧𝑥 (𝑥, 𝑦) = − and 𝑧𝑦 (𝑥, 𝑦) = −
𝑓𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) 𝑓𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
provided that 𝑓𝑧 (𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧) ≠ 0.
17. Let 𝑓 be a differentiable function of two real variables and let
𝐹(𝑠, 𝑡) = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
𝑥 = 𝑠2 − 𝑡2 𝜕2 𝐹
for every (𝑠, 𝑡), where { . Express in terms of 𝑥, 𝑦 and the (first and
𝑦 = 2𝑠𝑡 𝜕𝑡𝜕𝑠

second) partial derivatives of 𝑓.

18. (a) As in Example 3.60, we let 𝑓 be a differentiable function of two real variables and let
𝐹(𝑟, 𝜃) = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)
𝑥 = 𝑟 cos 𝜃 𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
for every (𝑟, 𝜃), where { . Express + 𝜕𝑦 2 in terms of 𝑟, 𝜃 and the (first
𝑦 = 𝑟 sin 𝜃 𝜕𝑥 2

and second) partial derivatives of 𝐹. You may use the result found in Example 3.60.
(b) (Extremely tedious!!) Let 𝑓 be a differentiable function of three real variables and let
𝐹(𝜌, 𝜙, 𝜃) = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧)
𝑥 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 cos 𝜃
for every (𝜌, 𝜙, 𝜃), where {𝑦 = 𝜌 sin 𝜙 sin 𝜃 . Show that
𝑧 = 𝜌 cos 𝜙
𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 2𝑓 𝜕 2𝑓 1 𝜕 2
𝜕𝐹 1 𝜕 𝜕𝐹 1 𝜕 2𝐹
+ + = (𝜌 )+ 2 (sin 𝜙 ) + 2 .
𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 2 𝜌2 𝜕𝜌 𝜕𝜌 𝜌 sin 𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜕𝜙 𝜌 sin 𝜙 𝜕𝜃 2
𝑏
19. Under mild continuity conditions, it is known to be true that if 𝐹(𝑥) = ∫𝑎 𝑔(𝑡, 𝑥)𝑑𝑡, then
𝑏
′ (𝑥)
𝜕𝑔
𝐹 =∫ (𝑡, 𝑥)𝑑𝑡 .
𝑎 𝜕𝑥
Using this fact and the chain rule, find the derivatives of the following functions.
𝑥2 1
(a) 𝐹(𝑥) = ∫0 √𝑡 4 + 𝑥 3 𝑑𝑡 (b) 𝐹(𝑥) = ∫𝑥 2 √𝑡 3 + 𝑥 2 𝑑𝑡

Hint: In both (a) and (b), let 𝑢 = 𝑥 2 and consider a function 𝐺 of two real variables such
that 𝐹(𝑥) = 𝐺(𝑢, 𝑥).

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