Functions of

several variables
 Introduction
The work done by a force (W = F.d) and the volume of a right circular cylinder (V = Πr2h)
are both functions of two variables.
The volume of a rectangular solid (V = lwh) is a function of three variables.
The notation for a function of two or more variables is similar to that for a function of a
single variable.
Here are two examples:

2
3
 Definition of a
“
function of two variables
Let D⊆R be a function f real of two real
2,

variables is a relation that assigns every

4
+ Note : Let D be a set of ordered pairs of real
numbers.
+ If f is a function of two variables with domain D
∈ R2, then the graph of f is the set of all points P
of the space whose coordinates (X, Y, Z) ∈ R3
and verify the conditions w=f(x,y,z) y (x,y)∈D.

5
 The Graph of a function of two variables
The graph of a function f of two variables is the
set of all points (x, y, z) for which z = f(x, y) and
(x, y) is in the domain of f.
This graph can be interpreted geometrically as
a surface in space.
In Figure , note that the graph of z = f (x, y) is a
surface whose projection onto the xy-plane is
the D, the domain of f.
To each poin (x,y) in D there corresponds a
point (x,y,z) on the surface, and, conversely, to
each point (x,y,z) on the surface there
corresponds a point (x,y) in D.

6
 Example of a two-variable function
1)Find the domain of the following function:

The function f is defined for all points (x, y) such that x ≠ 0 and
So, the domain is the set of all points lying on or outside the circle
except those points on the y-axis, as shown in Figure.

7
8
 Function of several variables
Functions of several variables can be combined in the same ways as functions
of single variables.
For instance, you can form the sum, difference, product,and quotient of two
functions of two variables as follows.

9
 Composition of function of several variables
You cannot form the composite of two functions of several variables
because in g(f(x,y)) f produces only one output, while you need two inputs
for function g.
However, if h is a function of several variables and g is a function of a single
variable, you can form the composite function as follows.

f ( x, y ) = 4 − x 2 − y 2
h ( x, y ) = 4 − x 2 − y 2
g (u ) = u
( g  h)( x, y ) = g (h( x, y )) = 4 − x 2 − y 2 = f ( x, y )
10
 Polynimial function
A function that can be written as a sum of functions of the form cxmyn (where c
is a real number m and n are nonnegative integers) is called a polynomial
function of two variables.
For instance, the functions given by

are polynomial functions of two variables.

3x 3 y 2 − x 2 y 4 + 1 - -polynomial
3x 3 y 2 − x 2 y 4 + 1
- -rational
2x y + x y
2 2 2
11
 Example of a two-variable function
2)What is the range of
Describe the graph of f.
The domain D implied by the equation of f is the set of all points
(x,y) such that 16-4x2-y2≥0. So, D is the set of all points lying on
or inside the ellipse given by

12
16 − 4 x 2 − y 2  0
16  4 x 2 + y 2
x2 y2
+ 1
4 16

13
The range of f is all values z = f(x, y) such that 0≤z≤√16 or 0 ≤z≤4.
A point (x, y, z) is on the graph of f if and only if

4x2+y2+z2=16
𝑥2 𝑦2 𝑧2
+ + =1
4 16 16

You know that the graph of f is the

14
 Level Curves
The level curves of a function f of two variables are the equation curves f (x, y) = k,
where k is a constant in the range of f.

15
 Level curves
A second way to visualize a
function of two variables is to use a
scalar field in which the scalar z =
f(x, y) is assigned to the point (x, y).
A scalar field can be characterized
by level curves (or contour lines)
along which the value of f(x, y) is
constant.

16
For instance, the weather map in Figure
shows level curves of equal pressure
called isobars.

17
In weather maps for which the level curves
represent points of equal temperature, the
level curves are called isotherms, as shown
in Figure.
Another common use of level curves is in
representing electric potential fields.
In this type of map, the level curves are
called equipotential lines.

18
Contour maps are commonly used to show
regions on Earth’s surface, with the level
curves representing the height above sea
level.
This type of map is called a topographic map.
For example, the mountain shown in Figure
13.7 is represented by the topographic map in
Figure 13.8

19
A contour map depicts the variation of z with respect to x and y by the
spacing between level curves.

Much space between level curves indicates that z is changing slowly,

Furthermore, to produce a good three-dimensional illusion in a contour

20
The hemisphere given by is shown in Figure 13.9.
Sketch a contour map of this surface using level curves corresponding to c = 0, 1, 2,…,
8.
Sketch a contour map of this surface using level curves corresponding to c = 0, 1, 2,…,
8.

z = f ( x, y ) = 64 − x 2 − y 2  0
z 2 = 64 − x 2 − y 2 = x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = 64
= upper hemisphere

21
For each value of c, the equation given by f(x, y) = c is a circle (or point) in
the xy-plane.
f ( x, y ) = 64 − x 2 − y 2 = c =
64 − x 2 − y 2 = c 2 = x 2 + y 2 = 64 − c 2 - circles | c | 8

For example, when c1= 0, the level curve is

which is a circle of radius 8.

22
Note how the spacing is much smaller toward the
rim of the circle where z changes more rapidly.
23
 Three variable function
A three-variable real function is a rule that assigns each ordered triple of real
numbers (x,y,z), a single real number f(x,y,z).
The domain of f, Dom(f), is the subset of R3 in which the function is defined;
that is, the domain of a function of three variables is represented as a solid
region of space. The natural domain of a function f of three variables is the set
of all points in space for which f(x,y,z) is a well-defined real number.
The image of f, Im(f), is the subset of R formed by the values taken by the
function f.

For (x,y,z)Є Dom(f) can be written w=f(x,y,z), where it is here it is explicitly

24
 Graphic representation of three variable function

The concept of a graph for a function of three variables is not useful, because
as we live in a three-dimensional world we find it difficult to imagine sets in R4.
As an alternative, we appeal to a spatial representation that leads us to
introduce the idea of level surface for a function of three variables, extending
the concept of the level curve seen for functions of two variables.
Level surfaces: representation in the function domain
The set of all the points of the domain of the function with coordinates (x, y, z)
such that f (x, y, z) = K, where k is a constant that belongs to the image of f.
Calling Sk to the k-level surface, then
Sk={(x,y,z)|(x,y,z) Є Dom(f), f(x,y,z)=K}
for each K Є Im(f).
In other words, the value of the function f at any point on a surface of level Sk,
is equal to K.

25
Suppose that f (x; y; z) = x2 + y2 + z2 whose domain is all R3. A level surface For
example, the level surface 1 for f is the set where it is a subset of R3 where f is
constant. x2 + y2 + z2 = 1. We can visualize this one: it is the spherical surface with a
center at the origin and radius 1 at R3.

26