Functions of Several Variables
Functions of Several Variables Algebraic
A real-value function of f of x, y, z, … is a rule for manufacturing a new
number, written f(x, y, z …), from the values of a sequence of independent
variables (x, y, z, …) .
Example: Function of 2 variables f ( x, y ) x 2 y 2 4 x 1
For the function f, evaluate.
f (2,1) 22 12 4 2 1 2 Substitute 2 for x and 1 for y.
f (a, 5) a 5 4 a 1 a 2 4a 26
2 2
Substitute a for x and 5 for y.
f ( x h, y k ) x h y k 4 x h 1
2 2
Substitute x+h for x and
y+k for y.
Example: Function of 3 variables g ( x, y, z ) ln( x 2 y z )
For the function f, evaluate.
g (1, 0, 0) ln 1 2 0 0 ln 1 0
g ( y, z, x) ln y 2 z x ln y 2 z x
Functions of Several Variables Numeric
Use the tabular representation of the function f to evaluate the function.
f ( x, y ) x 0.8 y 1.5 xy
f (30,10) 30 0.8 10 1.5 30 10 472
x
x
y 10 20 30
y 10 20 30
10
10 152 312 472
20
20 294 604 914
f (10, 20) 10 0.8 20 1.5 10 20 294
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
The graph of the function f
of two variables
consists of all points of the form In 3d space, there are 3
(x, y, f(x, y)) . mutually perpendicular axes:
• x-axis (extend to the front)
• y-axis (extend to the right)
• z-axis (extend upwards)
In 3d space, each point has
three coordinates:
• x-coordinate
• y-coordinate
• z-coordinate
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
In 3d space,
there are 3 coordinate planes:
• xy-plane where z = 0
• xz-plane where y = 0
• yz-axis where x = 0
Graphical
Functions of Several Variables
If we hold a variable constant,
the graph of the set of points is a plane.
Sketch y = 2
Since y is a constant, 2,
we can think of set of points as all points
• 2 units right of the xz-plane and
• extends indefinitely in the x direction
• extends indefinitely in the z direction
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
Sketch z = - 2 Sketch x = - 2
All points 2 units below the xy-plane All points 2 units behind the yz-plane
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
The graph of a function f of
two variables is the set of
points (x, y, f(x, y)) in three
dimensional space where we
restrict the values of (x, y) to
lie in the domain of f.
The graph of a function f of
is the set of points (x, y, z)
where z = f(x, y).
For every point (x, y) in the
domain of f, the z coordinate
is found by evaluating the
function f at (x, y).
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
The graph of a function f(x, y)) = x2 + y2
Domain of f is all real numbers.
y
x
-1 0 1
-1 2 1 2
0 1 0 1
1 2 1 2
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
The graph of a function f(x, y)) = x2 + y2
The surface is called a
paraboloid.
If we slice
• parallel to the plane z = 0,
we see circles.
• at height z = 1, we get the
circle x2 + y2 = 1
• at height z = 4, we get the
circle x2 + y2 = 4
• at height z = 9, we get the
circle x2 + y2 = 9
Functions of Several Variables Graphical
Match the equation with one of the graphs below.
P( x, y ) 1 x 2 y 2
b.
