MTH165

Lecture-22

Continuity of functions of two variables

and
Partial Derivatives
Unit 4: Multivariate Functions

(Book: Advanced Engineering Mathematics By Jain and Iyengar, Chapter-2)

Learning Outcomes:

1. To check continuity of functions of two variables.

2. To know about Partial derivatives and calculating these.

3. To use partial derivatives to prove some identities .

 Continuity

A function 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is said to be continuous at a point 𝑃 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , if:

1. 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is defined at the point 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 .

2. lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 exists.
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 𝑥0 ,𝑦0

3. lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 .
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 𝑥0 ,𝑦0

If any one of the above conditions is not satisfied, then the function is
said to be discontinuous at the point 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 .
Discuss the continuity of the following functions at the given points:

(𝑥−𝑦)2
2 +𝑦 2 , (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
Problem 1. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ቐ 𝑥 at point 0,0 .
0 , 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,0)

Solution. Here 𝑓 0,0 = 0 that is the function exists at 0,0 .

(𝑥−𝑦)2
Now lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

Consider the path: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 such that 𝑦 → 0 as 𝑥 → 0.

(𝑥−𝑚𝑥)2
lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim 2
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥⟶0 𝑥 +(𝑚𝑥)2
 𝑥 2 (1−𝑚)2
lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim 𝑥2 (1+𝑚2)
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥⟶0

(1−𝑚)2
=
(1+𝑚2 )

which is path dependent. So, the limit does not exist.

As one of the conditions of continuity is not satisfied, so the given function is

discontinuous at (0,0).
 2𝑥 4 +3𝑦 4
2 2 , (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
Problem 2. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ቐ 𝑥 +𝑦 at point 0,0 .
0 , 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,0)

Solution. Here 𝑓 0,0 = 0 that is the function exists at 0,0 .

2𝑥 4 +3𝑦 4
Now lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

Consider the path: 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 such that 𝑦 → 0 as 𝑥 → 0.

2𝑥 4 +3(𝑚𝑥)4
lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim 2
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥⟶0 𝑥 +(𝑚𝑥)2
 𝑥 4 (2+3𝑚4 )
lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim 𝑥 2(1+𝑚2)
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0 𝑥⟶0

𝑥 2 (2+3𝑚4 )
= lim
𝑥⟶0 (1+𝑚2 )

= 0 which exists and is finite

Also lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓 0,0 = 0

𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 0,0

Hence, all the conditions of continuity are satisfied.

So, the given function is continuous at point (0,0).

 Polling Quiz
Which of the following is Not a correct option for continuity:
A function 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is said to be continuous at a point 𝑃 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 , if:

(A) 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is defined at the point 𝑥0 , 𝑦0 .

(B) lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 exists.

𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 𝑥0 ,𝑦0

(C) lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 ≠ 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 𝑥0 ,𝑦0

(D) lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓 𝑥0 , 𝑦0
𝑥,𝑦 ⟶ 𝑥0 ,𝑦0
 Partial Derivatives

The derivatives of a function of two or more dependent variables with respect to the
independent variable, keeping all the other variables as constant is called as partial
derivative.
Earlier: If y = 𝑓(𝑥), it means there is dependent variable y and one independent
𝒅𝒚
variable x. So, we differentiate y with respect to x and denote it as:
𝒅𝒙

Now: If 𝑧 = 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦), it means there is dependent variable 𝑧 and two independent
𝝏𝒛 𝝏𝒛
variable x and y. So, we can differentiate u with respect to x or y, denoted as: or
𝝏𝒙 𝝏𝒚

respectively.
Standard Notations:

𝜕𝑓
= 𝑓𝑥 = 𝑝
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑓 ቑ These are called first order partial derivatives.
= 𝑓𝑦 = 𝑞
𝜕𝑦

𝜕2 𝑓
= 𝑓𝑥𝑥 = 𝑟
𝜕𝑥 2
𝜕2 𝑓 𝜕2 𝑓
𝑜𝑟 = 𝑓𝑥𝑦 𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑦𝑥 = 𝑠 These are called second order partial derivatives.
𝜕𝑥𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦𝜕𝑥
𝜕2 𝑓
= 𝑓𝑦𝑦 = 𝑡
𝜕𝑦 2
Find the first order partial derivatives of the following functions:

Problem 1. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 4 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 2 + 𝑦 4 at point (−1,1).

𝜕𝑓
Solution. 𝑓𝑥 = = 4𝑥 3 − 2𝑥𝑦 2
𝜕𝑥

⟹ 𝑓𝑥 ሿ(−1,1) = 4(−1)3 −2 −1 1 2
= −4 + 2 = −2

𝜕𝑓
𝑓𝑦 = = −2𝑦𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 3
𝜕𝑦

2
⟹ 𝑓𝑦 ൧ = −2 1 −1 + 4(1)3 = −2 + 4 = 2
(−1,1)
 𝑥
Problem 2. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = log at point (2,3).
𝑦

Solution. Here 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = log 𝑥 − log 𝑦

𝜕𝑓 1
𝑓𝑥 = =
𝜕𝑥 𝑥

1
⟹ 𝑓𝑥 ሿ(2,3) =
2

𝜕𝑓 1
𝑓𝑦 = = −
𝜕𝑦 𝑦

1
⟹ 𝑓𝑦 ൧ = −
(2,3) 3
 𝑦
Problem 3. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 𝑒 𝑥 at point (4,2).

𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
𝜕𝑓 𝑦
Solution. 𝑓𝑥 = = 𝑥2 𝑒 𝑥 − 2 + 𝑒 2𝑥 = 𝑒 (2𝑥 − 𝑦)
𝑥 𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝑥

2
⟹ 𝑓𝑥 ሿ(4,2) = 𝑒 2 4 − 2 = 6 𝑒
4

𝑦 𝑦
𝜕𝑓 1
𝑓𝑦 = = 𝑥2 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑥𝑒 𝑥
𝜕𝑦 𝑥

2
⟹ 𝑓𝑦 ൧ = 4𝑒 = 4 𝑒
4
(4,2)
 𝑥
Problem 4. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = at point (6,7).
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2

𝑥
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 1 −𝑥
𝜕𝑓 𝑥2 +𝑦2 𝑦2
Solution. 𝑓𝑥 = = = 3
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ൗ2

49
⟹ 𝑓𝑥 ሿ(6,7) = 3
85 ൗ2

𝜕𝑓 −𝑦
𝑓𝑦 = =𝑥 3
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 ൗ2

−42
⟹ 𝑓𝑦 ൧ = 3
(6,7) 85 ൗ2
 Polling Quiz
The value of 𝑓𝑥 , 𝑓𝑦 for the function 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑥 at (1,1) is:
(A) (2,2)
(B) (3,2)
(C) (3,3)
(D) (1,2)
 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
Problem 1. If 𝑧 = 𝑓 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 , then show that 𝑏 −𝑎 = 0.
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Solution. Here 𝑧 = 𝑓 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦
𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧
⟹ = 𝑓′ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑎 ⟹ 𝑓′ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = (1)
𝜕𝑥 𝑎 𝜕𝑥

𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧
and = 𝑓 ′ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 𝑏 ⟹ 𝑓 ′ 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 = (2)
𝜕𝑦 𝑏 𝜕𝑦

Comparing (1) and (2), we get:

1 𝜕𝑧 1 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
= ⟹ 𝑏 = 𝑎
𝑎 𝜕𝑥 𝑏 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
⟹ 𝑏 − 𝑎 =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Hence proved.
 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧
Problem 2. If 𝑧 = log , then show that 𝑥 +𝑦 = 0.
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦

Solution. Here 𝑧 = log 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 − log 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2

𝜕𝑧 2𝑥 2𝑥 2𝑥 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 −𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 4𝑥𝑦 2
⟹ = − = =
𝜕𝑥 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4

𝜕𝑧 −2𝑦 2𝑦 −2𝑦 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2 +𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 −4𝑦𝑥 2

and = − 2 2 = =
𝜕𝑦 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 𝑥 +𝑦 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4

𝜕𝑧 𝜕𝑧 4𝑥𝑦 2 −4𝑦𝑥 2
L.H.S. 𝑥 + 𝑦 =𝑥 +𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4 𝑥 4 −𝑦 4

4𝑥 2 𝑦 2 −4𝑥 2 𝑦 2
= = 0 R.H.S.
𝑥 4 −𝑦 4

Hence proved.