Two-Path Test for Nonexistence of a Limit If a function f(x, y) has different limits along two different paths in the domain of f as (x, y) approaches (to. a), then lim()-(3) f(x, y) does not exist. EXAMPLE 6 Show that the function f(x, y) = +y² (Figure 14.15) has no limit as (x, y) approaches (0,0). 2r²y

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Chapter1: Functions
Section1.2: Functions Given By Tables
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Calculus 3 Functions of Several Variables; Limits and Continuity in Higher Dimensions

Question 2: Read Example 6 (p. 819). Explain how this example shows that it’s not enough to check 
all the lines going through the origin to show that a limit exists. Include the details involved in this 
particular example.

(a)
y
k-10
k=3
k-1
➤X
k= -0.1
k = -1
(b)
FIGURE 14.15 (a) The graph of
f(x, y) = 2x²y/(x² + y²). (b) Along each
path y = kx² the value of f is constant, but
varies with k (Example 6).
Two-Path Test for Nonexistence of a Limit
If a function f(x, y) has different limits along two different paths in the domain of
f as (x, y) approaches (x, y), then lim(x,y)-(.)f(x,y) does not exist.
EXAMPLE 6 Show that the function
f(x, y) =
2x²y
x++ 32
(Figure 14.15) has no limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0).
Solution The limit cannot be found by direct substitution, which gives the indeterminate
form 0/0. We examine the values of f along parabolic curves that end at (0, 0). Along the
curve y = kx², x = 0, the function has the constant value
2x²(kx²) 2kx*
x²4+ (kr²)²x²4+k²x4
f(x-3) = -27 -² -² -
2x²y
=
y)
+
Therefore,
2k
1+k²1
2k
lim f(x, y) - 24
1₁, [1(x, y) | _] =
lim
(x, y)-(0,0)
(x,y) (0,0)
alongy-k
1+k²
y-kr²
This limit varies with the path of approach. If (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the parabola
y = x², for instance, k = 1 and the limit is 1. If (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the x-axis,
k = 0 and the limit is 0. By the two-path test, f has no limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0).
It can be shown that the function in Example 6 has limit 0 along every straight line
path y = mx (Exercise 57). This implies the following observation:
Having the same limit along all straight lines approaching (xo.) does not imply
that a limit exists at (xo.).
Transcribed Image Text:(a) y k-10 k=3 k-1 ➤X k= -0.1 k = -1 (b) FIGURE 14.15 (a) The graph of f(x, y) = 2x²y/(x² + y²). (b) Along each path y = kx² the value of f is constant, but varies with k (Example 6). Two-Path Test for Nonexistence of a Limit If a function f(x, y) has different limits along two different paths in the domain of f as (x, y) approaches (x, y), then lim(x,y)-(.)f(x,y) does not exist. EXAMPLE 6 Show that the function f(x, y) = 2x²y x++ 32 (Figure 14.15) has no limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0). Solution The limit cannot be found by direct substitution, which gives the indeterminate form 0/0. We examine the values of f along parabolic curves that end at (0, 0). Along the curve y = kx², x = 0, the function has the constant value 2x²(kx²) 2kx* x²4+ (kr²)²x²4+k²x4 f(x-3) = -27 -² -² - 2x²y = y) + Therefore, 2k 1+k²1 2k lim f(x, y) - 24 1₁, [1(x, y) | _] = lim (x, y)-(0,0) (x,y) (0,0) alongy-k 1+k² y-kr² This limit varies with the path of approach. If (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the parabola y = x², for instance, k = 1 and the limit is 1. If (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the x-axis, k = 0 and the limit is 0. By the two-path test, f has no limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0). It can be shown that the function in Example 6 has limit 0 along every straight line path y = mx (Exercise 57). This implies the following observation: Having the same limit along all straight lines approaching (xo.) does not imply that a limit exists at (xo.).
Chapter 14 Partial Derivatives
f(x, y)
At (0, 0), the value of f is defined, but f has no limit as (x, y) → (0, 0). The reason is
that different paths of approach to the origin can lead to different results, as we now see.
For every value of m, the function f has a constant value on the "punctured" line
y = mx, x 0, because
Ty
=
2xy
x² +
14.2 Limits and Continuity in Higher Dimensions
(x, y)→(0,0)
along y-mx
Therefore, f has this number as its limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the line:
2m
1 + m²
lim f(x, y) =
2x(mx) 2mx²
2m
_x² + (mx)²¯¯_x² + m²x² 1 + m²°
lim 1) [1(x, 3) ,] =
819
(x, y)-(0,0)
This limit changes with each value of the slope m. There is therefore no single number we
may call the limit of fas (x, y) approaches the origin. The limit fails to exist, and the func-
tion is not continuous at the origin.
Examples 4 and 5 illustrate an important point about limits of functions of two or more
variables. For a limit to exist at a point, the limit must be the same along every approach
path. This result is analogous to the single-variable case where both the left and right-sided
limits had to have the same value. For functions of two or more variables, if we ever find
paths with different limits, we know the function has no limit at the point they approach.
Transcribed Image Text:Chapter 14 Partial Derivatives f(x, y) At (0, 0), the value of f is defined, but f has no limit as (x, y) → (0, 0). The reason is that different paths of approach to the origin can lead to different results, as we now see. For every value of m, the function f has a constant value on the "punctured" line y = mx, x 0, because Ty = 2xy x² + 14.2 Limits and Continuity in Higher Dimensions (x, y)→(0,0) along y-mx Therefore, f has this number as its limit as (x, y) approaches (0, 0) along the line: 2m 1 + m² lim f(x, y) = 2x(mx) 2mx² 2m _x² + (mx)²¯¯_x² + m²x² 1 + m²° lim 1) [1(x, 3) ,] = 819 (x, y)-(0,0) This limit changes with each value of the slope m. There is therefore no single number we may call the limit of fas (x, y) approaches the origin. The limit fails to exist, and the func- tion is not continuous at the origin. Examples 4 and 5 illustrate an important point about limits of functions of two or more variables. For a limit to exist at a point, the limit must be the same along every approach path. This result is analogous to the single-variable case where both the left and right-sided limits had to have the same value. For functions of two or more variables, if we ever find paths with different limits, we know the function has no limit at the point they approach.
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