CALCULUS 2

PARTIAL DERIVATIVES

April 2017
PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRAL EVALUATION
1. FUNCTIONS OF TWO OR MORE VARIABLES
2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
3. PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
4. DIFFERENTIABILITY, DIFFERENTIALS, AND LOCAL LINEARITY
5. THE CHAIN RULE
6. DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES AND GRADIENTS
7. TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL VECTORS
8. MAXIMA AND MINIMA OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
9. LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
FUNCTIONS OF TWO OR MORE
VARIABLES
NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
 There are many familiar formulas in which a given variable
depends on two or more other variables.
 The area A of a triangle depends on the base length b and height h
by the formula A = 1/2bh;
 The volume V of a rectangular box depends on the length l, the
width w, and the height h by the formula V = lwh
 The terminology and notation for functions of two or more
variables is similar to that for functions of one variable:
z = f (x, y)
w = f (x, y, z)
u = f (x1, x2, . . . , xn)
NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
Example 1

Let

Find f(e, 0) and sketch the natural domain of f

Solution.

 To find the natural domain of f , we note that is defined only

when y ≥ −1, while ln(x2 − y) is defined only when 0 < x2 − y or y < x2.

 Thus, the natural domain of f consists of all points in the xy-plane for

which −1 ≤ y < x2.

NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
 To sketch the natural domain, we first sketch the parabola y = x2 as a “dashed”
curve and the line y = −1 as a solid curve.
 The natural domain of f is then the region lying above or on the line y = −1 and
below the parabola y = x2
NOTATION AND TERMINOLOGY
Example 1

Let

Find f(0,1/2, 1/2) and the natural domain of f

Solution.

Because of the square root sign, we must have 0 ≤ 1 − x2 − y2 − z2 in order to have a

real value for f(x, y, z). Rewriting this inequality in the form :
GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
 Recall that for a function f of one variable, the graph of f(x) in the

xy-plane was defined to be the graph of the equation y = f(x).

 Similarly, if f is a function of two variables, we define the graph of

f(x, y) in xyz-space to be the graph of the equation z = f(x, y). In

general, such a graph will be a surface in 3-space
GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
EXAMPLE
Describe the graph of the function in an xyz-coordinate system

By definition, the graph of the given function is

the graph of the equation :
GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
EXAMPLE
Describe the graph of the function in an xyz-coordinate system

By definition, the graph of the given function is

the graph of the equation :
GRAPHS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
EXAMPLE
Describe the graph of the function in an xyz-coordinate system

By definition, the graph of the given function is

the graph of the equation :
LEVEL CURVES
 We are all familiar with the topographic (or contour) maps in which
a three-dimensional landscape, such as a mountain range, is
represented by two-dimensional contour lines or curves of constant
elevation
LEVEL CURVES
 If the surface z = f(x, y) is cut by the horizontal plane z = k, then at all
points on the intersection we have f(x, y) = k.
 The projection of this intersection onto the xy-plane is called the level
curve of height k or the level curve with constant k .
 A set of level curves for z = f(x, y) is called a contour plot or contour map
of f.
LEVEL CURVES
EXAMPLE
 The graph of the function f (x, y) = y2 − x2 in xyz-space is the
hyperbolic paraboloid (saddle surface).
LEVEL CURVES
EXAMPLE
Sketch the contour plot of f(x, y) = 4x2 + y2 using level curves of height k = 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5.
CONTOUR PLOTS USING TECHNOLOGY
 Except in the simplest cases, contour plots can be difficult to produce
without the help of a graphing utility
CONTOUR PLOTS USING TECHNOLOGY
LEVEL SURFACES
 Observe that the graph of y = f(x) is a curve in 2-space, and the graph of z

= f(x, y) is a surface in 3-space.

 However, if k is a constant, then the graph of the equation f(x, y, z) = k

will generally be a surface in 3-space (e.g., the graph of x2 + y2 + z2 = 1

is a sphere), which we call the level surface with constant k.

 Some geometric insight into the behavior of the function f can sometimes

be obtained by graphing these level surfaces for various values of k.

LEVEL SURFACES
Describe the level surfaces of
The level surfaces have equations of the form
LEVEL SURFACES
Describe the level surfaces of
The level surfaces have equations of the form
GRAPHING FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES USING
TECHNOLOGY
GRAPHING FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES USING
TECHNOLOGY
GRAPHING FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES USING
TECHNOLOGY
EXERCISE 1
 Let f ( x, y)  x y 
2
y
Find each value
a. f (2,1) d . f  a, a 4 
1 4
b. f (3, 0) e. f  , x 
x 
c. f (1, 4) f . f  2, 4 
what is the natural domain for this fucntion?

 Sketch the graph of f

a. f ( x, y )  6
b. f ( x, y )  6  x
c. f ( x, y)  6  x  2 y
d. f ( x, y )  6  x 2
EXERCISE 1
 Sketch the level curve z =k for the indicated values of k

z 
1 2
2
x  y 2  , k  0, 2, 4, 6,8
LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
 For a function of one variable there are two one-sided limits at a
point x0, namely

 Reflecting the fact that there are only two directions from which x
can approach x0, the right or the left.
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
 For functions of two or three variables the situation is more complicated
because there are infinitely many different curves along which one point
can approach another

 Our first objective in this section is to define the limit of f(x, y) as (x, y)
approaches a point (x0, y0) along a curve C (and similarly for functions of
three variables)
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
 If C is a smooth parametric curve in 2-space or 3-space that is
represented by the equations
x = x(t), y = y(t) or x = x(t), y = y(t), z = z(t)
and if x0 = x(t0), y0 = y(t0), and z0 = z(t0), then :

 The limit of the function of t must be treated as a one-sided limit if (x0,

y0) or (x0, y0, z0) is an endpoint of C
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
Figure a shows a computer-generated graph of the function

Find this limit along

LIMITS ALONG CURVES
a. The x-axis has parametric equations x = t, y = 0, with (0, 0) corresponding to t =
0, so

b.The y-axis has parametric equations x = 0, y = t , with (0, 0) corresponding to t =

0, so

c. The line y = x has parametric equations x = t, y = t , with (0, 0) corresponding to

t = 0, so
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
d. The line y = -x has parametric equations x = t, y = -t , with (0, 0) corresponding
to t = 0, so
LIMITS ALONG CURVES
d. The parabaola y = x2 has parametric equations x = t, y = t2 , with (0, 0)
corresponding to t = 0, so
OPEN AND CLOSED SETS
 Although limits along specific curves are useful for many purposes, they

do not always tell the complete story about the limiting behavior of a
function at a point.

 What is required is a limit concept that accounts for the behavior of the

function in an entire vicinity of a point, not just along smooth curves

passing through the point.
OPEN AND CLOSED SETS
 Let C be a circle in 2-space that is centered at (x0, y0) and has positive
radius δ.
 The set of points that are enclosed by the circle, but do not lie on the
circle, is called the open disk of radius δ centered at (x0, y0), and the set
of points that lie on the circle together with those enclosed by the circle is
called the closed disk of radius δ centered at (x0, y0)
OPEN AND CLOSED SETS
 The notions of “open” and “closed” can be extended to more general sets
in 2-space and 3-space
 If D is a set of points in 2-space, then a point (x0, y0) is called an interior
point of D if there is some open disk centered at (x0, y0) that contains
only points of D, and (x0, y0) is called a boundary point of D if every
open disk centered at (x0, y0) contains both points in D and points not in
D.
GENERAL LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
GENERAL LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
GENERAL LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
GENERAL LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
EXAMPLE
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GENERAL LIMITS AND
LIMITS ALONG SMOOTH CURVES
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GENERAL LIMITS AND
LIMITS ALONG SMOOTH CURVES
CONTINUITY
 Stated informally, a function of one variable is continuous if its graph is
an unbroken curve without jumps or holes.
 To extend this idea to functions of two variables, imagine that the graph
of z = f(x, y) is formed from a thin sheet of clay that has been molded into
peaks and valleys. We will regard f as being continuous if the clay
surface has no tears or holes
CONTINUITY
CONTINUITY
 EXAMPLE
Use Theorem 13.2.4 to show that the functions f(x, y) = 3x2y5 and f(x, y) =
sin(3x2y5) are continuous everywhere.
CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE
Evaluate

Since f(x, y) = xy/(x2 + y2) is continuous at (−1, 2)

CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE
Since the function

is a quotient of continuous functions, it is continuous except where 1 − xy =

0. Thus, f(x, y) is continuous everywhere except on the hyperbola xy = 1
LIMITS AT DISCONTINUITIES

 Sometimes it is easy to recognize when a limit does not exist. For example,
it is evident that
LIMITS AT DISCONTINUITIES
 However, it is not evident whether the limit

exists because it is an indeterminate form of type 0 · 

 Although L’Hôpital’s rule cannot be applied directly, the following
example illustrates a method for finding this limit by converting to polar
coordinates

 Let (r, θ) be polar coordinates of the point (x, y) with r ≥ 0. Then

we have
LIMITS AT DISCONTINUITIES
CONTINUITY AT BOUNDARY POINTS
 Recall that in our study of continuity for functions of one variable, we
first defined continuity at a point, then continuity on an open interval,
and then, by using one-sided limits, we extended the notion of continuity
to include the boundary points of the interval
EXTENSIONS TO THREE VARIABLES
EXERCISE 2
1. Find the indicated limit or state that is does not exist
x4  y 4
a. lim
 x , y 1,3
 3x 2
y  xy 3
 c. lim
 x , y  0,0  x 2  y 2

b. lim
 x , y  2,1
 xy 3
 xy  3 y 2  d. lim
 x , y  0,0 
xy
x2  y 2

2. Describe the largest set S on which it is correct to say that f is continuous

x 2  xy  5
a. f  x, y   2
x  y2  1
b. f  x, y   ln 1  x 2  y 2 
c. f  x, y   ln 1  x 2  y 2 
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO
VARIABLES
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES OF FUNCTIONS OF TWO
VARIABLES
EXAMPLE
Find fx(1, 3) and fy(1, 3) for the function f(x, y) = 2x3y2 + 2y + 4x.
THE PARTIAL DERIVATIVE FUNCTIONS

 Formulas (1) and (2) define the partial derivatives of a function at a

specific point (x0, y0).

 However, often it will be desirable to omit the subscripts and think of the

partial derivatives as functions of the variables x and y.

 These functions are :

THE PARTIAL DERIVATIVE FUNCTIONS

EXAMPLE
Find fx(x, y) and fy(x, y) for f(x, y) = 2x3y2 + 2y + 4x, and use those partial
derivatives to compute fx(1, 3) and fy(1, 3).
PARTIAL DERIVATIVE NOTATION
 If z = f(x, y), then the partial derivatives fx and fy are also denoted by the
symbols

 Some typical notations for the partial derivatives of z = f(x, y), at a point
(x0, y0) are
PARTIAL DERIVATIVE NOTATION
EXAMPLE
Find ∂z/∂x and ∂z/∂y if z = x4 sin(xy3).
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES VIEWED AS RATES OF CHANGE AND
SLOPES
 Recall that if y = f(x), then the value of f’(x0) can be interpreted either as
the rate of change of y with respect to x at x0 or as the slope of the tangent
line to the graph of f at x0.
 Partial derivatives have analogous interpretations.
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES VIEWED AS RATES OF CHANGE AND
SLOPES
EXAMPLE
Let f(x, y) = x2y + 5y3.
 Find the slope of the surface z = f(x, y) in the x-direction at the point (1,−2).
 Find the slope of the surface z = f(x, y) in the y-direction at the point (1,−2).
IMPLICIT PARTIAL DIFFERENTIATION
EXAMPLE
Find the slope of the sphere x2 + y2 + z2 = 1 in the y-direction at the points
(2/3,1/3,2/3) and (2/3,1/3,-2/3)

 The slope at the point (2/3,1/3,2/3) is -1/2

 The slope at the point (2/3,1/3,-2/3) is 1/2
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES AND CONTINUITY
 In contrast to the case of functions of a single variable, the existence of
partial derivatives for a multivariable function does not guarantee the
continuity of the function. This fact is shown in the following example
 Let

(a) Show that fx(x, y) and fy(x, y) exist at all points (x, y).
(b) Explain why f is not continuous at (0, 0).
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES AND CONTINUITY

 This shows that f has partial derivatives at (0, 0) and the values of both
partial derivatives are 0 at that point
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES AND CONTINUITY
PARTIAL DERIVATIVES OF FUNCTIONS WITH MORE THAN TWO
VARIABLES

 For a function f(x, y, z) of three variables, there are three partial

derivatives:

 If a dependent variable

is used, then the three partial derivatives of f can be denoted by

PARTIAL DERIVATIVES OF FUNCTIONS WITH MORE THAN TWO
VARIABLES
HIGHER-ORDER PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
 Suppose that f is a function of two variables x and y. Since the
partial derivatives ∂f /∂x and ∂f /∂y are also functions of x and y,
these functions may themselves have partial derivatives.
HIGHER-ORDER PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Find the second-order partial derivatives of f(x, y) = x2y3 + x4y.
HIGHER-ORDER PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
 Third-order, fourth-order, and higher-order partial derivatives can
be obtained by successive differentiation.
 Some possibilities are

 Let f(x, y) = y2ex + y

EQUALITY OF MIXED PARTIALS
THE WAVE EQUATION
THE WAVE EQUATION
EXAMPLE
Show that the function u(x, t) = sin(x − ct) is a solution of Equation
EXERCISE 3
1. Find all the first partial derivatives of each function
x2  y 2
a. f  x, y    2 x  y  c. f  x, y  
4

xy
b. f  x, y    4 x  y 
2 3/2
d . f  x, y   e x cos y

2. Verify that fxy = fyx

a. f  x, y   2 x 2 y 3  x3 y 5 b. f  x, y    x3  y 2 
5

3. If f (x,y,z) = 3x2y – xyz + y2z2 Ifind each of the following:

a. f x  x, y, z  b. f y  0,1, 2  c. f xy  x, y, z 
DIFFERENTIABILITY, DIFFERENTIALS,
AND LOCAL LINEARITY
DIFFERENTIABILITY
 Recall that a function f of one variable is called differentiable at x0 if it
has a derivative at x0 , that is, if the limit :

 The graph of y = f(x) has a nonvertical tangent line at the point (x0, f(x0))

 f may be closely approximated by a linear function near x0

 f is continuous at x0.
 Our primary objective in this section is to extend the notion of
differentiability to functions of two or three variables in such a way
that the natural analogs of these properties hold.
DIFFERENTIABILITY
 The surface z = f(x, y) has a nonvertical tangent plane at the point
(x0, y0, f(x0, y0))

 The values of f at points near (x0, y0) can be very closely

approximated by the values of a linear function
 f is continuous at (x0, y0).
DIFFERENTIABILITY
DIFFERENTIABILITY
DIFFERENTIABILITY
EXAMPLE
Prove that f (x, y) = x2 + y2 is differentiable at (0, 0).

 Since fx(x, y) = 2x and fy(x, y) = 2y, we have fx(0, 0) = fy(0, 0) = 0

 Therefore, f is differentiable at (0, 0).

DIFFERENTIABILITY AND CONTINUITY
Theorem
If a function is differentiable at a point, then it is continuous at that
point.

Theorem
If all first-order partial derivatives of f exist and are continuous at a
point, then f is differentiable at that point.

EXAMPLE
f(x, y, z) = x + yz
 Since fx(x, y, z) = 1, fy(x, y, z) = z, and fz(x, y, z) = y are defined and
continuous everywhere, we conclude that f is differentiable everywhere
DIFFERENTIALS
 The approximations for a function of two variables

 The approximations for a function of two variables

 Total differential of f
DIFFERENTIALS
EXAMPLE
Approximate the change in z = xy2 from its value at (0.5, 1.0) to its
value at (0.503, 1.004).

 For z = xy2 we have dz = y2 dx + 2xy dy. Evaluating this differential

at (x, y) = (0.5, 1.0),
dx = x = 0.503 − 0.5 = 0.003,
dy = y = 1.004 − 1.0 = 0.004
yields
dz = 1.02(0.003) + 2(0.5)(1.0)(0.004) = 0.007
 Since z = 0.5 at (x, y) = (0.5, 1.0) and z = 0.507032048 at (x, y) =
(0.503, 1.004), we have
z = 0.507032048 − 0.5 = 0.007032048
LOCAL LINEAR APPROXIMATIONS
 We now show that if a function f is differentiable at a point, then it can be
very closely approximated by a linear function near that point

 Local linear approximation to f at (x0, y0).

 Local linear approximation to f at (x0, y0).

LOCAL LINEAR APPROXIMATIONS
EXAMPLE
Find the local linear approximation to f(x, y) at the point (3, 4).

with fx(3, 4) = 3/5 and fy(3, 4) = 4/5 . Therefore, the local linear
approximation to f at (3, 4)is given by
EXERCISE 4
THE CHAIN RULE
CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
 If y is a differentiable function of x and x is a differentiable
function of t , then the chain rule for functions of one variable
states that, under composition, y becomes a differentiable function
of t with
CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Suppose that
z = x2y, x = t2, y= t3
Use the chain rule to find dz/dt, and check the result by expressing z as a function
of t and differentiating directly.
 By the chain rule

 We can express z directly as a function of t ,

dz/dt = 7t 6
CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Suppose that

Use the chain rule to find dw/dθ when θ = π/4.

CHAIN RULES FOR DERIVATIVES
.
CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
 In previous section the variables x and y are each functions of a single

variable t.

 We now consider the case where x and y are each functions of two

variables.

 Let z = f(x, y) and suppose that x and y are functions of u and v, say

x = x(u, v) ; y = y(u, v)
CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Given that

find ∂z/∂u and ∂z/∂v using the chain rule.

CHAIN RULES FOR PARTIAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Given that

find ∂z/∂u and ∂z/∂v using the chain rule.

OTHER VERSIONS OF THE CHAIN RULE
 The chain rule extends to functions w = f (v1, v2, . . . , vn) of n
variables
OTHER VERSIONS OF THE CHAIN RULE
EXAMPLE
Suppose that w = xy + yz, y = sin x, z = ex. Use an appropriate form of the
chain rule to find dw/dx

w explicitly in terms of x as
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
 Consider the special case where z = f (x, y) is a function of x and y and y
is a differentiable function of x.

 This result can be used to find derivatives of functions that are defined
implicitly. For example, suppose that the equation
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
EXAMPLE
Given that x3 + y2x − 3 = 0 find dy/dx using (14), and check the
result using implicit differentiation
IMPLICIT DIFFERENTIATION
EXAMPLE
Consider the sphere x2 + y2 + z2=1. Find ∂z/∂x and ∂z/∂y

f(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2
EXERCISE 5
1. Find dw/dt by using Chain Rule, express your final answer in term of t
a. w  x 2 y 3 ; x  t 3 , y  t 2
b. w  x 2 y  y 2 x ; x  cos t , y  sin t

2. Find dw/dt by using Chain Rule express your final answer in term of s
and t
a. w  x 2 y ; x  st , y  s  t
s
b. w  x 2  y ln x ; x  , y  s 2t
t
3. Find dy/dx by implicit differentiation

a. x 3  2 x 2 y  y 3  0
b. ye  x  5 x  17  0
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES AND
GRADIENTS
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
 We have seen that the partial derivatives of a function give the
instantaneous rates of change of that function in directions parallel
to the coordinate axes.
 Directional derivatives allow us to compute the rates of change of a
function with respect to distance in any direction.
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Let f(x, y) = xy. Find and interpret Duf (1, 2) for the unit vector
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
 Find the directional derivative of f(x, y) = exy at (−2, 0) in the direction of the
unit vector that makes an angle of π/3 with the positive x-axis
 The partial derivatives of f are

 The unit vector u that makes an angle of π/3 with the positive x-axis is
DIRECTIONAL DERIVATIVES
EXAMPLE
Find the directional derivative of f (x, y, z) = x2y − yz3 + z at the point (1,−2, 0) in
the direction of the vector a = 2i + j − 2k.
 The partial derivatives of f are

 Since a is not a unit vector, we normalize it, getting

THE GRADIENT

The directional derivative

THE GRADIENT
EXAMPLE
Find the directional derivative of f (x, y, z) = x2y − yz3 + z at the point (1,−2, 0) in
the direction of the vector a = 2i + j − 2k.
PROPERTIES OF THE GRADIENT
PROPERTIES OF THE GRADIENT
PROPERTIES OF THE GRADIENT
EXAMPLE
Let f(x, y) = x2ey . Find the maximum value of a directional derivative at
(−2, 0), and find the unit vector in the direction in which the maximum
value occurs

 The maximum value of the directional derivative is

This maximum occurs in the direction of ∇f(−2, 0). The unit vector
in this direction is
GRADIENTS ARE NORMAL TO LEVEL CURVES
EXERCISE 6
1. Find the directional derivative of f at the point P in the direction of a

a. f ( x, y )  x 2 y ; p  1, 2  ; a  3i  4 j
b. f ( x, y )  x 2  3xy  2 y 2 ; p   1, 2  ; a  2i  j

2. Find a unit vector in the direction in which f increases most rapidly at p,

what is the rate of change in this direction.
a. f ( x, y )  x3  y 5 ; p   2, 1
b. f ( x, y, z )  x 2 yz ; p  1, 1, 2 
QUIZ
Sketch the graph of f ( x, y)  16  x  y
2 2
1.
2. Find the indicated limit or state that is does not exist
x2  y 2
lim xy 2
 x , y 1,2 x  y2
3. Find all the first partial derivatives of each function

a. f ( x, y)  e xy b. f ( x, y)  e x 2  y 2

4. Find ∂z/∂x and ∂z/∂y by implicit differentiation

3x 2 z  y 3  xyz 3  0

5. Find the directional derivative of f at the point P in the direction

of a
f(x,y,z) = x2+y2+z2 ; P=(1,-1,2) a= √2i -j-k
TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL
VECTORS
TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL VECTORS TO LEVEL
SURFACES F(x, y, z) = c
TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL VECTORS TO LEVEL
SURFACES F(x, y, z) = c

 The line through the point P0 parallel to the normal vector n is

perpendicular to the tangent plane (3). We will call this the normal line,
follows that this line can be expressed parametrically as
TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL VECTORS TO LEVEL
SURFACES F(x, y, z) = c
EXAMPLE
Consider the ellipsoid x2 + 4y2 + z2 = 18.
(a) Find an equation of the tangent plane to the ellipsoid at the point (1, 2, 1).
(b) Find parametric equations of the line that is normal to the ellipsoid at the point
(1, 2, 1).
Solution (a).

Solution (b).
Since n = (2, 16, 2) at the point (1, 2, 1),
TANGENT PLANES AND NORMAL VECTORS TO LEVEL
SURFACES F(x, y, z) = c
TANGENT PLANES TO SURFACES OF THE FORM
z = f (x, y)
 To find a tangent plane to a surface of the form z = f(x, y), we can
use Equation (3) with the function F(x, y, z) = z − f(x, y).
EXAMPLE
Find an equation for the tangent plane and parametric equations for
the normal line to the surface z = x2y at the point (2, 1, 4).

The tangent plane has equation :

The normal line has equations :

USING GRADIENTS TO FIND TANGENT LINES TO
INTERSECTIONS OF SURFACES
 In general, the intersection of two surfaces F(x, y, z) = 0 and G(x, y,
z) = 0 will be a curve in 3-space.

 Tangent to the curve of intersection T

USING GRADIENTS TO FIND TANGENT LINES TO
INTERSECTIONS OF SURFACES
EXAMPLE
Find parametric equations of the tangent line to the curve of intersection of
the paraboloid z = x2 + y2 and the ellipsoid 3x2 + 2y2 + z2 = 9 at the point (1,
1, 2)
USING GRADIENTS TO FIND TANGENT LINES TO
INTERSECTIONS OF SURFACES
 We begin by rewriting the equations of the surfaces as

 This vector and the point (1, 1, 2) yield the parametric equations
x = 1 + 12t, y = 1 − 14t, z = 2 − 4t
EXERCISE 7
1. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the given surface at the
indicated point

a. x 2  y 2  z 2  16 ; 2,3, 3 
b. x 2  y 2  z 2  4 ;  2,1,1

2. Find a point on the surface x2 + 2y2 + 3z2=12 where the tangent

plane is perpendicular to the line with parametric equations x=1 +
2t, y= 3 + 8t , z= 2 – 6t
3. Find the point on the surface z =2x2 + 3y2 where the tangent plane
is parallel to the plane 8x – 3y – 2=0
 MAXIMA AND MINIMA OF
FUNCTIONS OF TWO VARIABLES
EXTREMA
EXTREMA
 If f has a relative maximum or a relative minimum at (x0, y0), then we say
that f has a relative extremum at (x0, y0),
 If f has an absolute maximum or absolute minimum at (x0, y0), , then we
say that f has an absolute extremum at (x0, y0),
BOUNDED SETS
 A set of points in 2-space is called bounded if the entire set can be
contained within some rectangle.
 And is called unbounded if there is no rectangle that contains all
the points of the set.
THE EXTREME-VALUE THEOREM
Theorem (Extreme-Value Theorem)
If f (x, y) is continuous on a closed and bounded set R, then f has both
an absolute maximum and an absolute minimum on R.
FINDING RELATIVE EXTREMA
FINDING RELATIVE EXTREMA

The point (0, 0) is called a saddle point

of f.
FINDING RELATIVE EXTREMA
EXAMPLE
The three functions graphed in Figure all have critical points at (0, 0)
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
EXAMPLE
Locate all relative extrema and saddle points of

 Since fx(x, y) = 6x − 2y and fy(x, y) = −2x + 2y − 8, the critical points of f

satisfy the equations

Solving these for x and y yields x = 2, y = 6

so f has a relative minimum at (2, 6)

THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
EXAMPLE
Locate all relative extrema and saddle points of

Since

the critical points of f have coordinates satisfying the equations

Substituting the top equation in the bottom

x9 − x = 0 or x(x8 − 1) = 0, which has solutions x = 0, x = 1, x = −1
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
 Thus, the critical points of f are (0, 0), (1, 1), and (−1,−1)

 At the points (1, 1) and (−1,−1), we have D > 0 and fxx < 0, so
relative maxima occur at these critical points.
 At (0, 0) there is a saddle point since D < 0
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
THE SECOND PARTIALS TEST
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS
EXAMPLE
Find the absolute maximum and minimum values of
f(x, y) = 3xy − 6x − 3y + 7
on the closed triangular region R with vertices (0, 0), (3, 0), and (0,
5).

We have :

Solving these equations yields x = 1 and y = 2,

so (1, 2) is the only critical point
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS
 The line segment between (0, 0) and (3, 0):
On this line segment we have y = 0

Thus the extreme values of u(x) occur at the endpoints x = 0 and x = 3, which
correspond to the points (0, 0) and (3, 0) of R

 The line segment between (0, 0) and (0, 5):

On this line segment we have x = 0

Thus, the extreme values of v(y) occur at the endpoints y = 0 and y = 5, which
correspond to the points (0, 0) and (0, 5) of R
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS
 The line segment between (3, 0) and (0, 5):

 Since w’(x) = −10x + 14, the equation w’(x) = 0 yields x = 7/5, so y= 8/3
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS
EXAMPLE
Determine the dimensions of a rectangular box, open at the top, having a volume of
32 ft3, and requiring the least amount of material for its construction.
FINDING ABSOLUTE EXTREMA ON CLOSED AND
BOUNDED SETS

 The dimensions x and y in this formula must be positive:

 So the coordinates of the critical points of S satisfy :

 We have :

 The solutions of this equation are x = 0 and x = 4. Since we require x > 0, the
only solution of significance is x = 4.
 The only critical point of S is (x, y) = (4, 4)
EXERCISE 8
1. Find all criticals points. Indicate whether each such point gives a local
maximum or local minimum, or whether it is a sadle point.
a. f ( x, y )  x 2  4 y 2  4 x
b. f ( x, y )  xy 2  6 x 2  3 y 2
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
EXTREMUM PROBLEMS WITH CONSTRAINTS
In the last example, we solved the problem of minimizing

subject to the constraint

LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
 One way to attack problems of these types is to solve the constraint

equation for one of the variables in terms of the others and

substitute the result into f

 This produces a new function of one or two variables that

incorporates the constraint and can be maximized or minimized by

applying standard methods

 However, this approach hinges on our ability to solve the constraint

equation for one of the variables in terms of the others

LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
 Since ∇f(x0, y0) is normal to the level curve f(x, y) = 400 at (x0, y0),
and since ∇g(x0, y0) is normal to the constraint curve g(x, y) = 0 at
(x0, y0)
 We conclude that the vectors ∇f(x0, y0) and ∇g(x0, y0) must be
parallel. That is :

 Thus, to find the maximum or minimum of f(x, y) subject to the

constraint g(x, y) = 0, we look for points at which above equation
holds—this is the method of Lagrange multipliers
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS

EXAMPLE
At what point or points on the circle x2 + y2 = 1 does f(x, y) = xy have
an absolute maximum, and what is that maximum?
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
 We want to maximize f(x, y) = xy subject to the constraint

 From the formula for ∇g we see that ∇g = 0 if and only if x = 0 and

y = 0, so ∇g  0 at any point on the circle x2 + y2 = 1

 Substituting this to the constraint yileds :

LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
 When substituted x= ±1/√2 in y2 = x2 produces y-values of y =
±1/√2
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
EXAMPLE 2
Use the method of Lagrange multipliers to find the dimensions of a rectangle with
perimeter p and maximum area.
SOLUTION
x = length of the rectangle, y = width of the rectangle, A = area of the rectangle
We want to maximize A = xy on the line segment

 Eliminating λ from these equations we obtain x = y, which shows that the

rectangle is actually a square.
 Using this condition and constraint , we obtain x = p/4, y = p/4.
LAGRANGE MULTIPLIERS
THREE VARIABLES AND ONE CONSTRAINT
EXAMPLE
Find the points on the sphere x2 + y2 + z2 = 36 that are closest to and farthest
from the point (1, 2, 2).

SOLUTION
To avoid radicals, we will find points on the sphere that minimize and
maximize the square of the distance to (1, 2, 2). Thus, we want to find the
relative extrema of

subject to the constraint

THREE VARIABLES AND ONE CONSTRAINT
 ∇g = 2xi + 2y j + 2z k Thus, ∇g = 0 if and only if x = y = z = 0. It follows
that ∇g  0

 The first two equations imply that y = 2x

 the first and third equations imply that z = 2x
THREE VARIABLES AND ONE CONSTRAINT
 Substituting y = 2x and z = 2x in the constraint equation, we obtain

 Since f (2, 4, 4) = 9 and f (−2,−4,−4) = 81, it follows that (2, 4, 4) is the

point on the sphere closest to (1, 2, 2), and (−2,−4,−4) is the point that is
farthest
THREE VARIABLES AND ONE CONSTRAINT
EXAMPLE
Use Lagrange multipliers to determine the dimensions of a rectangular box,
open at the top, having a volume of 32 ft3, and requiring the least amount
of material for its construction.

SOLUTION
THREE VARIABLES AND ONE CONSTRAINT
 Because x, y, and z are nonzero, these equations can be rewritten as

 The first two equations imply that y = x

 the first and third equations imply that z = ½ x
 Substituting y = x and z = ½ x in the constraint equation, we obtain
EXERCISE 9
1. Find the minimum of f(x,y)= x2 + y2 subject to the constraint
g(x,y)=xy – 3

2. Find the minimum of f(x,y)= x2 + 4xy + y2 subject to the constraint

x – y – 6 =0
QUIZ
1. Find the equation of the tangent plane to the given surface at the
indicated point
z  x1/2  y1/2 ; 1, 4, 3

2. Find the parametric equation of the line that is tangent to the curve of
intersection of the surface x = z2 and x = z3 at (1,1,1).

3. Find all criticals points. Indicate whether each such point gives a local
maximum or local minimum, or whether it is a sadle point
2 4
f ( x, y )  xy  
x y
4. Find the minimum of f(x,y)= x2 + 4xy + y2 subject to the constraint x – y
– 6 =0