5/31/22, 5:37 PM Multivariable calculus - Wikipedia
Multivariable calculus
Multivariable calculus (also known as multivariate calculus) is the extension of calculus in
one variable to calculus with functions of several variables: the differentiation and integration of
functions involving several variables, rather than just one.[1]
Multivariable calculus may be thought of as an elementary part of advanced calculus. For
advanced calculus, see calculus on Euclidean space.
Contents
Typical operations
Limits and continuity
Continuity of function composition
Properties of continuous functions
Partial differentiation
Multiple integration
Fundamental theorem of calculus in multiple dimensions
Applications and uses
See also
References
External links
Typical operations
Limits and continuity
A study of limits and continuity in multivariable calculus yields many counterintuitive results not
demonstrated by single-variable functions.[1]: 19–22 For example, there are scalar functions of two
variables with points in their domain which give different limits when approached along different
paths. E.g., the function.
approaches zero whenever the point is approached along
lines through the origin ( ). However, when the origin is
approached along a parabola , the function value has
a limit of . Since taking different paths toward the same
point yields different limit values, a general limit does not exist
there. Plot of the function
f(x, y) = (x⁴y)/(x4 + y2)
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Continuity in each argument not being sufficient for multivariate continuity can also be seen
from the following example.[1]: 17–19 In particular, for a real-valued function with two real-valued
parameters, , continuity of in for fixed and continuity of in for fixed does not
imply continuity of .
Consider
It is easy to verify that this function is zero by definition on the boundary and outside of the
quadrangle . Furthermore, the functions defined for constant and and
by
and
are continuous. Specifically,
for all x and y.
However, the sequence (for natural ) converges to , rendering the
function as discontinuous at . Approaching the origin not along parallels to the - and -axis
reveals this discontinuity.
Continuity of function composition
If is continuous at and is a single variable function continuous at then the
composite function defined by is continuous at
For examples, and
Properties of continuous functions
If and are both continuous at then
(i) are continuous at
(ii) is continuous at for any constant c.
(iii) is continuous at point
(iv) is continuous at if
(v) is continuous at
Partial differentiation
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The partial derivative generalizes the notion of the derivative to higher dimensions. A partial
derivative of a multivariable function is a derivative with respect to one variable with all other
variables held constant.[1]: 26ff
Partial derivatives may be combined in interesting ways to create more complicated expressions of
the derivative. In vector calculus, the del operator ( ) is used to define the concepts of gradient,
divergence, and curl in terms of partial derivatives. A matrix of partial derivatives, the Jacobian
matrix, may be used to represent the derivative of a function between two spaces of arbitrary
dimension. The derivative can thus be understood as a linear transformation which directly varies
from point to point in the domain of the function.
Differential equations containing partial derivatives are called partial differential equations or
PDEs. These equations are generally more difficult to solve than ordinary differential equations,
which contain derivatives with respect to only one variable.[1]: 654ff
Multiple integration
The multiple integral expands the concept of the integral to functions of any number of variables.
Double and triple integrals may be used to calculate areas and volumes of regions in the plane and
in space. Fubini's theorem guarantees that a multiple integral may be evaluated as a repeated
integral or iterated integral as long as the integrand is continuous throughout the domain of
integration.[1]: 367ff
The surface integral and the line integral are used to integrate over curved manifolds such as
surfaces and curves.
Fundamental theorem of calculus in multiple dimensions
In single-variable calculus, the fundamental theorem of calculus establishes a link between the
derivative and the integral. The link between the derivative and the integral in multivariable
calculus is embodied by the integral theorems of vector calculus:[1]: 543ff
Gradient theorem
Stokes' theorem
Divergence theorem
Green's theorem.
In a more advanced study of multivariable calculus, it is seen that these four theorems are specific
incarnations of a more general theorem, the generalized Stokes' theorem, which applies to the
integration of differential forms over manifolds.[2]
Applications and uses
Techniques of multivariable calculus are used to study many objects of interest in the material
world. In particular,
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Type of
Applicable techniques
functions
Curves Lengths of curves, line integrals, and curvature.
for
Areas of surfaces, surface integrals, flux through surfaces,
Surfaces
for and curvature.
Scalar Maxima and minima, Lagrange multipliers, directional
fields derivatives, level sets.
Vector Any of the operations of vector calculus including gradient,
fields divergence, and curl.
Multivariable calculus can be applied to analyze deterministic systems that have multiple degrees
of freedom. Functions with independent variables corresponding to each of the degrees of freedom
are often used to model these systems, and multivariable calculus provides tools for characterizing
the system dynamics.
Multivariate calculus is used in the optimal control of continuous time dynamic systems. It is used
in regression analysis to derive formulas for estimating relationships among various sets of
empirical data.
Multivariable calculus is used in many fields of natural and social science and engineering to
model and study high-dimensional systems that exhibit deterministic behavior. In economics, for
example, consumer choice over a variety of goods, and producer choice over various inputs to use
and outputs to produce, are modeled with multivariate calculus.
Non-deterministic, or stochastic systems can be studied using a different kind of mathematics,
such as stochastic calculus.
See also
List of multivariable calculus topics
Multivariate statistics
References
1. Richard Courant; Fritz John (14 December 1999). Introduction to Calculus and Analysis
Volume II/2. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-540-66570-0.
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2. Spivak, Michael (1965). Calculus on Manifolds (https://archive.org/details/SpivakM.CalculusOn
Manifolds_201703). New York: W. A. Benjamin, Inc. ISBN 9780805390216.
External links
UC Berkeley video lectures on Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2009, Professor Edward Frenkel (htt
ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw6pHhjhKmk)
MIT video lectures on Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2007 (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=
PL4C4C8A7D06566F38)
Multivariable Calculus (http://www.math.gatech.edu/~cain/notes/calculus.html): A free online
textbook by George Cain and James Herod
Multivariable Calculus Online (https://math.etsu.edu/Multicalc/): A free online textbook by Jeff
Knisley
Multivariable Calculus – A Very Quick Review (http://www.ecs.umass.edu/mie/faculty/perot/mie
440/Multivariable%20Calculus.pdf), Prof. Blair Perot, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Multivariable Calculus (http://www.stat.rice.edu/~dobelman/notes_papers/math/calculus.MV.pd
f), Online text by Dr. Jerry Shurman
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