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CHAPTER 14 FUNCTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES

EXERCISES 14.6
Calculate the second-order partial derivatives. (Treat A, B, C , D as constants.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. f (x , f (x , f (x , f (x , f (x , y) = Ax2 + 2Bxy + Cy2 . y) = Ax3 + Bx2 y + Cxy2 . y) = Ax + By + Ce xy . y) = x2 cos y + y2 sin x. y , z ) = ( x + y 2 + z 3 )2 . x + y2 . 7. f (x, y) = ln x . x+y 25. Let f be a function of x and y with third-order partials 3f = 2 x y x 2f x y and 3f = 2 y x y 2f x2 .

Show that, if all the partials are continuous, then 2f 3f = . 2 x y y x2 26. Show that the following functions do not have a limit at (0, 0) : x2 y2 y2 (a) f (x, y) = 2 . (b) f (x, y) = 2 . 2 x +y x + y2 In Exercises 27 and 28, evaluate the limit as (x, y) approaches the origin along: The x-axis. (b) The y-axis. The line y = mx. (d) The spiral r = , > 0. The differentiable curve y = f (x), with f (0) = 0. The arc r = sin 3 , 1 < < 1 . 6 3 1 sin t (g) The path r(t ) = i + j, t > 0. t t xy . (x,y)(0,0) x 2 + y 2 29. Set 27. lim 28. xy2 . (x,y)(0,0) (x 2 + y 2 )3/2 lim (a) (c) (e) (f)

6. f (x, y) = 8. f (x, y) =

Ax + By . Cx + Dy 9. f (x, y, z ) = (x + y)( y + z )(z + x). 11. f (x, y) = x y . 10. f (x, y, z ) = tan1 xyz . y 12. f (x, y, z ) = sin (x + z ). 13. f (x, y) = xe y + ye x . 14. f (x, y) = tan1 (y/x). 16. f (x, y) = sin (x3 y2 ). 18. 19. 20. 21.
2

15. f (x, y) = ln x2 + y2 . 17. f (x, y) = cos2 (xy).

f (x, y) = exy . f (x, y, z ) = xy sin z xz sin y. f (x, y, z ) = xe y + yez + ze x . Show that if xy , u= x+y

then 22. Verify that

2u 2u 2u x2 2 + 2xy + y2 2 = 0. x x y y 2f 2f = y x x y

2 2 x y , (x, y) = (0, 0) g (x , y ) = x 4 + y 4 0, (x, y) = (0, 0).

for (a) f (x, y) = g (x) + h( y) with g and h differentiable. (b) f (x, y) = g (x)h( y) with g and h differentiable. (c) f (x, y) a polynomial in x and y. HINT: Check each term xm yn separately. 23. Let f be a function of x and y with everywhere continuous second partials. Is it possible that f f (a) = x + y and = y x? x y f f (b) = xy and = xy? x y 24. Let g be a twice-differentiable function of one variable and set h(x, y) = g (x + y) + g (x y). Show that 2h 2h = . x2 y2 HINT: Use the chain rule of Exercise 58, Section 14.4.

(a) Show that g / x and g / y both exist at (0, 0). What are their values at (0, 0)? (b) Show that lim g (x, y) does not exist.
(x,y)(0,0)

30. Set x y4 . x3 y4 Determine whether or not f has a limit at (1, 1). HINT: Let (x, y) tend to (1, 1) along the line x = 1 and along the line y = 1. 31. Set xy(y2 x2 ) , (x, y) = (0, 0) 2 2 f (x , y ) = x +y 0, (x, y) = (0, 0). f (x , y ) = It can be shown that some of the second partials are discontinuous at (0, 0). Show that 2f 2f (0, 0) = (0, 0). y x x y 32. If a function of several variables has all rst partials at a point, then it is continuous in each variable separately at

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that point. Show, for example, that if fx exists at (x0 , y0 ), then f is continuous in x at (x0 , y0 ). 33. Let f be a function of x and y which has continuous rst and second partial derivatives throughout some set D in the plane. Suppose that fxy (x, y) = 0 for all (x, y) D. What can you conclude about f ?

you see that the limit as (x, y) (0, 0) along the coordinate axes is 0 and the limit as (x, y) (0, 0) along the line y = x is 1 ? 2

c 36. Use a graphing utility to draw the graph of

f (x , y ) = x2 y2 x2 + y2

c 34. Use a graphing utility to draw the graph of the function in Exercise 26(a) on the square 2 x 2, 2 y 2. Can you see that the limit as (x, y) (0, 0) along the x-axis is 1 and the limit as (x, y) (0, 0) along the y-axis is 1? c 35. Use a graphing utility to draw the graph of the function in Exercise 27 on the square 2 x 2, 2 y 2. Can

on the square 2 x 2, 2 y 2. From the graph, determine the limit of f as (x, y) (0, 0) along the x-axis and as (x, y) (0, 0) along the y-axis. Reverse the roles of x and y and see what happens.

PROJECT 14.6 Partial Differential Equations

The differential equations that we have studied so far are ordinary differential equations. They involve only ordinary derivatives, derivatives of functions of one variable. Here we examine some partial differential equations, the most prominent of which are equations that relate two or more of the partial derivatives of an unknown function of several variables. Partial differential equations play an enormous role in science because the description of most natural phenomena is based on models that involve functions of several variables. For example, the partial differential equation known as the Schrdinger. equation is viewed by many physicists as the cornerstone of quantum mechanics. Below we introduce two of the classical equations of physics having broad applications in science and engineering. Problem 1. Show that the given function satises the corresponding partial differential equation u u +y = 3u . x y u u u (b) u = x2 y + y2 z + z 2 x; + + = ( x + y + z )2 . x y z (a) u = x2 y2 ; x+y x Laplaces Equation The partial differential equation 2f 2f + 2 = 0. 2 x y is known as Laplaces equation in two dimensions. It is used to describe potentials and steady-state temperature distributions in the plane. In three dimensions, Laplaces equation is 2f 2f 2f + 2 + 2 = 0. 2 x y z
Introduced in 1926 by the Austrian theoretical physicist Ervin Schrdinger (18811961). Named after the French mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749 1827). Laplace wrote two monumental works: one on celestial mechanics, the other on probability theory. He also made major contributions to the theory of differential equations.

It is satised by gravitational and electrostatic potentials and by steady-state temperature distributions in space. Functions that satisfy Laplaces equation are called harmonic functions. Problem 2. a. Show that the given functions satisfy Laplaces equation in two dimensions: (i) f (x, y) = x3 3xy2 (ii) f (x, y) = cos x sinh y + sin x cosh y (iii) f (x, y) = ln x2 + y2 . b. Show that the given functions satisfy Laplaces equation in three dimensions: 1 (i ) f (x , y , z ) = (ii) f (x, y, z ) = ex+y cos 2 z . x2 + y2 + z 2 The Wave Equation The partial differential equation
2 2f 2 f c = 0, t2 x2 where c is a positive constant, is known as the wave equation. It arises in the study of phenomena involving the propagation of waves in a continuous medium. For example, studies of water waves, sound waves, and light waves are all based on this equation. The wave equation is also used in the study of mechanical vibrations such as a vibrating string.

Problem 3. Show that the given functions satisfy the wave equation: (i) f (x, t ) = (Ax + B)(Ct + D) (ii) f (x, t ) = sin (x + ct ) cos (2x + 2ct ) (iii) f (x, t ) = ln (x + ct ) (iv) f (x, t ) = (Aekx + Be kx )(Ce ckt + De ckt ) Problem 4. Let f (x, t ) = g (x + ct ) + h(x ct ), where g and h are any two, twice differentiable functions. Show that f is a solution of the wave equation. [This is the most general form of a solution of the wave equation.]