ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS 2

BEKG 2443
D ZINI
FUNTIONS OF SEVERAL VARIABLES
Week 2: Limits & Continuity
• Limits
• Continuity
 Limits
Let 𝑓 be a function of two variables 𝑥, 𝑦 whose domain D includes points
arbitrarily close to 𝑎, 𝑏
Then, the limit of 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 as 𝑥, 𝑦 approaches 𝑎, 𝑏 is A, which can be
expressed as:
lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
 Theorem: Properties of limits of two
variables functions
Assume lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴 and lim 𝑔 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐵
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏) (𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
i. If f(x,y) = c, a constant, then lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑐
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
ii. Constant Multiple Rule: lim 𝑐. 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑐𝐴
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
iii. Sum & Difference Rule: lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 ± 𝑔 𝑥, 𝑦 =𝐴±𝐵
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
iv. Product Rule: lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 . 𝑔 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴𝐵
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
𝑓 𝑥,𝑦 𝐴
v. Quotient Rule: lim = if B ≠ 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏) 𝑔 𝑥,𝑦 𝐵
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
vi. Power Rule: lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝐴 if 𝐴 is
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏) (𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
defined
 Example 2.1
Evaluate the following limits:
2𝑥 2 +3𝑦 2
1. lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 5𝑥𝑦+4𝑦
𝑥 2 −𝑦 2
2. lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥+𝑦
 Solution
1. Calculate the limit of the denominator, which is
lim 5𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦 = 5 × 2 × 3 + 4 × 3 = 42 ≠ 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3)
Thus we have
2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 2 lim 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑦 235
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3)
lim = =
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 5𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦 lim 5𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦 42
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3)
2. The limit in the denominator is
lim 𝑥+𝑦 =0+0=0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
Simplifying the function, it becomes
𝑥2 − 𝑦2 (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
lim = lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 + 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥+𝑦
= lim (𝑥 + 𝑦) = 0 + 0 = 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
 Example 2.2
Evaluate the following limits:
3𝑥 2 +3𝑦
1. lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(1,2) 4𝑥𝑦 2
𝑥 2 −4𝑦 2
2. lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,1) 𝑥−2𝑦
sin(𝑥+𝑦)
3. lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝜋,𝜋/2) 2𝑥𝑦
 Does the limit exist?
We can define that lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 exists if and only if the limits along
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
every direction as 𝑥, 𝑦 approached (𝑎, 𝑏) are equivalent.

To show that lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 does not exist in (𝑎, 𝑏), we only need to
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
show that the function has different limits along two different directions
when 𝑥, 𝑦 approaches (𝑎, 𝑏)
 Example 2.3
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
Show that lim does not exist.
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2
 Solution
For x = 0:
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑦2
lim 2 2
= lim 2
= lim −1 = −1
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 𝑥 − 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) −𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)

For y = 0:
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 𝑥2
lim 2 2
= lim 2
= lim 1 = 1
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 𝑥 − 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)

Since the limits

2 2
from the two directions are not the same, therefore
𝑥 +𝑦
lim 2 2 does not exist
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 𝑥 −𝑦
 Example 2.4
𝑥𝑦
Show that lim 2 2 does not exist.
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 −𝑦
 Solution
For x = 0:
𝑥𝑦 0
lim 2 2
= lim 2
= lim 0 = 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 − 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) −𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)

For y = 0:
𝑥𝑦 0
lim 2 2
= lim 2
= lim 0 = 0
(𝑥,𝑦)→(2,3) 𝑥 − 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
 Solution
Even though the limits are the same, however it does not mean the
limits exists.

For y = 2x:
𝑥𝑦 2𝑥 2 2 2
lim 2 2
= lim 2
= lim =
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 − 𝑦 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) −3𝑥 (𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) −3 −3

Since the limits from two directions are not the same, therefore
𝑥𝑦
lim 2 2 does not exist.
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 −𝑦
 Example 2.5
Show that below limits do not exist:
𝑥 2 +2𝑦 2
a) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥2
b) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
𝑥 2 +𝑦 2
c) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 2𝑥𝑦
4𝑥 2 −3𝑦 2
d) lim
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0) 𝑥 2 −2𝑦 2
 Continuity
A function is defined to be continuous at (𝑎, 𝑏), if the following three
conditions hold:
1. f(a,b) is defined;
2. lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 exists
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
3. lim 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑎, 𝑏)
(𝑥,𝑦)→(𝑎,𝑏)
 Theorem: Properties of continuous
functions
Assume that 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) and 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) are continuous. Then 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) ± 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦)
{Sum & Difference}, 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 . 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) {Product}, 𝑘𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) {Constant
𝑚/𝑛 𝑓(𝑥,𝑦)
Multiplies}, 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) {Power}, where 𝑔(𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ 0 {Quotient},
𝑔(𝑥,𝑦)
are also continuous.
 Example 2.6
Find the area R in which the following function is continuous:
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 5 ln(𝑦 + 2)

Solution:
X: the values of x is real for 𝑥 − 5 ≥ 0 ⇒ 𝑥 ≥ 5
y: the values of y is real for 𝑦 + 2 > 0 ⇒ 𝑦 > −2
Thus, the area 𝑅 = { 𝑥, 𝑦 : 𝑥, 𝑦 ∈ ℜ, 𝑥 ≥ 5, 𝑦 > −2}
 Example 2.7
𝑥𝑦
𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 , (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
Show that 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ቐ is not continuous at the
0, 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,0)
origin.
 Solution
Condition 1: 𝑓 0,0 = 0. Thus, the value of 𝑓is defined at (0,0)
Condition 2: Is lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) exists? Refer to Example 2.3, the
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) is proven not exist.
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
Condition 3: lim 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = 𝑓 0,0 ? Since the limit is failed to exist
(𝑥,𝑦)→(0,0)
when (x,y) approaches to (0,0), therefore the function is not continuous
at origin.
 Example 2.8
1. Show that 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 3(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 is continuous at (0,0).
2. Show that the function is continuous at (0,0) if
sin(𝑥 + 𝑦)
, (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ൞ 𝑥 + 𝑦
1, 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,0)
 Example 2.9
Show that the function is not continuous at (0,0):
2𝑥
2 2
, (𝑥, 𝑦) ≠ (0,0)
𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = ൞𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑦
0, 𝑥, 𝑦 = (0,0)