SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

LIMITS

For a function of one variable

two one-sided limits at x0 , namely

lim f ( x)

x x0

and

lim f ( x)

x x0+

reflecting the fact that there are only two directions (the right and left)

For function of two variables

the statement ( x, y ) ( x0 , y0 ) means that the point ( x, y ) is allowed to

approach ( x0 , y0 ) from any direction.

y
x

DEFINITION
If C is a smooth parametric curve in 3-space that is represented by the equations
x = x (t ) , y = y (t )

and if x0 = x(t 0 ), y 0 = y (t 0 ) , then the limits are defined by

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )
along C

f ( x, y ) = lim f ( x(t ), y (t ))
t t 0

( x(t ), y (t ), f ( x (t ), y (t )))

z
L

( x0 , y 0 )

y
C

( x(t ), y (t ))

As the point (x(t), y(t)) moves along the curve in the xy-plane toward ( x0 , y0 ) .

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

The point (x(t), y(t), f (x(t), y(t))) moves directly above it along the graph of z = f ( x, y )
with ( x (t ), y (t )) approaching the limiting value L.

If the value of

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )

f ( x, y )

is not the same for all possible approaches, or paths to ( x0 , y0 ) , the limit does
not exist.

DEFINITION (GENERAL)
Let f be a function of two variables defined, except possibly at ( x0 , y0 ) on an open disc
centered at ( x0 , y0 ) and let L be a real number. Then

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )

f ( x, y ) = L

If for each > 0 there corresponds a > 0 that | f ( x, y ) L | < whenever

0 < ( x x0 ) 2 + ( y y0 ) 2 <

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

ALTERNATIVE NOTATION

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )

f ( x, y ) = L also be written as
f ( x, y ) L as ( x, y ) ( x0 , y0 )

PROPERTIES OF LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES

The following rules hold if

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )

1. Scalar
Multiple
2. Sum or
Difference

f ( x, y ) = L and

lim

( x , y ) ( x0 , y 0 )

g ( x, y ) = M

lim k f ( x, y ) = kL
(k-constant)

lim [ f ( x, y ) g ( x, y )]
= lim f ( x, y ) lim g ( x, y )
= LM

3. Product

lim [ f ( x, y ) g ( x, y )]

= [lim f ( x, y ) ][lim g ( x, y )]
= LM

4. Quotient

lim

f ( x, y ) lim f ( x, y )
L
; M 0
=
=
g ( x, y ) lim g ( x, y ) M

The limit of quotient is the quotient of the

limit provided the limit of denominator is
nonzero.
5. Power

lim [ f ( x, y )]

= [lim f ( x, y )]

= Ln
6. Root

lim n f ( x, y )
= n lim f ( x, y )
=

provided L 0 if n is even

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

Limit of multivariable functions is more complicated to be determined than limit

for the functions of single variable.

Step To Find The Limit

1st attempt :
-

Determine whether f ( a, b) defined or not.

If not, try 2nd attempt.

2nd attempt :
Simplify f (a, b) (if not applicable, try 3rd attempt), then check again
whether f (a, b) defined or not.

3rd attempt :
-

Show that the limit of the function f (a, b) does not exists.
Choose any two curves (or lines) which pass through the point (a, b).
Show the values of the limit are not the same from those directions.
Conclude that the limit for that function does not exits.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example 1
Evaluate

lim

( x , y ) (1, 2 )

(12 x 3x 5 y 2 + 3) .

Solution
lim

( x , y ) (1, 2 )

(12 x 3x 5 y 2 + 3) =

lim

( x , y ) (1, 2 )

12 x

lim

( x , y ) (1, 2 )

3x 5 y 2 +

lim

( x , y ) (1, 2 )

= 12(1) 3(15 )( 2 2 ) + 3
=3

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example 2
Evaluate

lim

( x , y ) ( 3, 4 )

x2 + y 2 .

Solution

lim

( x , y ) ( 3 , 4 )

x2 + y2 =

lim

( x , y ) ( 3, 4 )

= 32 + (4) 2
= 25
=5

x2 +

lim

( x , y ) ( 3 , 4 )

y2

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

Example 3
The function f ( x, y ) = 2 x 4 y 2 7 xy + 4 x 2 y 3 5 is a polynomial, so find its limit at
(1, 2) .
Solution
lim

( x , y ) ( 1, 2 )

2 x 4 y 2 7 xy + 4 x 2 y 3 5
=

lim

( x , y ) ( 1, 2 )

2x 4 y 2

lim

( x , y ) ( 1, 2 )

7 xy +

lim

( x , y ) ( 1, 2 )

4x 2 y 3

lim

( x , y ) ( 1, 2 )

= 2(1) 4 (2) 2 7(1)(2) + 4(1) 2 (2) 3 5

= 8 + 14 + 32 5
= 49

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example 4
Find

lim

( x , y ) ( 0, 0 )

x 2 xy
x y

Solution
1st attempt :

lim

( x , y ) ( 0, 0)

x 2 xy
x y

0
(indeterminate form)
0

2nd attempt :

lim

( x , y ) ( 0, 0 )

x 2 xy x + y

(
x
,
y
)

(
0
,
0
)
x y
x y x + y
x( x y )( x + y )
= lim
( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 )
x y

x 2 xy

lim

lim

( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 )

x( x + y )

= 0( 0 + 0 )
=0

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

Example 5
Let f ( x, y ) =

xy
.
x + y2
2

Find the limit of f ( x, y ) as ( x, y ) (0, 0) along

(a)
the x-axis
(c)
(b)
the y-axis
(d)

the parabola y = x 2
the line y = x

Solution
(a)

1st method
the x-axis has parametric equations x = t , y = 0 with (0, 0) corresponding to t = 0
So,
lim f ( x, y ) = lim f (t , 0)
( x , y )( 0 , 0 )

t 0

= lim
t 0

t ( 0)
t2 + 0

=0

2nd method
along x-axis ( y = 0)
lim

( x , y ) ( 0,0)

(b)

x ( 0)
=0
( x , y ) ( 0,0 ) x + 0 2
lim

along y-axis ( x = 0)
lim

( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 )

(c)

f ( x, y ) =

xy
(0) y
=0
= lim
2
2
( x , y ) ( 0 , 0 ) 0 + y 2
x +y
2

along y = x 2

xy
xx 2
=
lim
( x , y )( 0 , 0 ) x 2 + y 2
( x , y )( 0 , 0 ) x 2 + ( x 2 ) 2
x
= lim
( x , y ) ( 0,0 ) 1 + x 2
=0
lim

(d)

along y = x
lim

( x , y )( 0 , 0 )

xy
xx
= lim
2
2
x
y

(
,
)
(
0
,
0
)
x +y
x + x2
x2
= lim
( x , y )( 0 , 0 ) 2 x 2
1
=
2
2

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

Example 6
Show that

lim

( x , y ) ( 0,0 )

x2 y 2
does not exist.
x2 + y 2

Solution
1st attempt :

x2 y 2 0
= (indeterminate form)
x2 + y2 0

lim

( x , y )( 0 , 0 )

3rd attempt :
along x-axis ( y = 0)

along y-axis ( x = 0)

lim

x2 y 2
x2 0
=
lim
=1
x 2 + y 2 ( x , y ) ( 0, 0) x 2 + 0

lim

x2 y 2
0 y2
=
lim
= 1
x 2 + y 2 ( x , y ) ( 0, 0) 0 + y 2

( x , y ) ( 0, 0 )

( x , y ) ( 0, 0)

Since f ( x, y ) has two different limits along two different lines, therefore the limit does
not exist.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example 7
If f ( x, y ) =

xy 2
, does
x2 + y 4

lim

( x , y )( 0 , 0 )

f ( x, y ) exist?

Solution
1st attempt :

xy 2
0
= (indeterminate form)
2
4
( x , y )( 0 , 0 ) x + y
0
lim

3rd attempt :

xy 2
x (0 2 )
lim
= lim
=0
( x , y ) ( 0, 0) x 2 + y 4
( x , y ) ( 0, 0 ) x 2 + 04

along x-axis ( y = 0)

along y-axis ( x = 0)

along parabola x = y 2

Then the limit does not exist

lim

( x , y ) ( 0,0 )

xy 2
(0) y 2
=0
=
lim
x 2 + y 4 ( x , y ) ( 0, 0 ) 02 + y 4

xy 2
y2 y2
1
=
lim
=
2
4
2
2
4
( x , y ) ( 0, 0) x + y
( x , y ) ( 0, 0) ( y ) + y
2
lim

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

CONTINUITY

The intuitive meaning of continuity is that if the point (x, y) changes by a small
amount, then the value of f (x, y) changes by a small amount.

This means that a surface that is the graph of continuous function has no hole or
break.

Definition
A function f (x, y) is continuous at ( x0 , y0 ) if
1.
2.
3.

lim

( x , y )( x0 , y0 )

f ( x, y ) exists,

f is defined at ( x0 , y0 )

lim

( x , y )( x0 , y0 )

f ( x, y ) = f ( x0 , y0 )

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Example 1
Where is the function f ( x, y ) =

x2 2 y2
discontinuous?
2x2 + y 2

Solution
1st attempt :

lim

( x , y )( 0 , 0 )

x2 2 y2 0
= (indeterminate form)
2x2 + y2 0

3rd attempt :
along x-axis ( y = 0)

along y-axis ( x = 0)

1.

lim

x2 2 y2
x 2 2(0) 1
= lim
=
2 x 2 + y 2 ( x , y ) ( 0, 0 ) 2 x 2 + 0
2

lim

x2 2 y2
0 2 y2
=
lim
= 2
2 x 2 + y 2 ( x , y ) ( 0, 0) 2(0) + y 2

( x , y ) ( 0, 0)

( x , y ) ( 0, 0 )

Since f (x, y) has two different limits along two different lines, therefore
lim
f ( x, y ) does not exists.
( x , y )( x0 , y0 )

2.

f (0, 0) is undefined.

Then the function f ( x, y ) is discontinuous at (0, 0) because it is not defined there.

SRI / Calculus / Multivariable Functions / Limits & Continuity

Example 2
Let

xy 4 y

g ( x, y ) = x 2
0

( x, y ) (4, 0)
( x, y ) = (4, 0)

Show that g(x, y) continuous at (4, 0).

Solution

1st attempt :
lim

( x , y )( 4 , 0 )

xy 4 y 0
= (indeterminate form)
x 2 0

2nd attempt :
lim

( x , y )( 4 , 0 )

xy 4 y
xy 4 y x + 2
= lim

x 2 ( x , y )( 4 , 0 ) x 2
x +2
y ( x 4)( x + 2)
= lim
( x , y ) ( 4 , 0 )
x4
= lim y ( x + 2)
( x , y ) ( 4 , 0 )

=0

1.

Therefore,

2.

g ( 4, 0) = 0

3.

lim

( x , y ) ( 4 , 0 )

lim

( x , y ) ( 4 , 0 )

g ( x, y ) exists.

g ( x, y ) = 0 = g (4, 0)

Then, the function g(x, y) is continuous at (4, 0).