1.1 Points 1.2 Functions of Two Variables 1.

3 Sketching More Examples

Chapter 1, Sketching in 3D
Week 1

xyz space
representing points
planes with one variable constant
distance formula
Functions with two independent variables: domain and
range
Trace of a surface, level curves
Graphs of functions of two variables

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y
x

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First Octant

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First Octant

crease
3

open

4 x y

Open with three layers on top, one on bottom.

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First Octant Practice

Label the following points in your octant:

(1, 1, 0)
(0, 1, 1)
(1, 0, 1)
Point to the following points in your octant:
(1, 1, 1)
(1, 2, 3)
(1, −1, 1)
(1, 1, −1)

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2D representations of 3D objects

x y

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1.1 Points 1.2 Functions of Two Variables 1.3 Sketching More Examples

Distance in Two Dimensions

In the xy plane, we can find the distance between two points

using the Pythagorean theorem.

(x1 , y1 )

(x0 , y0 )

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Distance from the Origin in Three Dimensions

You don’t have to memorize this proof, but it’s neat!

z
(a, b, c)
c

b y
a

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How far is the point (1, −2, 3) from the origin?

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1.1 Points 1.2 Functions of Two Variables 1.3 Sketching More Examples

Distance Formula in Three Dimensions

(x1 , y1 , z1 )

(x0 , y0 , z0 )

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Distance in 3 Dimensions

Calculate the distance between the points (1, 2, 3) and

(4, 0, 7).

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Distance in 3 Dimensions

Consider the collection of points (x, y , z) that satisfy the

equation
x2 + y2 + z2 = 1
What property do all such points have in common?

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Domain and Range

We often write z as a function of x and y :

z = f (x, y )

Restrictions on domains can be caused by:

Denominators (can’t be 0)
Fractional powers
√ (can’t have an even root of a negative
number, e.g. −3)
Logarithms (argument must be positive)
Some trig and inverse trig functions (e.g. tan π2 )

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Domain and Range

p
Find the domain and range of f (x, y ) = x2 + y2 − 1

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2 2
Warm-up: Let f (x, y ) = e x +y . Simplify:
f (0, 0)
f (1, −1)
f (3, 2)
2 2
Find the domain and range of f (x, y ) = e x +y

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2 +y 2
z = ex
z

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Domain and Range

 
Find the domain and range of f (x, y ) = sin √x
y

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z = sin √x
y

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Drawing surfaces in three dimensions

The collection of points (x, y ) in R2 (ie the xy -plane) such

that x 2 + y 2 = 1 forms a

If the points (x, y , z) in R3 (ie in xyz-space) form a unit

sphere, what equation do they satisfy?

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Drawing surfaces in three dimensions

x2 + y2 + z2 = 1

z
1

y
1

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Drawing surfaces in three dimensions

x2 + y2 + z2 = 1

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1.1 Points 1.2 Functions of Two Variables 1.3 Sketching More Examples

Drawing surfaces in three dimensions

Trace
A trace is the shape formed by a surface in three dimensions
found by setting one of the variables equal to a constant.
If we set z to a constant, this trace is also called a level
curve, since it is horizonal (level) in the usual xyz orientation.

x2 + y2 + z2 = 1
These traces are all circles, of varying radii.

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Special Planes

On your folded octant, find the planes defined by these

equations:
z =0
y =0
z =1
z =2

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Trace
A trace is the shape formed by a surface in three dimensions
found by setting one of the variables equal to a constant.

x2 + y2 + z2 = 1
x = 0: y2 + z2 = 1
z = 0: x2 + y2 = 1
z = 12 : x 2 + y 2 = 34
z = 34 : 7
x 2 + y 2 = 16

These traces are all circles, of varying radii.

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Using traces to draw surfaces in three dimensions

What does the surface x 2 + y 2 = z look like?

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x2 + y2 = z

Generally cone-shaped

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x2 + y2 = z

Like this?

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x2 + y2 = z

Like this?

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Using traces to draw surfaces in three dimensions

What does the surface x 2 + y 2 = z look like?

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x2 + y2 = z

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Shapes to know

Let a, b, c be nonzero constants.

point x 2 + y 2 = 0,
(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = 0
line ax + by = c
parabola y = ax 2 + bx + c,
x = ay 2 + by + c
circle x 2 + y 2 = c 2 ,
(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = a2
ellipse ax 2 + by 2 = c 2 ,
(x − a)2 + b(y − c)2 = 1

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Use traces to sketch the surface 2x 2 + y 2 = z 2 .

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2x 2 + y 2 = z 2

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z = x + y2

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Time permitting: more examples

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1.1 Points 1.2 Functions of Two Variables 1.3 Sketching More Examples

Find the domain and range of the function

f (x, y ) = (x 2 − y )2
Then, decide which sketch below shows z = f (x, y ).

A. B.

C. D.
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Find the domain and range of the function

f (x, y ) = x − y
Then, decide which sketch below shows z = f (x, y ).

A. B.

C. D.
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Find the domain and range of the function

f (x, y ) = sin(y )
Then, decide which sketch below shows z = f (x, y ).

A. B.

C. D.
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Find the domain and range of the function

f (x, y ) = e x
Then, decide which sketch below shows z = f (x, y ).

A. B.

C. D.
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External Resources

3D Graphing: Geogebra
YouTube:
Plotting points in three dimensions
Drawing a saddle point using traces
Drawing with different traces
Online Notes:
3D sketching: Notes from the incomparable Joel Feldman
3D sketching
Graphing with level curves: Paul’s Online Math Notes
Graphing with level curves
A collection of common surfaces: Paul’s Online Math
Notes
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