14.

1 Functions of Several Variables

Note: If f is a function of 2 variables with domain D, the graph of f
 
is the set G = ( x, y, z )  3 such that z = f ( x, y ); ( x, y )  D
Example 1
For the following functions,
1. evaluate f (3, 2),
2. find the domain,
3. sketch the domain.
𝑥+𝑦+1
(a) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = (b) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 ln 𝑦 2 − 𝑥
𝑥−1
Example 1
For the following functions,
1. evaluate f (3, 2),
2. find the domain,
3. sketch the domain.
𝑥+𝑦+1
(a) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 =
𝑥−1
Solution
3+2+1 6
1. 𝑓 3,2 = =
3−1 2
2. Dom 𝑓 = 𝑥, 𝑦 | 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 ≥ 0, 𝑥 ≠ 1
2. Dom 𝑓 = 𝑥, 𝑦 | 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 ≥ 0, 𝑥 ≠ 1
3. sketch the domain.
𝑥 + 𝑦 + 1 ≥ 0  𝑦 ≥ −𝑥 − 1
𝑥 ≠ 1 means that the points on the line x = 1 must be
excluded from the domain.
Example 1
For the following functions,
1. evaluate f (3, 2),
2. find the domain,
3. sketch the domain.
(b) 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 ln 𝑦 2 − 𝑥
Solution
1. 𝑓 3,2 = 3 ln 22 − 3 = 3 ln 1 = 0

2. Dom 𝑓 = 𝑥, 𝑦 | 𝑦 2 − 𝑥 > 0
2. Dom 𝑓 = 𝑥, 𝑦 |𝑦 2 − 𝑥 > 0
3. sketch the domain.
𝑦2 − 𝑥 > 0  𝑦2 > 𝑥

The domain is the set of points to the left of the parabola

x = y2.
Example 2
Find and sketch the domain of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2
Solution
The domain of f is

which is the disk with center (0, 0) and radius 3.

Example 3
Find and sketch the domain of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ln(9 − 𝑥 2 − 9𝑦 2 )
Solution
𝑥2
9 − 𝑥 2 − 9𝑦 2 > 0  𝑥 2 + 9𝑦 2 < 9  + 𝑦2 < 1
9
Example 4
Find and sketch the domain of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = sin−1 (𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2)
Solution
−1 ≤ 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2 ≤ 1  1 ≤ 𝑥2 + 𝑦2 ≤ 3
Graphs
Example 5
Sketch the graph of the function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 6 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦
Solution
𝑧 = 6 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦  3𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 𝑧 = 6
which represents a plane.
This is a portion of the plane
in the first octant.
Example 6
Sketch the graph of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2
Solution
𝑧= 9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2  𝑧2 = 9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 + 𝑧2 = 9
Equation of a sphere with center the origin and radius 3.
But, since z  0, the graph of f is just the top half of this
sphere.
Contour lines, Level curves
The contour lines are the curves in space in which the plane z = k cuts
the surface z = f (x, y ) .
A contour line is sometimes called a trace.

The Projection of a
contour line onto the
xy-plane is called a
Contour line
level curve.

Level curve
 Contour maps

A set of level curves forms a contour map.

Example 6
Find an equation for the level curve
of the function:
f(x, y) = 100 − x2 − y2
that passes through the point (6, 6).

The above contour map consists

of three level curves f(x, y) = k,
where c = 0, 51, 75 respectively.
Example 7
Sketch the level curves of the function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 6 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦
for the values k = − 6, 0, 6, 12.
Solution
The level curves are 6 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 𝑘
Take k = − 6, 0, 6, 12 to obtain the straight lines
Example 8
Sketch the level curves of the function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 9 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2
for the values k = 0, 1, 2, 3.
Solution
The level curves are
9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 = 𝑘  9 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 = 𝑘2  𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 9 − 𝑘2
Take k = 0, 1, 2, 3 to obtain
a family of concentric circles
with center (0, 0) and radius
9 − 𝑘2.
Example 9
Sketch the level curves of the function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 1
for the values k = 5, 6.
Solution
𝑦 2
𝑘 = 5: 4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 1 = 5  4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 4  𝑥 2 + =1
4
𝑥 2 𝑦 2
𝑘 = 6: 4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 1 = 6  4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 5  + =1
5/4 5
These are ellipses.
 Functions of Three or More Variables
Example 10
Find the domain of the function
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = ln 𝑧 − 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 sin 𝑧
Solution
𝑧−𝑦 >0  Dom 𝑓 = 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 ∈ 𝑅3 | 𝑧 > 𝑦
Example 11
Find the domain of
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 + ln(4 − 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 − 𝑧 2 )

Solution
𝑥≥0 𝑦≥0 𝑧≥0 4 − 𝑥2 − 𝑦2 − 𝑧2 > 0
Note: For functions of 3-variables level curves become
level surfaces, where f (x, y, z) = k.
Example 12
Find the level surfaces of the function
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2
Solution
The level surfaces are 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 = 𝑘, where 𝑘 ≥ 0.
These form a family of concentric spheres with radius 𝑘
Example 12
Sketch the domain of the function f ( x , y ) = y − x − 2
Solution
y −x −20  y x +2

Dom(f ) = {(x , y ) : y  x + 2}
 Example 13
Sketch the domain of the function f ( x , y ) = cos −1 ( y − x 2 )
Solution
The domain of the inverse cosine function is:
the range of the cosine function which is: [−1,1]
Therefore, −1  y − x 2  1  x 2 −1  y  x 2 +1
Dom( f ) = {(x , y ) : x 2 − 1  y  x 2 + 1}
 Example 14
Sketch the level curves of the function f ( x , y ) = 25 − x 2 − y 2
for c = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4.

Solution