1

Chapter 1: Multivariable Functions

1.1 Functions of Two Variables
+ Notation and Terminology
+ Domain and Range
+ Graphs of Functions of Two
Variables
+ Level Curves
1.2 Some Common Surfaces
1.3 Functions of Three Variables
+ Domain and Range
+ Level Surfaces



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1.1 Functions of Two Variables
In most scientific problems, a quantity
under investigation will depend (for its
values), not only on one variable, but on
several other variables.
1.1.1 Notation and Terminology
The terminology and notation for
functions of two or more variable is
similar to that for functions of one
variable.
+ ) , ( y x f z =
+ ) , , ( z y x F w =
+ ) , , , (
2 1 n
x x x g u =
The function f is called a real-valued
function of two variables or simply
function of two variables.
3
We refer to x and y as the independent
variables and z as the dependent
variable.
Similarly, F is a function of three
variables x, y and z and g a function of n
variables.
Thus we say that,
+ The volume V of a circular cylinder
of radius r and height h is a function
of two variables.
h r h r f V
2
) , ( t = =
r and h would be the independent
variables and V the dependent variable.
+ The temperature at each point in a
closed room is represented by
2 2 2
) , , ( z y x z y x F T + + = =
x, y and z are the independent variables
and T the dependent variable.
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Notes
Some relationships between several
variables are not stated as an explicit
formula for one of the variables in
terms of the others.
For example,
y x z tan sin
2
= +
In such cases, it may be necessary to
specify which is the dependent variable.
As with functions of one variable,
functions of several variables can be
represented numerically (using a table
of values), algebraically (using a
formula), and sometimes graphically
(using a graph).
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1.1.2 Domain and Range
A real-valued function, f, of x, y, z, ... is
a rule for manufacturing a new number,
written ) , , , ( z y x f , from the values of
a sequence of independent variables
) , , , ( z y x . For example,
1. y x y x f = ) , (
Function of two
variables
1 2 1 ) 2 , 1 ( = = f
Substitute 1 for
x and 2 for y
3 ) 1 ( 2 ) 1 , 2 ( = = f
Substitute 2 for
x and 1 for y
2. xz y x z y x h + + = ) , , (

Function of
three variables
0
) 2 ( 2 2 2 ) 2 , 2 , 2 (
=
+ + = h

Substitute 2 for
x, 2 for y, and
2 for z
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Definition 1.1.2
A function of two variables is a rule f
that assigned to each ordered pair (x, y)
in a set D a unique number ) , ( y x f . The
set D is called the domain of the
function, and the corresponding values of
) , ( y x f constitute the range of f.


Example
Let ( , ) 1 f x y x y.
(a) Evaluate ( 1, 2) f , (0, 3) f and ( , ) f r s .
(b) Describe the domain and the range of f.


Solution
(a) By substitution,
( 1, 2) 1 ( 1) 2 4 f
(0, 3) 1 0 ( 3) 2 f
( , ) 1 f r s r s
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(b) The domain is a set of all ordered pairs
( , ) x y for which 1 x y is defined. There
is no restriction on the independent
variables. This means we can have all real
values of x and y as inputs. Thus the domain
of f consists of all points in the entire xy-
plane. This normally can be written as
{( , ) , }
f
D x y x y
The range which is the set of outputs, is all
single real numbers, that is
: { }
f
R z z or : ( , )
f
R

Example
Let.
2
( , ) 3 1 f x y x y .
i. Describe and sketch the domain.
ii. Determine the range.
Solution
(i) The domain is a set of all ordered pairs ( , ) x y
for which
2
3 1 x y is defined. We must
have the restriction 0 y in order for the
square root to be defined. Thus the domain of
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f consists of all points in the xy-plane that are
on or above the x-axis. This can be written as
{( , ) 0}
f
D x y y
The graph of the domain:





(ii) The range is all real numbers greater than
or equal to 1, that is
: { 1}
f
R z z or : [ 1, )
f
R







x
y
y > 0
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Question 1
Given
2
, 2 f x y x y .
i. Evaluate ( 2, 5), (5, 2), f f and (0, 2). f
ii. Find the domain and range.

Question 2
Given
2
,
y
f x y
x
.
i. Evaluate (3, 1), (1, 3), f f and (2, 0). f
ii. Find the domain and range.

Question 3

Find the domain and range of the following
functions.
(a)
2
ln( ) z x y
(b) , sin 2 f u v u v
(c)
2 2
( , ) 25 f x y x y




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1.1.3 Graphs of Functions of Two
Variables
( ) y f x , the graph is a curve in the xy-
plane
2
consisting of all ordered
pairs ( , ) x y
( , ) z f x y , the graph is a surface in
3

consisting of ( , , ) x y z for (x, y) in the
domain of f
( , , ) w f x y z , the graph is 3-
dimensional inside
4

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3-DIMENSIONAL COORDINATE
SYSTEM

12




Floor: xy-plane; equation is 0 = z .
Ceiling: plane parallel to the xy-
plane; equation is 8 = z .
Front wall: yz-plane; equation is 0 = x .
Back wall: plane parallel to the yz-
plane; equation is 30 = x .
Left wall: xz-plane; equation is 0 = y .
Right wall: plane parallel to the xz-
plane; equation is 25 = y .
The xy-, xz-, and yz-planes are called the
coordinate planes.
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10_17b.jpg

14
Graphs in Three-Dimensional System
The graph of the function f of two
variables is the set of all points ) , , ( z y x in
three-dimensional space, where the values
of (x, y) lie in the domain of f and
) , ( y x f z = .









z
x
(x, y)
(x, y, f(x, y))
y
D
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Sketching Graphs of Two Variables
Function
There are two ways to picture the values of
a function ( , ) f x y :
- a contour plot, or a two-dimensional
picture of the level curves of the surface,
which have equations of the form
( , ) f x y c, where c is a constant;
- the graph of the function, which is the
set of points (x, y, z) in three-
dimensional space satisfying
( , ) z f x y = .
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1.1.4 Level Curves
When the plane c z = intersects the
surface ) , ( y x f z = , the result is the
space curve with the equation
c y x f = ) , ( .
+ The intersection curve is called the
trace of the graph f in the plane
c z = .
+ The projection of this curve on the xy-
plane is called a level curve.
+ A collection of such curves is a
contour map.
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Relationship Between Graphs of
Surfaces and Level Curves


Definition 1.1.4
The level curves of a function f of two
variables are the curves with equations
( , ) f x y c, where c is a constant (in the
range of f ). A set of level curves for
( , ) z f x y is called a contour plot of f.


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Example
Sketch the contour plot of
3 z x y =
using level curves at 9 6 3 0 3 6 9 , , , , , , c = .
Solution
The level curve of the function is defined by
3 x y c = where 9 6 3 0 3 6 9 , , , , , , c = .
Solving for y, we have the level curves of height
c as straight lines 3 y x c = . The contour
map is as shown below:






Traces at
9 6 3 0 3 6 9 , , , , , , c = :

Contour plot:


c = 9
c = -6
c = 0
c = 6
c = - 9
c = 3
c = - 3
x
y
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Example
Sketch the contour plot of
2 2
4 ( , ) f x y x y = +
using level curves at 0 1 2 3 4 5 , , , , , c = .

Solution
The level curve of f at c has the equation
2 2
4x y c + = .
If 0 c = , the graph is the single point (0, 0).
For 0 c > we can rewrite the equation as
2 2
1
4
x y
c c
+ = , which represents a family of
ellipses.
1 c = :
2 2
1
1 4 1
x y
+ =
2 c = :
2 2
1
2 4 2
x y
+ =
3 c = :
2 2
1
3 4 3
x y
+ =
4 c = :
2 2
1
4 4 4
x y
+ =

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Traces at 0 c >
Contour plot







z
x
y
0
2
4
6
2
2
4
4

x
y
c = 1
c = 0
c = 2
c = 3
c = 4
c = 5
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1.2 Some Common Surfaces
The graph of an equation in
3
is called a
surface. Four types of surface in space:
+ Planes
Std equation: d cz by ax = + +
+ Spheres
Std equation:
2 2 2 2
) ( ) ( ) ( r c z b y a x = + +
+ Cylinders
parabolic, circular, hyperbolic and
elliptic
+ Quadric Surfaces
3-D analogs of conic sections
Std equation:
2 2 2
Ax By Cz Dxy Exz Fyz Gx
Hy Iz J

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6 types of quadric surfaces:
For simplicity, we only gave the
equation for the quadric surfaces
that are centred on the origin.
- Ellipsoid:
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
= + +
c
z
b
y
a
x

- hyperboloid of one sheet:
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
= +
c
z
b
y
a
x

- hyperboloid of two sheets:
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
=
b
y
a
x
c
z

- elliptic cone:
2
2
2
2
2
2
c
z
b
y
a
x
= +
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- elliptic paraboloid:
c
z
b
y
a
x
= +
2
2
2
2

- hyperbolic paraboloid:
c
z
a
x
b
y
=
2
2
2
2


Ellipsoid:
2 2 2
2 2 2
1
x y z
a b c
+ + =
All traces in the coordinate planes and
planes parallel to these are ellipses. If
a b c, the ellipsoid is a sphere.

Elliptic Paraboloid:
2 2
2 2
z x y
c
a b
= +
The trace in the xy-plane is a point (the
origin), and the traces in planes
parallel to and above the xy-plane are
ellipses. The traces in the yz- and xz-
planes are parabolas.

Hyperbolic Paraboloid (saddle
surface):
2 2
2 2
z y x
c
b a
=
The trace in the xy-plane is a pair of
lines intersecting at the origin. The

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traces in planes parallel to these are
hyperbolas. The traces in the yz- and
xz-planes are parabolas, as are the
traces in planes parallel to these.
Elliptic cone:
2 2 2
2 2 2
x y z
a b c
+ =
The trace in the xy-plane is a point (the
origin), and the traces in planes
parallel to these are ellipses. The
traces in the yz- and xz-planes are pairs
of lines intersecting at the origin. The
traces in planes parallel to these are
hyperbolas.

Hyperboloid of One Sheet:

2 2 2
2 2 2
1
x y z
a b c
+ =
The trace in the xy-plane and planes
parallel to these are ellipses. The
traces in the yz-plane and xz-plane are
hyperbolas. The axis symmetry
corresponds to the variable whose
coefficient is negative.

Hyperboloid of Two Sheets:
2 2 2
2 2 2
1
z x y
c a b
=
There is no trace in the xy-plane. In
planes parallel to the xy-plane the
traces are ellipses. In the yz- and xz-
planes, the traces are hyperbolas.


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1.2.1 Sketching Common Surfaces
The following ways can be use to sketch the
surface ( , ) z f x y in 3-space:
+ using the traces of the surface in the
coordinate planes and sometimes in parallel
planes
+ using algebraic manipulation to identify the
standard equation of the function.
Using traces to visualise and sketch a
surface



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+ Graphing Planes in
3

A plane is the graph of a linear equation in three
variables x, y, z which satisfy ax by cz d + + = .
Illustration
Sketching planes in 3-space
- Domain and range defined the surface
- Traces curves of intersection in
coordinates planes
- Plane surface in 3-space
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Example
Suppose 4 x = . Sketch the graph of the
function.
Solution
There is no restriction on
the values of y and z. The
plane consists of all points
of the form (4, y, z). The
only intersection point is
with the x-axis at (4, 0, 0).
There is no triangular
portion. Why?

Look at the traces:
xz-plane, 0 y : 4 x = , a straight line
xy-plane, 0 z : 4 x = , a straight line
No trace in the yz-plane.
Thus, 4 x = is a plane parallel to the yz-plane.
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PLANES PARALLEL TO THE
COORDINATE PLANES


Important Facts
Always remember which coordinate system we
are in. For instance, for the case of 4 x :
+ In , 4 x is a point in a 1-D coordinate
system.
+ In
2
, the graph of the equation 4 x
consists of all the points that are in the form
(4, ) y . This is a vertical line in a 2-D
coordinate system.
+ In
3
, the graph of the equation 4 x
consists of all the points that are in the form
(4, , ) y z . In a 3-D coordinate system this is a
plane that is parallel to the yz-plane and pass
through the x-axis at 4 x .
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Example
Sketch the graph of the functions.
(i) 5 y z + = .
(ii) 3 2 6 x y z + + =
Solution
(i) There is no restriction
on the values of x. Thus,
the plane will lie along
the axis corresponding
to this variable.
The intersections points
are (0, 0, 5) and (0, 5, 0).

Look at the traces:
yz-plane, 0 x : 5 y z + = , a straight line
xz-plane, 0 y : 5 z = , a straight line
xy-plane, 0 z : 5 y = , a straight line
Therefore, 5 y z + = lies along the x-axis.




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(ii)The plane will cut
through all the
coordinate planes.
- Plot points of
intersection between
the plane and the
coordinate axes.

- Connect the points plotted above with line
segments. Shade the triangular portion of
the plane in the first octant.










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Question 1
Show that the graph of the equation
2 2 2
4 6 3 0 x y z x y
is a sphere. Find its center and radius.

Question 2

Find the domain and range of the following
functions; also sketch traces for some values of
, z k xz = trace and yz trace; and hence sketch
the contour lines and the surface
( )
, z f x y = .
(a)
2 2
z x y
(b)
2 2
4 6 13 z x y x y
(c)
2 2
1 z x y





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1.3 Functions of 3 Variables
Basic ideas of functions of two variables
can be extended to the study of functions
of three variables.
- The graph of a one variable function
is 2-space, a two variables function is
in 3-space thus we expect a three
variable function will be in 4-space.
- It is difficult to visualise graphs in 4-
space. However, we can draw the
level surfaces of the graph to
ascertain the properties and behaviour
of three variables functions.

1.3.1 Domain and Range
Definition 1.3
A function f of three variables is a rule
that assigns to each ordered triple ( , , ) x y z
in some domain D in space a unique real
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number ( , , ) w f x y z . The range consists
of the output values for w.

Example
Let
2 2 2
( , , ) f x y z x y z .
i. Evaluate (1, 2,1) , (1, 0,1) , f f ( 3, 2,1) f .
ii. Determine the domain and range.
Solution
i. By substitution,
2 2 2
(1, 2,1) 1 2 1 6 f
2 2 2
(1, 0,1) 1 0 1 2 f
2 2 2
( 3, 2,1) ( 3) 2 1 14 f
ii. The domain is a set of all ordered triplets
( , , ) x y z for which
2 2 2
x y z is defined.
2 2 2
0 x y z for all points in space.
Thus the domain is the entire 3-space.
Domain : {( , , ) , , ) x y z x y z
Range : 0 ( , , ) f x y z
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1.3.2 Level Surfaces
The graphs of functions of three
variables consist of points ( , , , ( , , )) x y z f x y z
lying in four-dimensional space.
- Graphs cannot be sketch effectively
in three-dimensional frame of
reference.
- Can obtain insight of how function
behaves by looking at its three-
dimensional level surfaces.
Level surfaces are the three dimensional
analog of level curves. If ( , , ) f x y z is a
function of three variables and k is a
constant then ( , , ) f x y z k is a surface in
3-space. It is called a contour surface or a
level surface.

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Definition 1.3.2 Level Surface
A level surface of a function of three
variables is a surface of the form
( , , ) f x y z k , where k is a constant. By
allowing k to vary, the function f can be
represented by the family of level
surfaces.

Example
Describe the level surfaces of the function,
2 2 2
( , , ) f x y z x y z
Solution
(a) The level surfaces have equation of the form
2 2 2
x y z k .
For 0 > k , the graph is a sphere of radius k ,
centred at the origin.
For 0 = k , the graph is the single point
(0, 0, 0).
For 0 < k , there is no level surface.
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37

Question

Find the domain and range of the following
functions; also sketch traces for some values of
xy trace, xz trace and yz trace; and hence
sketch the graph of the equations in three
dimensions.
(a)
2 2
1 2 z x y y
(b)
2 2 2
16 9 36 144 x y z
(c)
2 2 2
9 9 y x z
(d)
2 2 2
9 4 49 x y z