1

Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

Definition
Domain - Set of values D of which a function is defined
Range - Set of values to which D is sent by the function

To find the domain of a function, we must know the values of which the function is undefined.

Notation for Domain and Range
For functions of two variables, the general way of writing the domain and range are:
Domain, D = {( , ) x y : any restriction, if applicable, , x R y R e e }
Range, R = {z: any restriction, if applicable, z R e }

Similarly, the general way of writing the domain and range for functions of three variables are:
Domain, D = { ( , , ) x y z : any restriction, if applicable, , , x R y R z R e e e }
Range, R = {w: any restriction, if applicable, w R e }

Some Common Restrictions for Certain Functions
In order to determine the domain and range for functions, particular attention has to be paid
on functions involving square root, reciprocal, trigonometry, logarithm and exponential
function.

The restrictions on the aforementioned functions are listed as follows:
Functions Example Restriction Remarks
Square Root n
f , where 2, 4,... n =
(n even number)
0 f >
If 0 f < ,
n
f will become
complex number
Reciprocal
1
f

0 f = Any number divided by 0 is
undefined
Trigonometry sin( ) f or cos( ) f No restriction f can be any real number
Logarithm
log f or ln f 0 f > log/ ln for 0 or negative
number is undefined
Exponent
f
e
No restriction f can be any real number


More caution needed whenever to determine the range of logarithm function.





Domain and Range

For 0 x s , log x or ln x undefined
For 0 1 x < < , log x or ln x < 0
For x = 1, log x or ln x = 0
For 1 x > , log x or ln x > 0
For any value of x, 0
x
e >
2
Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

Example 1
Find the domain and range of the function
2 2
( , ) 25 f x y x y = . Next, sketch the domain.
Solution
The domain of ( , ) f x y is the set of all points that satisfy the inequality:
2 2
2
25 0
25
x y
x y
>
+ s

The domain is:
2 2
{( , ) | 25, , } D x y x y x R y R = + s e e
The range is: { : 0, } R z z z R = > e





Example 2
Find the domain and range of the function
2
( , )
2
x y
f x y
x y

=
+
. Next, sketch the domain.
Solution
Since
2
2
x y
x y

+
is defined only for 2 0 x y + =
The domain is: {( , ) | 2 0, , } D x y x y x R y R = + = e e
The range is: { : } R z z R = e






y
y
-5
5
-5 5
x
Recall that the equation of circle with
radius r and center ( , ) h k is
2 2 2
( ) ( ) x h y k r + =
x
2 x y =
3
Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

Example 3
Find the domain and range of the function
2 2
( , ) ln(1 ) f x y x y = . Next, sketch the domain.
Solution
Since
2 2
ln(1 ) x y is defined only when
2 2
1 0 x y > ,
2 2
1 x y + <
The domain is:
2 2
{( , ) | 1, , } D x y x y x R y R = + < e e
The range is: { : } R z z R = e










Example 4
Find the domain and range of the function
2 2 2 2
( , ) ln( 4)(16 ) f x y x y x y = + . Next, sketch the
domain.
Solution
2 2 2 2
ln( 4)(16 ) x y x y + is only defined when
2 2 2 2
( 4)(16 ) 0. x y x y + >
Let
2 2
A x y = + , ( 4)(16 ) 0. A A >
Assume that 4 0 A > and 16 0 A >
A > 4 A <16
4 16 A < <
The domain is:
2 2
{( , ) | 4 16, , } D x y x y x R y R = < + < e e
The range is: { : } R z z R = e
-4 4
x
- + -
+ + -
- + +
16 4
-1
-1
1
1
y
x
x
2
+y
2
=1
y
2 -2
x
2
+y
2
=16
x
2
+y
2
=4