Problem Set 2

MTH211
Solutions
1 Questions on understanding the lecture
Lxrcisr + What are the domain, the codomain, and the component functions of the
following maps?
(a) }(x, y, z) =

x + y
y sinz

;
(b) }(x, y) =

1 x
2
y
2
;
(c) }(u, v) =

uv
3
sin(uv)
ln(uv)

.
Soii1ioN (a) The component functions are }
1
(x, y, z) = x +y, }
2
(x, y, z) = y sinz and
the codomain is R
2
. Now we need to nd the domain, that is, the set where the map
is dened. Its easy to see that the map is dened for all values of x, y, z, so the
domain is R
3
.
(b) The component function is just }
1
(x, y) =

1 x
2
y
2
and the codomain is R. Now
we need to nd the domain, that is, the set where the map is dened. Expression
under the square root must be nonnegative, that is, 1 x
2
y
2
0, or the domain
is x
2
+ y
2
1. It is geometrically the unit disc centered at (0, 0) in R
2
.
(c) The component functions are }
1
(uv) = uv
3
, }
2
(u, v) = sin(uv), }
3
(u, v) = ln(uv) and
the codomain is R
3
. Now we need to nd the domain, that is, the set where the
map is dened. Here, uv
3
and sin(uv) are always dened, but for ln(uv) we need
uv . 0. In other words, we either must have u, v . 0 or u, v < 0. Thus the domain
of this map is the union of the open I and III quadrants. :)
1
Lxrcisr z Given a map } : R
m
R
n
, prove that lim
xa
}(x) = l holds if and only if
lim
xa
}(x) l = 0 does.
Soii1ioN We rst prove the only if" part. For this, we assume lim
xa
}(x) = l holds and
we want to show this implies that lim
xa
}(x) l = 0. Now it follows from the denition
that lim
xa
}(x) = l means that for any given c . 0, there exists a . 0 such that for
any 0 < x a < , we have }(x) l < c. Note that we have }(x) l 0 so that
}(x) l = |}(x) l 0|. Therefore, we see that for any c . 0, there exists a . 0
such that for any 0 < x a < , we have |}(x) l 0| = }(x) l < c, which implies
that lim
xa
}(x) l = 0 by denition.
We now prove the if" part. For this, we assume lim
xa
}(x)l = 0 holds and we want to
show this implies that lim
xa
}(x) = l. Now it follows from the denition that lim
xa
}(x)l = 0
means that for any given c . 0, there exists a . 0 such that for any 0 < xa < , we
have |}(x) l0| < c. Note that we have }(x) l 0 so that |}(x) l0| = }(x) l.
Therefore, we see that for any c . 0, there exists a . 0 such that for any 0 < xa < ,
we have }(x) l < c, which implies that lim
xa
}(x) = l by denition. :)
2 Questions on calculation
Lxrcisr Prove that lim
(x,y)(0,0)
x
2
y
2
x
2
y
2
+ (x y)
2
is not dened (by nding limits along dif-
ferent straight lines).
Soii1ioN Lets nd the limits along the lines y = 0 and y = x. For y = 0, we have
lim
x0
}(x, 0) = lim
x0
x
2
0
2
x
2
0
2
+ (x 0)
2
= 0.
For y = x, we have
lim
x0
}(x, x) = lim
x0
x
2
x
2
x
2
x
2
+ (x x)
2
= 1.
Since limits along dierent lines are dierent, the limit of the whole function is not
dened. :)
Lxrcisr Find the limit if it exists, or show that the limit does not exist.
2
(a)
lim
(x,y)(2,1)
4 xy
x
2
+ 3y
2
.
(b)
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
y
4
x
4
+ 3y
4
.
(c)
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
xy

x
2
+ y + 2
.
(d)
lim
(x,y,z)(0,0,0)
xy + yz
2
+ xz
2
x
2
+ y
2
+ z
4
.
(e)
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
x
3
+ y
3
x
2
+ y
2
.
Soii1ioN (a) }(x, y) =
4xy
x
2
+3y
2
is a rational function and as such it is continuous every-
where where the denominator is nonzero. In particular, this function is continuous
at (2, 1), so by continuity
lim
(x,y)(2,1)
}(x, y) = }(2, 1) =
4 2 1
2
2
+ 3 1
2
=
2
7
.
(b) We see that for }(x, y) =
y
4
x
4
+3y
4
if we approach the origin along the x-axis, we have
}(x, 0) = 0 0, as x 0,
while if we approach along the y-axis
}(0, y) =
1
3

1
3
, as y 0.
Since these limits are dierent,
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
}(x, y),
does not exist.
3
(c) With }(x, y) =
xy

x
2
+y+2
, } is continuous at the origin so
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
}(x, y) = }(0, 0) = 0.
(d) With }(x, y, z) =
xy+yz
2
+xz
2
x
2
+y
2
+z
4
. Approaching the origin along the line (x, y, z) = (0, 0, t)
(the z-axis), we have
}(x, y, z) = }(0, 0, t) = 0 0 as t 0.
On the other hand, approaching the origin along the line (x, y, z) = (t, t, 0) gives
}(x, y, z) = }(t, t, 0) =
t
2
2t
2
=
1
2

1
2
, as t 0.
Since these limits are dierent,
lim
(x,y,z)(0,0,0)
}(x, y, z)
does not exist.
(e) We have for (x, y) = (0, 0) that
0

x
3
+ y
3
x
2
+ y
2

=
|x
3
+ y
3
|
(x, y)
2

|x|
3
+|y|
3
(x, y)
2

(x, y)
3
+(x, y)
3
(x, y)
2
= 2(x, y) 0, as (x, y) (0, 0), :)
so we can conclude (by the Squeeze theorem) that
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
x
3
+ y
3
x
2
+ y
2
= 0.
An alternative solution is to change to polar coordinates: With }(x, y) =
x
3
+y
3
x
2
+y
2
, we
have in polar coordinates x = i cos , y = i sin,
x
3
+ y
3
x
2
+ y
2
=
i
3
cos
3
+ i
3
sin
3

i
2
= i(cos
3
+ sin
3
).
Since (x, y) (0, 0) is equivalent to i 0
+
, we get
lim
(x,y)(0,0)
}(x, y) = lim
i0
i(cos
3
+ sin
3
).
4
Also, since
1 cos
3
1, 1 sin
3
1, i . 0,
we have
2i i(cos
3
+ sin
3
) 2i,
and by the Squeeze Theorem,
lim
i0
i(cos
3
+ sin
3
) = 0.
Lxrcisr g Let }(x, y) =

|xy|. Find }
x
(0, 0) and }
y
(0, 0).
Soii1ioN We have, }(x, 0) = 0 and hence }
x
(0, 0) = [}(x, 0)]

|
x=0
= 0

|
x=0
= 0. Similarly,
}(0, y) = 0 and hence }
y
(0, 0) = [}(0, y)]

|
y=0
= 0

|
y=0
= 0. :)
3 Questions on logical thinking
Lxrcisr 6 Let }(x, y) =
xy
2
x
2
+y
4
.
(a) Prove that the limit of }(x, y) as (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along any straight line is 0,
(b) Prove that lim
(x,y)(0,0)
}(x, y) is, however, not dened.
Soii1ioN (a) An arbitrary line passing through (0, 0) can be represented either as
y = mx or as x = 0. We have,
lim
x0
}(x, mx) = lim
x0
m
2
x
3
x
2
+ m
4
x
4
= m
2
lim
x0
x
1 + m
4
x
2
= 0
for y = mx. In the same manner, for x = 0 we get
lim
y0
}(0, y) = lim
y0
0 = 0.
(b) Consider the parabola x = y
2
. The limit along this parabola is
lim
y0
}(y
2
, y) = lim
y0
y
4
y
4
+ y
4
=
1
2
.
On the other hand, if the limit of }(x, y) was equal to l R, then the limit of its
restriction on any curve would also be l. However, here we found at least two curves
straight line x = 0 and parabola x = y
2
such that the respective restrictions have
dierent limits. Therefore lim
(x,y)(0,0)
}(x, y) is not dened. :)
5
Lxrcisr y Consider the function
}(x, y) =

2xy
x
2
+ y
2
, x
2
+ y
2
= 0,
0, x
2
+ y
2
= 0.
Prove that } is continuous with respect to x for each xed y = b, continuous with respect
to y for each xed x = o, but discontinuous at the point (0, 0).
Soii1ioN For each xed y = b, if b = 0, then by denition,
}(x, b) =
2xb
x
2
+ b
2
.
Its easy to see that }(x, b) is a rational function of x with non-zero denominator and
therefore we know its continuous with respect to x from calculus of one variable. If
b = 0, then its easy to see from the denition that }(x, 0) = 0 so its also continuous.
Similarly, for each xed x = o, if o = 0, then by denition,
}(o, y) =
2oy
o
2
+ y
2
.
Its easy to see that }(o, y) is a rational function of y with non-zero denominator and
therefore we know its continuous with respect to y from calculus of one variable. If
o = 0, then its easy to see from the denition that }(0, y) = 0 so its also continuous.
To show }(x, y) is discontinuous at (0, 0), we consider
lim
x0
}(x, lx) = lim
x0
2lx
2
(1 + l
2
)x
2
=
2l
1 + l
2
= 0 = }(0, 0), if l = 0. :)
This readily implies that }(x, y) is discontinuous at (0, 0).
4 Extra problems on partial derivatives
Lxrcisr 8 For the function }(x, y) = x
2
e
x
2
+y
, prove that its limit at innity along any
straight line passing through the origin is 0. Also prove that, however, the limit along
the straight line x = 1 as y + is innite.
6
Soii1ioN Any straight line passing through the origin can be written as y = lx for some
l R except for the line x = 0. On this line, we have }(0, y) = 0 so that lim
y
}(0, y) = 0.
In all the other cases, we have
lim
x
}(x, lx) = lim
x
x
2
e
x
2
+lx
= lim
x
x
2
e
x
2
lx
.
Note that we have lim
x+
x
2
= lim
x+
e
x
2
lx
= + so we can apply LHospitals rule
twice to see that
lim
x
x
2
e
x
2
lx
= lim
x
2x
(2x l)e
x
2
lx
= lim
x
2
((2x l)
2
+ 2)e
x
2
lx
= 0,
which gives the desired result.
On the other hand, the limit along the straight line x = 1 as y + of our function
is given by:
lim
y
}(1, y) = lim
y
1
2
e
1
2
+y
= lim
y
e
y1
= +. :)
Lxrcisr q Find the iterated limits
lim
x
lim
y0+
x
y
1 + x
y
and lim
y0+
lim
x
x
y
1 + x
y
.
Soii1ioN For the rst limit, as the outer limit is x +, we may assume x . 1 at the
beginning so that we have for any xed x . 1,
lim
y0+
x
y
1 + x
y
=
x
0
1 + x
0
=
1
2
.
It follows that
lim
x
lim
y0+
x
y
1 + x
y
= lim
x
1
2
=
1
2
.
For the second limit, as the outer limit is y 0
+
, we may assume y . 0 at the
beginning so that we have for any xed y . 0,
lim
x
x
y
1 + x
y
= lim
x

1
1
1 + x
y

.
7
Its easy to see that lim
x
x
y
= for any y . 0 so that
lim
x
x
y
1 + x
y
= lim
x

1
1
1 + x
y

= 1.
It follows that
lim
y0+
lim
x
x
y
1 + x
y
= lim
y0+
1 = 1. :)
Lxrcisr +o Find
lim
(x,y)(,)
x + y
x
2
xy + y
2
.
Here you can do the polar substitution x = i cos , y = i sin and take the limit as i
by applying the Squeeze Theorem.
Soii1ioN We make the polar substitution x = i cos , y = i sin and note that (x, y)
(, ) means that ||(x, y)|| + which is precisely i +. It follows that
lim
(x,y)(,)
x + y
x
2
xy + y
2
= lim
i
i(cos + sin)
i
2
(1 sin cos )
= lim
i
cos + sin
i(1 sin(2),2)
= 0,
as 1 sin(2),2 . 0 for any . :)
Lxrcisr ++ Find
lim
(x,y)(,)

x
2
+ y
2

e
xy
.
You can also do it by polar substitution.
Soii1ioN We make the polar substitution x = i cos , y = i sin and note that (x, y)
(, ) means that ||(x, y)|| + which is precisely i +. It follows that
lim
(x,y)(,)

x
2
+ y
2

e
xy
= lim
i
i
2
e
i(cos +sin)
.
Note on the line = 0, we have cos 0 + sin0 = 1 and the above limit is easily seen to be
equal to 0 by applying LHospitals rule twice. On the other hand, on the line = ,4,
we have cos(,4) + sin(,4) = 0 so that the above limit is +. It follows that our
original limit does not exist. :)
8