1 Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

Function of Two Variables

 Definition
A function of two variables is a rule that assigns to each ordered pair of real numbers
( x, y ) in a set D a unique real number denoted by f ( x, y ) , in which it can be
represented in the form of:
f : ( x, y )  z  f ( x, y )
where
 Set D is the domain of f
 The corresponding set of values that f takes on is the range of f
 x and y are the independent variables
 z is the dependent variable

Similar definition can be extended to functions of three, four or n variables, where the
domain consist of ordered triples ( x1, x2 , x3 ) , quadruples ( x1, x2 , x3 , x4 ) and n-tuples
( x1, x2 ,..., xn ) , respectively.

For example:
Function Notation Example
One variable y  f ( x) y  2 x2
Two variables z  f ( x, y) z  x y
Three variables w  f ( x, y, z ) w  xy  z 2
Four variables u  f (w, x, y, z ) u  xyzw

However, the scope of this course is limited to the discussion of functions of two and
three variables only.

 Mapping of a Function of Two Variables

y
f

(a1,b1)
x z
D (a ,b ) f(a1,b1) f(a2,b2)
2 2

f
2 Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

 Graph of a Function of Two Variables

The graph of a function of two variables f is the set of all points ( x, y, z ) 3 such
that z  f ( x, y ) , and ( x, y ) is in domain D.

The graph for a linear function f ( x, y )  ax  by  c (where a, b and c are constant) is

a plane.
For example, the graph of f ( x, y )  2 x  y is

20

10
z=f(x,y)

-10

-20
30

20 25
20
15
10 10
5
y 0 0
x

The graph of f ( x, y )  sin x  sin y is

1
z=f(x,y)

-1

-2
60

40 50
40
30
20 20
10
y 0 0
x
3 Chapter 1: Functions of Several Variables

 Examples of Functions of Two Variables

i. Area of triangle,
1
A  bh (b and h are independent variables)
2
ii. Volume of cylinder,
V   r 2h (r and h are independent variables)
iii. Newton’s law of motion,
F  ma (m and a are independent variables)
iv. f ( x, y )  x 2  2 xy 2
(x and y are independent variables)

 Some Common Notation for Functions of Two Variables

i. f : ( x, y )  z , x  R, y  R, z  R
ii. f : RR  R
iii. f : ( x, y )  z
iv. f : ( x, y )  z  f ( x, y )
v. f : ( x, y )  z  R, ( x, y )  R

 Evaluating a Function of Two Variables

When evaluating a function of two variables, instead of just substituting in a x-value,
now we will substitute in values for each of the independent variables.

For example, evaluating the function f ( x, y )  2 x 2  y 2 for (1,1), (2,3) and (5,y), we
have:
f (1,1)  2(1)2  (1)2  3
f (2,3)  2(2)2  (3)2  17
f (5, y )  2(5)2  ( y )2  50  y 2