MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

MATH 209Calculus, III

Volker Runde
University of Alberta

Edmonton, Fall 2011

The tangent plane problem, I

MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Task Put a tangent plane to the surface given by z = f (x , y ) at P (x0 , y0 , z0 ). Approach The tangent plane P has the form A(x x0 ) + B (y y0 ) + C (z z0 ) = 0. Suppose that C = 0, then A B z z0 = (x x0 ) (y y0 ) C C
=a =b

= a(x x0 ) + b (y y0 ).

The tangent plane problem, II

MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Approach (continued) Intersect the tangent plane with the plane y = y0 : z z0 = a(x x0 ). Hence: a is the slope of the tangent line at P (x0 , y0 , z0 ) to z = f (x , y ) in the direction of the x -axis, i.e., a = fx (x0 , y0 ). Similarly: b = fy (x0 , y0 ).

The tangent plane problem, III

MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Theorem Suppose that f has continuous partial derivatives. Then the tangent plane to the surface z = f (x , y ) at P (x0 , y0 , z0 ) is given by z z0 = fx (x0 , y0 )(x x0 ) + fy (x0 , y0 )(y y0 ).

Examples, I
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Example Find the tangent plane to z = x 2 + 3y 2 at P (2, 1, 7). We have: z z = 2x and = 6y , x y so that z (2, 1) = 4 x and z (2, 1) = 6. y

We thus have the tangent plane equation: z 7 = 4(x 2) 6(y + 1) = 4x 8 6y 6, i.e., z = 4x 6y 7.

Linearization
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Idea Use the tangent plane to approximate f . In the previous example, set L(x , y ) = 4x 6y 7. Then L(x , y ) f (x , y ) if (x , y ) (2, 1). Denition The linearization of f at (a, b ) is the function L(x , y ) = f (a, b ) + fx (a, b )(x a) + fy (a, b )(y b ).

Dierentiability, I
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Notation Set: x = increment of x , y = increment of y , z = f (a + x , b + y ) f (a, b ).

Denition If z = f (x , y ), then f is dierentiable at (a, b ) if z = fx (a, b )x + fy (a, b )y + with

1 1 x

2 y

0 and

0 as (x , y ) (0, 0).

Dierentiability, II
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Idea f is dierentiable at (a, b ) if and only if L, i.e., the tangent plane, approximates f very well at (a, b ). Theorem If fx and fy are continuous at (a, b ), then f is dierentiable at (a , b ).

The dierential of a function

MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Denition The dierential of z = f (x , y ) is dened to be dz = fx (x , y )dx + fy (x , y )dy with dx and dy being independent variables. Idea If dx = x = x a and dy = y = y b , linear approximation becomes f (x , y ) f (a, b ) + dz .

Examples, II
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Example Let z = f (x , y ) = x 2 + 3xy y 2 , so that z = 2x + 3y x and thus dz = (2x + 3y )dx + (3x 2y )dy . Suppose that x changes from 2 to 2.05 and y changes from 3 to 2.96. and z = 3x 2y . y

Examples, III
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Example (continued) Set x = 2, y = 3, dx = x = 0.05, and dy = y = 0.04. Then dz = (4 + 9)0.0.5 + (6 6)(0.04) = 13(0.05) = 0.65 and z = f (2.05, 2.96) f (2, 3) = 0.6449. Idea z dz , but dz is easier to compute.

Examples, IV
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Example Let V be the volume of a circular cone with height h and base radius r , i.e., V = r 2 h, 3 so that dV = V V 2 dr + dh = rh dr + r 2 dh. r h 3 3

Examples, V
MATH 209 Calculus, III Volker Runde Tangent planes Linearization and dierentiability Dierentials

Example (continued) Suppose that r = 10 cm and h = 25 cm, so that V 2618 cm3 . Suppose that there is an error in measurement of 0.1 cm, i.e., dr = dh = 0.1. Then |dV | 500 100 |0.1| + |0.1| = 20 63, 3 3

i.e., the maximum error in V is 63 cm3 .